The devastatingly simple mechanics of the #Boston marathon bomb – an annotated graphic

Using nothing more than a standard pressure cooker as an improvised explosive device (IED), it is possible for terrorists to inflict significant damage on people, vehicles and buildings.  The weapon has been touted by al-Qaeda as a simple means by which its extremist followers can commit acts of violence. The recent attack on runners and supporters at the Boston marathon is believed to be the latest grotesque public demonstration of the impact such a pressure cooker bomb device can have.

Click on the graphic for an expanded view.

Pressure cooker bomb

Google Glass – the augmented reality future is now, providing you adhere strictly to the end-user agreement…

Despite the Draconian restrictions imposed by Google on anyone foolish enough to fork out over £1,000 on a pair of Glass (Google can turn them off at any time, if it feels that you’ve overstepped the end-user agreement stipulations), apparently people are still extremely anxious so to do.

To us, Glass seems uncomfortably like the optical equivalent of those people in the late 1990s who’d stride towards you on the pavement, booming away to apparently no one in particular, until you realised they had a Bluetooth earpiece and were on the phone to their mum. Oh well, to each his own.

If you’re finding reality lacklustre, augmenting it in some way could well be the way forward. The latest issue of E&T magazine is an augmented reality special, looking at the myriad ways AR technology can be applied to engineering and technology. We look at the Google Glass project (as seen on the cover of the new issue); how augmented reality could soon have a serious impact on the defence, medical and education industries; the ways in which retailers are turning to augmented reality to drive sales, brand reinforcement, customer relationships, and to improve the shopping experience; whether AR has a useful place in the industrial sector; how augmented reality can be used to deliver more immersive travel and learning experiences; and finally at how to develop AR apps.

Click on the graphic for an expanded view.

Google Glass augmented reality computer

New issue of #EandT magazine now online – #AugmentedReality special – AR brings E&T to life

The latest issue of E&T magazine is available online now. It’s our augmented reality special, looking at the myriad ways AR technology can be applied to engineering and technology. It’s also a very interactive special, so if you have a paper copy to hand there are plenty of pages waiting to leap in to life.

E&T magazine: AR special

We look at the Google Glass project (as seen on the cover of the new issue); how augmented reality could soon have a serious impact on the defence, medical and education industries; the ways in which retailers are turning to augmented reality to drive sales, brand reinforcement, customer relationships, and to improve the shopping experience; whether AR has a useful place in the industrial sector; how augmented reality can be used to deliver more immersive travel and learning experiences; and finally at how to develop AR apps, so we can all jump on the AR bandwaggon and cash in.

#Maersk Triple-E set to be the world’s largest and most fuel-efficient ship – an annotated graphic

People love the “world’s biggest [blank]” stories. While probably not high on the all-time list of Things That Are Awesome, the announcement by Danish shipping behemoth Maersk of its Triple-E container ship does at least make the grade, qualifying by dint of being the world’s largest and most fuel-efficient container ship.

Today’s infographic helpfully details the Triple-E from prow to stern, including the fascinating nugget that it will be able to transport approximately 108 million pairs of training shoes. This might not seem immediately relevant, until you consider that the ship’s intended route is from China to Europe. In the case of training shoes, this is a modern-day silk route directly from producer to consumer. Short of actually making the shoes on board the ship as it sails, this is about as direct as it gets.

Click on the graphic for an expanded view.

Maersk Triple-E container ship

#EandT photo competition results – check our #Flickr stream and nominate your favourites!

A couple of months ago, we launched a photo competition called ‘Bring E&T to Unusual Places!’ – or ‘BEATUP!’ for short. Not that making it shorter actually helped make it any more lucid, but that’s the kind of devil-may-care, anarchic fellows we are…

Anyhoo, the closing date for entries has now passed, so we’re going to draw up a shortlist of contenders, as well as picking a winner – and that’s where you come in. Take a look at the Flickr photostream of the entries received (with one notable exception, as regrettably the photo submitted of a naked reader in the bath protecting their modesty with a copy of E&T has sadly gone AWOL) and let us know which one(s) you like most. Add a comment here, tweet us @eandtmagazine, or email vvitaliev@theiet.org

Although this competition has closed, we still want to hear from more readers taking E&T to weird and wonderful places in the world. We’re creating an interactive map using Google Fusion that we’ll be adding to our website within the next few weeks, plotting all the places E&T has journeyed to, so readers are invited to contribute their own photos to the project. Let’s tag the planet for engineering and technology!

E&T Flickr photostream

Premier League adopts Hawkeye goal-line technology – an annotated graphic

Frustrated footballers of the last 40 years will likely be simultaneously revelling (for justice) and raging (at the memory of disallowed legitimate goals) with the news that the FA has finally decided to adopt goal-line technology.

From next season, all Premier League football grounds will have the Hawkeye camera system installed in both goals.  Referees and linesmen will also rejoice, as this should put an end to those embarrassing clusters of players haranguing the men in black in a determined effort to force a reversal of controversial decisions.

In a pleasing ironic twist, the British-based Hawkeye system beat German rival GoalControl to win the contract, although presumably not on penalties. E&T news covered the full goal-line technology story yesterday.

You might also enjoy this E&T video, about Hawkeye’s use of ball-tracking technology and the opportunities for gamification and use in entertainment.

Click on the graphic for an expanded view.

Premier League to select goal line technology

#WorldWaterDay 2013 and engineering solutions to water shortage – an annotated graphic

2013 has been declared the international year of water cooperation, as a burgeoning global human population continues to absorb every available drop of fresh water on the planet. Everyone needs it, but not everyone has it. Therein lies the rub.

Water shortage is also one of the Global Grand Challenges, as featured in a recent issue of E&T. The good news is that engineers and technologists now have some effective answers to the questions posed by water shortages.

Friday 21 March 2013 is World Water Day. Whatever it means to you, try using a little less water for one day at least.

Click on the graphic for an expanded view.

World Water Day 2013

#Boeing #Dreamliner 787 battery fix – an annotated graphic

Finally, some good news for Boeing, as the US Federal Aviation Administration approves its proposal to fix battery issues on the beleaguered 787 Dreamliner.

E&T also has our dedicated Boeing Dreamliner news page, which is dynamically updated every time we run a new story. It creates a neat timeline for the Dreamliner saga, one which is likely to run on for some time to come.

Click on the graphic for an expanded view.

Boeing 787 battery fix

#Apple #iWatch and #Samsung on the up – two annotated graphics

You can’t rest on your laurels for a second in the dog-eat-dog – or at least dog-surpass-dog – world of high-tech electronic gizmos and doodads. It’s not enough merely to come out with an iPhone 5 or iPad Mini or Galaxy SIII or Chromebook or what have you. Whoever you are, one’s competitors are always there, right behind you, snapping at your iHeels.

With this in mind, we have two infographics along these lines to share today. The first concerns Apple’s rumoured iWatch, the inevitable next must-have gadget; the second details Apple’s market share bare-knuckle fist-fight with Samsung and Google, both of whom are openly admiring of Apple’s lunch and express a keen desire to eat it. The iWatch must therefore fulfill its destiny to become the next weapon of mass ifunction for Apple in the war for the world’s wallets.

Update! E&T has reported the news from Samsung that it is planning some sort of super-techno watch as well. Now the competition is so fierce that even ideas and concepts can be trumped by one’s rivals! Our dynamically updated Apple news page is always worth a look to easily keep abreast of such twisty turny tech developments.

Click on either graphic for an expanded view.

Apple under pressure from Samsung and Google

Luxury cars abound at #GenevaMotorShow 2013 – an annotated graphic

Plenty of big-name marques have displayed their high-octane wares at the Geneva Motor Show, as today’s infographic illustrates. Rolls-Royce Wraith… Ferrari Enzo… a new Lamborghini… a new Corvette… the heck with our mid-life crisis, let’s put the pedal to the metal and burn up the road!

Click on the graphic for an expanded view.

Geneva Motor Show debuts