Automotive component makers are coming to terms with the concept of a safety element out of context, embedded in the ISO26262 functional safety standard. Steve Rogerson looks at what this involves.

  Steve Rogerson looks at some of the recent news that may have missed the front page.

Let’s pretend that the days of test automation adoption were around in Shakespearean times, it would literally have been a case of ‘to automate or not to automate, that is the question’.  However as the adoption of test automation has increased and become an integral part of every testing strategy, the real question is ‘to automate or how to automate.’ Well they are equally as important as each other.

While discussing the subject of technology, we in the west tend to have certain pre-conceived ideas when it comes to China. A country that is still perceived as something of an enigma for some, and which has a reputation as nothing more than an imitator that indulges in counterfeit activity and tends to completely ignore intellectual property, whilst pilfering ideas from the US and Europe to reassemble on the cheap.

Get into Biohazard mood with the officially-licensed Resident Evil 7 candle for you to burn while exercising your personal bloodshed! The £14.99/€19.99 accessory is appropriately putrid: its makers describe the Blood, Sweat and Fears 4D Candle as having odours of musty "old timber and blood". The creators call it the ultimate 4D experience, while the 3D game also holds a promise of being turned into VR.

Cyber threats are currently outpacing the defenders but it does not need to be the case. Attacks are increasing in number and type, with the overall impacts are becoming greater. Cybersecurity is struggling to keep our digital lives and assets protected from the onslaught of attacks but facing great challenges. By understanding the root causes, we can adapt and change the equation for everyone’s benefit. By Matthew Rosenquist

Responding to BEIS’ announcement on the progress of the UK’s smart meter roll-out, Stephen Haw, Partner at Baringa, said: “While the increase in the number of smart and advanced meters installed in the last quarter is welcome news, the overall goal of 50 million by 2020 is still a challenging one."

The future of autonomous driving is “made-in-Europe”. The European Agency for the global navigation satellite systems (GSA) has kicked-off ESCAPE, a three year and €5.4m project to exploit the services offered by Galileo, the European satellite navigation system, in the field of the automated driving.

No one will argue that the Internet of Things (IoT) is the buzzword in today’s internet driven world. From connected light bulbs to smart fridges and coffee machines, the IoT phenomenon is promising to change our lives in ways that weren’t imaginable a few years back.

The government of New South Wales, Australia, issued a call for energy storage proposals to help wind and solar generators deliver energy to the grid constantly. The call for proposals is part of the government’s Advanced Energy Challenge. Minister for Industry, Resources and Energy Anthony Roberts said that the initiative will stimulate new energy-related ideas and turn them into effective technologies and business models.

  A colourful world filled full of coconut-shaped sponges, dandelion-like worms, pink algae and spidery starfish has been captured through an underwater robot, which caught a rare glimpse beneath the Antarctic sea ice.

UK government ministers have today proposed a safety test for drone users following a consultation on drone safety. This follows a raft of developments around the world as governments begin to crack down on irresponsible drone use.

It would be difficult to argue that the technological advancements that have been made in recent years have not been for the betterment of humanity. Almost every aspect of technology has been designed to make our lives easier, safer and even make us live longer – from ADAS in our cars and robotic surgery to smart homes and the IoT.

The first European operator to offer its business and retail customers in Rome, Palermo and Sanremo speeds of up to 500Mbps in download on its mobile 4.5G network is TIM. The service is available starting today with the new Sony Xperia XZ smartphone, the first compatible smartphone which is an exclusive to TIM.

  In the 1950s the most common job for American women was a secretary, now into the next century and that still has not changed. Though while women are trying to break through the 'glass ceiling', perhaps it's made of gorilla glass.

Now open for entries, is a new Infrastructure Robot Challenge, which is part of the second annual UK Robotics Week 2017, a national week of celebration being held 24th–30th June 2017.  Robotics researchers from around the world are invited to sign up now for the international ‘Robots for Resilient Infrastructure’ Challenge event, which will be held at University of Leeds from 27th–28th June 2017. Registrations of inte...

  The board game was due for a touch of the digital revolution. And it comes in the form of Beasts of Balance; the inventive, addictive game which essentially reimagines Jenga for the iPhone generation.

On 15th December in Eindhoven, internationally renowned speakers and IoT enthusiasts will gather to debate the way our increasingly digitised society develops in the context of the entirely new internet emerging. It will not be an Internet of Things event, but an Internet of People event, in which the citizen/individual is the key.

In 2016, operators worldwide began strategising how NFV could play a central role in their networks, as they hoped to drive efficiencies and move to a more flexible Internet Protocol (IP)-based communications model. VoLTE deployments continued, but at a slower rate than anticipated, due to a number of teething problems in deploying the technology and uncertainty around customer up-take.

This is the time of year when many look forward and make a series of predictions and resolutions. Well, what a year of surprises 2016 has turned out to be and it really does highlight the difficulties facing those tasked with planning for the future.