I was interested in something recently written by Jim Pinto that made me decide that in reality we know a lot about nothing.
He mentioned: "Around the world, honeybees are vanishing, leaving humans desperately trying to figure out the meaning of the exodus. Entire colonies of bees are flying off and not returning."
Vivian MacFadyen
Some of the possible reasons are pesticides, genetically modified crops, cellphones, and many other theories.
Whatever it is, the bees are in serious trouble because somehow man is messing with their natural senses. The big question is "What is - whatever it is - doing to us?" There are so many things that we do not fully understand, affecting things we do not know about; and that in itself is quite scary.
We are now in the wireless age and our bodies are being bombarded from every direction with electromagnetic waves of all sorts, yet we are ignorant about the eventual effect on our bodies. Many companies have developed wireless instrumentation with the capacity to transmit diagnostics as well as the measured variable. What is the effect on living organisms, and most importantly us?
Engineers have used lead for about a thousand years yet it is only recently that we have recognised the danger of lead in paint, fuel and solder. Many instrument manufacturers have courageously moved away from the use of lead in their soldering of electronic components at considerable expense. This is most commendable considering the social impact.
Pharmaceutical manufacturers have scrapped developments that have cost them millions of dollars after finding that their medicines adversely affect the patients they are treating. An example is Thalidomide where the decision to abort the use of this drug had to wait for hundreds of deformities in children before it was banned.
It is impossible to forecast the results of a new development before they actually present themselves. Let us hope that (if there is a problem) financial and political forces combined with pride do not hamper safety considerations before any lasting damage is done.
SAIMC: From the office of the CEO: Is AI turning us into idiots? SAIMC
SAIMC
When calculators were first introduced, there were several concerns, particularly in the educational sector. Many educators and parents feared that students would become too reliant on calculators and ...
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SAIMC
The SAIMC Johannesburg branch recently hosted the June Technology Evening. The presentation covered HVAC systems through the lens of instrumentation, highlighting how sensor technologies form the backbone of effective monitoring and control, allowing for effective energy efficiency.
Read more...SAIMC Durban branch SAIMC
SAIMC
The SAIMC Durban Branch hosted its latest technology meeting on 4 June.The event drew a strong turnout, highlighting the keen interest in the topic ‘Understanding Level Measurement: Contact vs Non-Contact Methods’.
Read more...SAIMC at KITE 2025
SAIMC
The Society for Automation, Instrumentation, Mechatronics and Control Engineering (SAIMC) invites you to connect with us at the KwaZulu-Natal Industrial Technology Exhibition (KITE) from Tuesday 22 to Thursday 24 July 2025.
Read more...SAIMC User Advisory Council annual summit SAIMC Supplier Advisory Council
SAIMC
The SAIMC User Advisory Council is proud to present the 2025 Annual Summit, formerly known as the MESA Africa Summit. The theme is ‘Mining and manufacturing in South Africa: SMART operations in a disruptive world economy’.
Read more...SAIMC: Durban branch SAIMC
SAIMC
The Durban branch of the SAIMC was pleased to welcome Vusi Sithole, managing member of Hybrid Control Corporation in Richards Bay, who presented\on the very pertinent topic of ‘Infrastructure monitoring and control for water loss management’.
Read more...SAIMC: Sunshine, swings and smiles: Durban Golf Day hits a high note Technews Publishing (SA Instrumentation & Control)
SAIMC
We say it every year, and we’ll say it again: May in Durban is hard to beat; but 9 May, when the Durban Golf Day teed off at Kloof Country Club, was something else. With sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 20s, it was a fantastic day, full of fun and great energy.
Read more...SAIMC User Advisory Council KS4I event: Bridging the industry/education divide
SAIMC
Horst Weinert, head of Didactic at Festo Southern/Eastern Africa, will be sharing some of Festo’s Didactic experiences of working across industry and education. He will cover training for productivity and employability in the public and private sectors, discussing especially the potential for inter-company training centres.
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