Month: April 2013

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US Navy plans to install high-power laser weapons on its boats – an annotated graphic

E&T magazine

The U.S. Navy has announced that it will deploy a laser weapon for the first time on one of its ships. The laser could be capable of shooting down drones and disabling vessels. Clearly excited at the prospect, Peter Morrison at the Office of Naval Research’s Solid-State Laser Technology Maturation Program, is reported as saying, “The future is here”. Technically, the future is never here, of course, as what is here now is the present. Grammatical time-slips aside, this development means the potential transformation of warfare – not least the cost of conducting it. Since the laser runs on electricity, it … Continue reading US Navy plans to install high-power laser weapons on its boats – an annotated graphic

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

E&T magazine

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

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

E&T magazine

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

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

E&T magazine

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. 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, … Continue reading New issue of #EandT magazine now online – #AugmentedReality special – AR brings E&T to life

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

E&T magazine

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

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

E&T magazine

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

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

E&T magazine

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