Success Mastermind Alliances

Happy New Year

2010-01-03T18:54:00.010Z

2010 - Happy New Year

Bit late I know...but here's wishing you a Happy New year...

Christmas came and went...

It seemed that the end of 2009 went by in a blur and before I knew it, 2010 was here...:-)

Preparing for Christmas was fun...a guided walk on Hampstead Heath (lost all the photographs I'm afraid...camera's mechanism seized up, due to the very cold weather on the day, I think...it meant that I couldn't shut the power down...a lot of photographs erased...*sigh* such is life....)

Went on a guided Christmas Walk in Hyde Park , learnt more about Hyde Park...:-)

Then the snow came...in bucketload...settled and became dangerously slippery...

Saw a matinee production of Oz on Ice at Alexandra Palace...had lots of much needed small mince pies and tea during the interval...:-)

Here's to 2010

Christmas came and went...here's to a successful and healthy 2010.

The year of robots and tablet pc?

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2010. All rights reserved.

Climate Change

2009-10-14T15:12:00.068+01:00

Climate Change

Copenhagen is hosting the final gathering of world leaders for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The struggle to agree to global, effective, sustainable and practical solutions to stop, slow the pace or reverse climate change due to global warming and save Planet Earth, from an untimely demise (due to our self indulgent, unseeing, selective hearing lifestyles) continues unabated - despite national, economics and political differences.

The Greenhouse Effect

The effect of global warming (also called the greenhouse effect), is sapping the life out of our planet.

Researchers have linked the greenhouse effect to a range and concentration of different gases in the earth’s atmosphere.

While water vapour is reported to be the most significant contribution to the greenhouse effect, it is followed by carbon dioxide (CO2) emission in the atmosphere.

The increasing atmospheric greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide in particular, and the adverse consequences for the global climate are raising concerns.

The atmospheric content of these gases in the environment has risen rapidly over the latest 250 years, and especially in the last 50 years.

The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is currently about 385 parts per million (ppm). Prior to the Industrial revolution, the concentration of carbon dioxide was an estimated 280 ppm.

Analyses of air contained in ice from the Antarctic ice cap implies that current atmospheric carbon dioxide is at its highest level (in comparison to the previous 650,000 years).

The implication is that the greenhouse effect is becoming stronger - consequently the earth is becoming warmer. Despite the raw visual evidence of climate change (extinction of plants and animals, more frequent extreme weather), some people continue to question the causal link and dispute the degree of change in the earth's temperature.

The 2007 assessment, the most current assessment available from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), concluded that the earth’s average temperature rose by 0.74 degrees between 1906 to 2005.

The earth temperature rise is reported to be stronger over land areas than over the sea, hence it is strongest in the northern hemisphere. Concurrently the occurrences of heat waves and violent downpours have also increased, ocean levels have risen, and ice at the world’s poles and on its mountains are melting.

Scientific researchers maintain that these events and conditions are directly linked to the Earth's greenhouse effect and global warming.

The Thames Barrier

The Thames Barrier was designed to protect London from flooding, up to the year 2070. The estimated defence level, made in 1970, included long term changes in sea and land level as understood around 1970. After 2070 the protection afforded by The Thames Barrier was expected to decrease, but remain within acceptable safety limits. Since then, sea level rise due to global warming has been identified. Currently, the Thames Barrier is expected to be able to cope with projected sea level rises until around 2060–2070. In 2005, a replacement for The Thames Barrier was publicly discussed and is currently being investigated, estimated cost is astronomical.

In its most recent report, the IPCC's assessment report concluded that the average temperature will continue to rise. However, the assessment implies that the extent and the duration of this rise, and the severity of its consequences will depend on how quickly and how effectively greenhouse gases emissions can be restricted and reduced.

Global Impact of Increase in the Earth's temperature

The Met Office (the UK's national weather service) have released a map of the expected global catastrophe if an agreement is not reached in Copenhagen to ensure that the earth temperature increases by no more than 2 degree Celsius by the end of the century.

Global catastrophe if world leaders cannot agree a solution to global warming in Copenhagen include:

rise in sea level

crop failure

food shortage

shortage of clean drinking water

Impact of a global temperature rise of 4 degree Celsius (7 degree Fahrenheit).

The Head of Climate Change Advice at the Met Office (UK's national weather service), Vicky Pope concluded that, "If emissions continue at the current rate the global average temperature are likely to rise by 4 degrees Celsius by the end of this century or even substantially earlier. The science tells us that this will have severe and widespread impacts in all parts of the world, so we need to take action now to reduce emissions to avoid water and food shortages in the future."

Director of the Science Museum and Professor of Climate Science at University College London, Professor Chris Rapley CBE, added "The map provides graphic evidence of the dramatic transformation of our world that a 4 degree (Celsius) global temperature rise would trigger. It leaves no doubt of the paramount importance of a successful outcome of the Copenhagen negotiations."

Looking for solutions

The Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF) (chaired by Ed Millibank, UK Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change) highlighted "solutions", such as:

Carbon sequestration - a geoengineering technique for long-term storage of carbon dioxide (and other forms of carbon).

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

However, USA Secretary of Energy, Dr Stephen Chu pointed out that these "solutions" would only account for 20 - 25 per cent of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Additionally the technologies are untested, need to be disseminated and their capacities and capabilities monitored and measured in situ. The New York City Parks Department considers London Plane Tree a good contender for carbon capture and storage in their city.

The South Africa Minister of Energy, Elizabeth Dipuo Peters concluded that while evolving African States may not be able to contribute financially towards these new technologies, their focus remains on:

promoting efficient use of energy

promoting renewable energy sources

Bringing together appropriate representatives of the "developed", "developing" and evolving nations for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is a good way forward... it brings a global, economically and environmentally sustainable and viable agreement to the interpreted analyses, ongoing causes and possible solutions to Climate Change that much closer to becoming a reality.

While the Kyoto agreement was an important first stage implementation of workable solutions in decreasing the rate of greenhouse gas emissions and the adverse effect of climate change...more needs to be done and is being demanded by those whose homes and livelihood are in immediate danger of been swallowed by the rising sea level.

It is to be hoped that common sense will prevail and override political differences at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 15) in Copenhagen, 7th - 18th December 2009.

Update

Climate Change - Discussion and Negotiation begins
With thousands of protesters marching towards the conference hall in Copenhagen, representatives from the "Industrial Countries" complain: Climate Change draft should have made stronger demands on major developing countries like China and India

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo, 2009. Photograph by Abimbola Akanwo 2009. All rights reserved.

Robots

2009-04-21T09:58:00.044+01:00

Robots

The robotic industry is a fast growing market in Japan and Korea.

An acceptance of robots as more than moderately intelligent machines built for domestic, manufacturing and industrial servitude is filtering from Japan to the rest of the world - examples include:-

PARO - the "healing" seal pup. PARO learns ways of making itself more acceptable and likeable to its owner - by learns from its owner. PARO is now sold in the USA as well as in Japan.

Asimo - car maker, Honda Motor Co. developed Asimo. While Asimo is not exactly human like, it is described as a "humanoid" robot. Asimo can walk, talk, run and follow instructions given to it.

Saya - Professor Hiroshi Kobayashi (Tokyo University of Science) developed Saya (one of his many robotic creations). Humanoid Saya with sophisticated hardware and software voice recognition is multilingual. Saya has been deployed as receptionist, a secretary and is now capable of taking roll call and set school children tasks from a text book. After a successful trial at a Tokyo primary school, Saya is scheduled to start teaching at a Tokyo school.

Saya's latex face was modelled on a university student. Motors wired to Saya's latex face enables the face to be "expressive". Saya's latex facial expression include surprise, sadness, happiness, fear, disgust and anger.

Repliee Q2 and Geminoid HI-1 were developed by Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro at Osaka University Intelligent Robotics Laboratory. Ishiguro's actroid - humanoid robot with lifelike appearances and visible behaviour (such as facial movements) are a testament to his claim that one day robots could fool humankind into believing that they are human.

The growing robotic industry and trends can be divided into:

Academics and research robots - the military is expected to be one of the biggest buyers of robots.

The cost of war in terms of loss of human lives is increasingly seen as unacceptable. Besides, autonomous robots,unmanned ground vehicles, robot planes and mini drones can gather intelligence, transmit the data to base for analyses and fight wars more efficiently than humankind

Design and development robots - Duke University and the University of Mexico engineers are developing a system based on the pursuit-evasion game "Marco Polo" that will allow robots to detect a moving target and intercept it.

Practical applications are expected to vary from security systems (for tracking intruders such as enemy ships, burglars or endangered species) to hazard detecting systems (for radiation or environmental hazards)

The researchers main challenge is in developing the artificial intelligence to control the robots and their sensors without direct human input.

Industrial robots - covers industrial automation robot such as the mobile “ROPTALMU” (the International Strategic Manufacturing Award 2008 winner).

ROPTALMU is a light portable robot. It's function is to drill holes with a high degree of precision in large aeronautical components - such as aircraft wing spans, during the assembly stage.

Normally designed for specific set of functions, industrial robots are unable to detect obstacles, such as a humankind standing within the swing radius of its reach - industrial robots are therefore considered dangerous to approach while in operation (fatalities have been reported in Japan, Korea, and Europe).

Most industrial robot manufacturers specify a blocked off safety area around the robot to prevent anyone approaching the robot while the robot is in operation.

Reported accidents tend to occur while a robot is being programmed, repaired, or walked through the process of learning a new procedure - when engineers and technicians are more likely to be within the danger zone and the robot’s actions are less predictable than under normal conditions.

Personal robotics- the Japanese designed PARO robot is designed to look like an harp seal pup.

Covered in pure white synthetic fur, PARO's built-in intelligence provides psychological, physiological, and social effects through physical interaction with human beings.

PARO imitates animal behaviour - responding to light, sound, temperature, touch and posture, and eventually develops its own character.

The goal is to turn the robot into a “living” cherished pet that provides companionship, entertainment and relaxation to the owner.

PARO is described as perfect for those who cannot take care of real animals and those who live in places where live animals are prohibited, including hospitals, elder care centers and nursing homes. PARO went on sale in Japan in March 2005. It went on sale in the USA in January 2009.

Service robots - South Korea's robotic industry is one of the fastest-growing area in the country's successful electronics and high-tech manufacturing sectors.

South Korea sees its robotic industry a major contributor to the country’s growth in the next five years.

With plans to have at least 10 per cent share of the world's robotic industry market by 2018, South Korea is investing 1 trillion won (741 million USD) into the industry for development, research, marketing and joint-ventures).

South Korean's and the world's first robot-themed park, Robert Land in Incheon is scheduled for completion in 2014.

Security and Defence robots
Military worldwide are in need of autonomous robots for their defence operations and for warfare.

The USA military for example has used unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) such as iRobot’s PackBot successfully for explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) - the UGV simply roll up and set off the explosive.

Robot roles in the military are evolving, PackBot and other UGVs have been used for varied tasks from EOD to route clearance, reconnaisance, observation, and, in combat situation replacing (point position) an infantry squad clearing buildings, caves and other enclosed spaces.

While most robots are currently used for reconnaissance duties, military history (predator UAV) suggests that robots could soon take on strike roles as well as logistic roles such as automated supply convoys.

21st century wars are likely to be fought by autonomous robotic systems

Robotic - a glimpse of the future

The future robots - actroid

In 2009, the Australian Government initiated Next Generation Military Robot competition, MAGIC (Multi-Autonomous Ground-Robotic International Challenge) should produce some innovative ideas and implementations of next generation warfare robots.

The Warfare Conference 2010 promises to be a "must go to" event.

Update
Meet Zeno...character robots are a fascinating development area - some of the latest developments are summarised here.

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2009. All rights reserved.

Peace

2009-11-08T04:06:00.015Z

Peace

Today is Remembrance Sunday. Dona Nobis Pacem.

The Royal British Legion believes that "Remembrance Sunday, the second Sunday in November, is the day traditionally put aside to remember all those who have given their lives for the peace and freedom we enjoy today. On this day people across the nation pause to reflect on the sacrifices made by our brave Service men and women."

In remembering the sacrifices of the service men and women:

For The Fallen (1914)- Fourth stanza
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
- Laurence Binyon (1869-1943). Poet and art critic

War and tragedy

We often forget the tragedy that is, war. The torn and broken lives of those that are left behind.

It is some of those left behind after the "Great War (World War I), forced to continue the sacrifices - mothers, sisters, widows (many with young children), and sweethearts, who in 1933, created the White Poppies - a symbol for peace. The white poppy is now a symbol for "peace without violence."

Peace One Day

Filmmaker and founder of Peace One Day, Jeremy Gilley fostered a United Nations level agreement for a designated day for Peace One Day (21st September - "an annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence day)

World at War

Despite the many wars, many sacrifices and the many blood already shed, our world is till at war.

War amongst neighbours (near and far neighbours), war between brothers and sisters.

The white poppy and its symbolism is more needed than ever in the current climate of hatred and intolerance. It is for this that this blog beseeched:
Dona Nobis Pacem. Grant us Peace.

Symbolic Garden of Peace

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2009. Copyright © Photograph by Abimbola Akanwo 2009. All rights reserved.

Open House London

2009-09-22T18:41:00.046+01:00

Open House London 2009

"Unleashing my inner nosey neighbour" instincts at this year's Open House London weekend was restricted to just the Saturday.

Visited:

Alexandra Palace: the old BBC studio (where the first high definition TV was transmitted) and the Alexandra Palace Theatre (from a distance, due to health and safety issues).

Royal Academy of Arts (unplanned, but glad to have made it to the last tour on the day).

Alexandra Palace, BBC TV studio
The Open House London official book implies that 35 people at a time would be allowed into the old BBC tv studio.

To comply with health and safety regulations, firemen inspected the tv studio a few days before the event and decided that only 10 people at a time would be allowed into the studio.

Alexandra Palace, Open House London, direction

Unsurprisingly, the queue for the BBC TV studio was already fairly long by 10:45 hrs; the queue was already beyond the "expect a 1 hour wait from this point" sign, taped on the low railings positioned to help aligned the queue.

The documentary "BBC Television at Alexandra Palace" in the Londesborough Room seemed more inviting than a long wait in the queue (in bright and burning sunlight).

Alexandra Palace, Londesborough Room - Open House London

The queue had grown longer by the time I rejoined it after watching the documentary. An hour and a half after rejoining the queue, ten of us were counted into the BBC Tower 9the building housing the transmitter and the tv studio).

Two short flight of stairs later, we gazed in amazement and delight at the studio reconstruction - the "result of many hours of voluntary work by the Alexandra Palace Television Society, the Ferguson Group and the Test Card Circle".

Poster: "Television Comes To London"

BBC TV Studio Museum

Many thanks to the members of the Alexandra Palace Television Society, the Ferguson Group and the Test Card Circle who were there to explain and answer questions on the exhibits.

We were promised that next year, we will be able to have our photographs taken, standing or sitting amongst the TV studio waxwork. Madame Tussauds could have a competitor...

Reconstructed BBC TV control room

About Alexandra Palace

Royal Academy of Arts
Deciding to go to an Open House London guided tour at the Royal Academy of Arts at Burlington House was a spur of the moment decision.

Best decision of the day - we were treated to a jam-packed two hours of knowledgeable and insightful talk and descriptions by Richard Kirwan, a Senior Tutor at the Royal Academy Schools.

Our Royal Academy of Arts' tour included:

the history of Burlington House (the Royal Academy of Arts have been based in Burlington House since 1867).

the ongoing work in The John Madejski Fine Rooms.

brief historical background on some of the founder Academicians - Sir Joshua Reynolds, Benjamin West (an American), Thomas Gainsborough...

we were taken to the Royal Academy Research Library (despite having overstayed our welcome by this stage! We thankfully had some knowledgeable people in our group who kept asking questions, the rest of us just listened raptly to the questions and the answers!).

We were welcomed by "John" in the Library (sorry, didn't catch the surname). John mentioned that they refer to the nameless Roman statue in the Research Library as "wounded knee":-)

The Royal Academy Research Library is described as the "oldest Institutional fine Arts Library in the United Kingdom", it is an amazing room.

we were shown around the Royal Academy Schools Understandably we weren't allowed near the students' ongoing work. Various sculptors and masterpieces doted around the Schools were pointed out to us.

The Royal Academy of Arts Research Library and the sculpture, "Wounded Knee"

Outside in the Annenberg Courtyard, Anish Kapoor's new sculpture, "Tall Tree and the Eye" (which was being installed in the Courtyard) took on a more fascinating meaning and understanding).

We walked out onto Piccadilly to hear the Fortnum & Mason clock chime six o'clock. We watched as the two figures popped out of the clock case, stood still to be admired, pirouette once, returned to their original position then moved back inside the clock case...

Fortnum & Mason clock

We had cream tea at Patisserie Valerie, a few doors from Fortnum & Mason. A perfect end to a perfect Saturday morning and afternoon.

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. All photographs taken and owned by Abimbola Akanwo. 2009. All rights reserved.

Freerunning

2009-08-16T22:46:00.042+01:00

Freerunning and Freerunners

The world of freerunning and freerunners came to Trafalgar Square on Saturday, 15th August and consigned Anthony Gormley One & Other project to the sideline.

Watching a Plinther in Trafalgar Square - evening, 10th July

Freerunning

The phrase freerunning (free running) was introduced to the English speaking population during the filming of the documentary Jump London, by means of presenting parkour to the English-speaking world.

Jump London was a 2003 Channel 4 feature documentary about parkour and free running (directed by Mike Christie and produced by Optomen Television; its sequel also directed by Christie, Jump Britain was televised in January 2005).

Jump London filmed three French traceurs, Sébastien Foucan, Jerome Ben Aoues, and Johann Vigroux, as they free run around some of London's most famous landmarks, including Royal Albert Hall, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, HMS Belfast.

While movements associated with parkour seem disciplined, calculated, controlled and described as a philosophy; freerunning seems acrobatic, showmanship oriented, very much a street discipline and requires spectators.

Trafalgar Square:Freerun - stage set-up

Trafalgar Square: Freerun stage and Nelson's Column

The World Freerun Championship packed Tralfalgar Square to the brim. 8,000 tickets were issued. The rest of us without a ticket had to queue up for 3 - 4 hours before we could get in.

Trafalgar Square: Stage, Freerunner and Spectators

Freerunner, Tim "Livewire" Shieff (UK)

Incredibly on a sunny day with so much going on in London (including the ITU Triathlon in Hyde Park), we all queued patiently.

Children peered through the tiny narrow gaps between the barriers; people stood on the bus stop seat to look over the barriers; policemen, security people and the National Portrait Gallery staffs came out onto the already condoned off steps of the Gallery pleading "keep moving" as we gathered on the steps, camera trained at the freerunners on the stage intent on getting a good shot, any shot to be honest...:-)

One & Other

The Plinthers on the fourth plinth were (sadly) totally ignored before and during the freerunning competition.

A Plinther on the plinth, looking away from the workmen setting up the stage for the Freerun championship

We briefly looked towards the fourth plinth when someone shouted "Oh, look, he's pogo jumping", we glanced at the Plinther, only to see him pogo-jumping and watching the freerunners on the stage...:-)

Winner, Runners-up and Official Photographs

1st - Tim "Livewire" Shieff (UK)

2nd - Victor "Showtime" Lopez (USA)

3rd - Jason Paul (Germany)

Please Don't Try This At Home

Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince

2009-07-08T11:14:00.040+01:00

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Got drenched as I walked from Charing Cross Station to Leicester Square for the World Premiere of the Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince.

Had assumed that the heavy rain would have scared off most of the fans and my late arrival at around 5:30 would not be too much of a disaster for getting a good position to take photographs...fat chance:-)

Most fans were better prepared with some camping out overnight according to the BBC report of the premiere.

Running mascara and screaming Harry Potter fans

Leicester Square was jam-packed. The heavy rain had not made a difference - if you ignore the running mascaras on some women, rain matted hair and very wet clothes, Leicester Square was just like any other premiere.

Oh, okay, there's another difference, most of the fans at the premiere were girls, young girls with good lungs and not afraid to use them - my eardrums are still recovering...The boys and men (wisely) stood at the back - not wishing to get in the way.

Worldwide fans at the World Premiere

Actually, there was another difference, I suspect some fans had travelled to London to be at the World premiere...I recognized at least two languages (Spanish and German) spoken urgently and rapidly into mobile phones, followed by relieved laughter (it's easy to lose a friend or relative at these crowded London events).

Poster: Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince

The fans clamoured with outstretched hands for the large damp cardboard posters depicting scenes from Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince.

It was a good night...

Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe and the rest of the stars...

We were told that Emma Watson (who played Hermione Granger) and Daniel Radcliffe (who played Harry Potter) were already inside the cinema...

Some of the fans demanded that the "star guest greeters" (no idea what their official title is) should go into the cinema and bring Watson out... no joy there.

However, I took a some photographs of
Helena Bonham Carter (who played Bellatrix Lestrange in the film) and (squeal!) JK Rowling.

For the film trailer, click Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince

[NOTE : You have to click on the MENU once the page loads - Enjoy...:-)]

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2009. All rights reserved.

Secret of Success

2009-06-11T14:35:00.008+01:00

Secret of Success

Richard St John's TED talk on the 8 secrets of success was funny, concise (delivered in 3.30 minutes) and relevant.

Worth listening to, ("an idea worth spreading"):
[NOTE: At the time of writing, there's some sort of interaction issues between Google Chrome and TED talk videos, you may need to watch using another browser. I watched the video using Internet Explorer (IE) 8. It's been pointed out to me that Firefox would be a better choice of browser. You may also prefer Opera or Safari to the IE].

Best secret to success?

At a guess, it would have to be a toss up between passion or persistence.

Persistence implies continuous action (passion doesn't necessarily involve action - it's an intensity of emotion, though crucial to success as well...)

So, the best secret to success from St John's TED talk presentation was "Persist through failure... Persist through CRAP [Criticism, Rejection, Assholes and Pressure = CRAP]

Thank you TED. Thank you Richard St John. Here's to success.

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2009. All rights reserved.

IET Centenary Kelvin Lecture:Creating the Invisibility Cloak

2009-03-16T07:52:00.033Z

IET Centenary Kelvin Lecture

The IET Kelvin Lecture was established in 1908 as a memorial to the life and work of the Irish Physicist and Engineer, William Thomson (1824 - 1907).

Professor William Thomson later became the First Baron Kelvin of Largs.

Thomson was made a Peer of the Realm in 1892. He chose the name Lord Kelvin after a river that ran next to the University of Glasgow

Thomson, a member of over 80 institutions and scientific societies, was the President of the IEE in 1874, 1889 and 1907.

The IEE (Institution of Electrical Engineers) and the IIE (Institute of Incorporated Engineers) merged in 2006 and formed IET (The Institution of Engineering and Technology).

The IET Centenary Kelvin Lecture was given by theoretical Physicist and Condensed Matter Theorist, Professor Sir John Pendry (Imperial College London); topic - Creating the Invisibility Cloak: New Horizons in Electromagnetism.

Creating the Invisibility Cloak: New Horizons in Electromagnetism

Electromagnetism is a mainstay of most of current modern technology.

Electromagnetism is the capability and ability to deploy materials that can control the component electric and magnetic fields.

Pioneering research has created novel materials, metamaterials.

Metamaterials's extraordinary abilities and capabilities include:

perfect lens with negative refractive index

lenses unconstrained by the wavelength of light, whose resolution is constrained only by limitations in the lens manufacturing processes.

Meta materials provide the ability to cloak. Cloaks have been designed and built to hide objects within them, while they remain completely invisible to outside observers.

Metamaterials's properties are determined by their internal physical structure and their chemical composition. The structure are less than the wavelength of light.

Meta materials's responses to a wavelength can be described by an electrical permittivity and magnetic permeability.

Creating the Invisibility Cloak: New Horizons in Electromagnetism

Professor Sir John Pendry, The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London.

From: The IET Centenary Kelvin Lecture.

2009-03-12 04:45:27.0 Electronics Channel

>> go to webcast >> recommend to friend

About Lord Kelvin

Thomson studied and is credited with laying the foundations to current understanding and applications of thermodynamics, electrodynamics, hydrodynamics and geophysics.

Thomson successfully:

established a laboratory at the University of Glasgow, where he was the Professor of Natural Philosophy (from 1846 - 1899). He was one of the first Lecturer to teach Physics in a laboratory.

correctly estimated the age of the earth from solidification

introduced an absolute unit increment of temperature, kelvin, symbol K. Kelvin is now one of seven International System (SI) of units.

The Kelvin scale is a thermodynamic (absolute) temperature scale. At absolute zero,(0 K), the theoretical thermal energy is zero.

constructed instruments and tools, including:
- a siphon recorder and mirror galvanometer for telegraphy
- a tide predictor (constructed in 1872, Thomson used his tide predictor to form a theoretical framework for the revolution of the earth's poles and the cause of ocean tides - Thomson's theory was confimed by computers in the 1950s.

Thomson’s successfully took over and redesigned cable laid in the failed first Atlantic Cable of 1858. He had shown, theoretically that electricity could be transmitted through cables under water.

His theory was successfully proven when a cable linking India and Europe via the Persian Gulf was laid in 1864 and telegraphy transmission was established between India and Europe.

About Professor Sir John Pendry

Professor Sir John Pendry is a leader in the research and applications of metamaterials - the interaction of electrons and photons with surfaces.

Metamaterials have the potential and capability for invisibility and a perfect lens where the lens resolution is unconstrained by the wavelength of light.

Pendry and scientists at The Marconi Company designed a series of metamaterials. Metamaterials properties are a congruent of their micro-structure (rather than the constituent materials) - forming novel materials that are not found in nature.

Pendry's many pioneering and ingenious research work includes:

electronic and photonic interactions

solving problems in photonics by introducing computer based methodology to study metallic (hence dispersive) photonic crystals.

International Polar Year (IPY)

2009-02-25T07:53:00.011Z

International Polar Year

The International Polar Year (IPY) is possibly the largest interdisciplinary scientific research programme focused on the polar regions (the Arctic and the Antarctic).

The IPY programme covered science, education and outreach. Scientists from over 60 countries are involved in the IPY project.

50,000 people (scientists, researchers and others ) from more 60 countries are involved in research ranging from anthropology, astronomy, health, history, genomics and glaciology.

The fourth International Polar Year, from March 2007 to March 2009 is almost concluded. The data collected are now undergoing analyses.

The "observational period" of IPY 2007-8 has just began. The observational period will include:

comprehensive data analyses

development of new scientific understanding about the polar regions.

Early results from IPY 2007-8 will be presented in Norway, in June 2010. Further data analysis results will be presented in Canada in 2012.

Evidence of global environmental change

Results from the IPY multidisciplinary research implies new evidence of the widespread effects of global warming in the polar regions.

Initial analyses of research data implies that:

snow and ice are declining in both polar regions (the arctic and the antarctic)

the melting snow and ice are affecting the inhabitants of the region ("human livelihoods", local plant and animal life in the Arctic are all affected.

the melting snow and ice are also affecting oceans, atmospheric circulation and sea level

International Polar Days

During the IPY 2007-8, frequent International Polar Days raised and increased awareness about specific aspects of the polar regions.

The IPY Joint Committee released the ‘State of Polar Research’ report on the 25th February.

International Polar Days: March 17th - 26th, the Polar Oceans. Polar Oceans is promising to focus on marine biodiversity, physical oceanography and more.

Looking forward to it:-)

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2009. All rights reserved.

Translator

2009-02-11T17:16:00.003Z

Translating my blog

Okay, this is either going to work, which would be brilliant or I would have wasted valuable time and get very cross with google.

According to my understanding, this google tool should translate this blog into any of the selected languages given in the list.

Fingers crossed. Test...

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2009. All rights reserved.

Metamaterials - Creating the Invisibility Cloak

2009-01-22T15:14:00.018Z

Meta Materials and the invisible cloak

J.K Rowling's Harry Potter's invisible cloak raised a laugh or two in the Harry Potter books.

A 21st century class of materials, metamaterials - using electromagnetism, modern technology, deployment of materials that can control electric and magnetic field components are about to provide us with practical invisibility cloak.

Metamaterials

Metamaterials properties are determined by their physical structure and their chemical composition. The novel materials exhibits properties not found in nature.

While the micro-structure properties reflect traces of the constituent materials, the metamaterial properties are independent of the constituent material.

Applications of metamaterials have created micro-structure with negative refractive index and lenses whose resolution are not constraint by the wavelength of light but by constraint of precision manufacturing.

Invisibility Cloaks

Invisibility technology designs and build cloaks that envelope and hide object within them, the cloaks are invisible to external observers.

Professor Sir John Pendry's research into the surface interaction of electrons and photons highlights the potential for invisibility, cloak invisibility and perfect lens with resolution unconstraint by the wavelength of light.

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo 2009. All rights reserved.

The Seven Things You Don't Need To Know About Me

2009-01-07T09:49:00.022Z

Seven things You Don't need to know about me

Left to my own devices, no one would know much about me apart from the odd bits and piece strewn across the various things I'd written or posted on the web.

It would be difficult to piece them all together unless you are really determined and likes reading or you're comfortable with text data mining and have appropriate data mining tools:-)

Jo McLeay tagged me with the "seven things you don't need to know about me" meme. Thanks Jo!.

You don't need to know...

Seven things about me that I don't particularly want to disclose (personal disclosure seems narcissistic, it feels uncomfortable somehow).

Besides, why would you want to know or not know personal things about me?

For what it's worth, here goes:-

About me

I have 5 brothers and 3 sisters. I'm the oldest.

My first language is Yoruba. When I tried to speak Yoruba at my maternal Grandmother's funeral in Nigeria, my cousins practically rolled about laughing. I was their entertainment for the day (with my childish, outdated vocabularies, the hesitant words spoken with a bad accent):-)

I speak Yoruba with an accent apparently. One cousin finally admitted (while clutching her side with laughter), that I speak Yoruba with an English accent!!. I'm still not sure what she meant!!

Loves cars but I don't drive. Never got round to focusing on driving lessons long enough to pass the test. Would love to take a car apart and rebuild to my own specifications. Well on my way to being a "petrol head".

Loves snow but not really keen on walking on snow. I once fell down on an icy patch. Needs to get over it:-)

I've read and studied "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill:-)

I'm a "Jack of all trade, master of none..." type. My interests range from Physics to Law. I particularly like the analyses of legal matters and legal (national and international Law) applications.

Physics and Law are a deliciously dangerous combination:-)

I like systems engineering, software design and engineering, coding, testing and configuration:-)

Thank you...

Thank you for reading.

I'm done here...

Jo, my obligation's concluded.:-) Cheers.

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo 2009. All rights reserved.

Digital cameras

2008-12-04T12:56:00.035Z

Digital camera, DSC-P10

A digital camera is a must if:

you feel that photography is time consuming

good photographs need patience

patience is not one of your forte

My Physics course included six weeks on photography and photograph development. In a group of 14 students, I was the odd one out who hadn't taken a photograph and developed it by the third tutorial workshop.

Refusing to accept the lame excuse that I didn't own a camera, our tutor shoved the Physics Department's camera at me after the third session of passive inactivity on my part. Told to make sure that I came back with a photograph for the next morning's workshop session, I figured that I didn't have much option.

Wandered aimlessly into the local park early the next morning looking vaguely for something photogenic.

I chose an old oak tree and to my surprise (and horror, to be honest) started to enthusiastically photograph the tree from different angles. The photography development session went well. I never did thank the tutor for the push. This is my thank you.

My first camera is a compact digital camera. A Sony digital camera, Cybershot DSC-P10.

Idiot-friendly cameras

I needed my own camera to take snap shots at family gatherings.

Despite the feel good experience during the almost forgotten Physics photography workshop, I still wasn't too keen on standing around waiting for the perfect camera shots, nor did I want to take a lot of camera shots in the hope that one will turn out trumps.

I wanted a camera, but it had to be a straight-forward camera, nothing fancy.

After checking out various digital cameras, Sony DSC-P10 won. It did everything I wanted, photo, video and it has a smart zoom. For me, it was idiot-proof and idiot-friendly, my kind of camera. Set, point and click for photos or just set and point for videos.

Some photographs taken with Sony DSC-P10:

London rooftop - showing the BT Tower

Gadget manuals bore me to tears. Preferring to try things out and find out what works and what doesn't, I avoid referring to equipment manuals unless I'm really stuck. So for a long time, my Sony DSC-P10 showed the date on each photo I took:-)

London rooftop - the London Eye can be seen in the distance

Fund raising event by members of Barnet Busters for Breakthrough Breast Cancer Walk 2005:

Barnet Busters members, friends

Barnet Busters members - home-made cake stall

Barnet Busters members on knick-knack stall

Sony DSC-P10, my BF?

Oh, alright maybe I exaggerate a little. My Sony DSC-P10 is not exactly my best fried, it is however, now, an extension of me!.

The camera goes everywhere with me.

A friend borrowed the camera and reset it so that the date no longer deface the photographs!!.

More recent photographs taken with my compact DSC-P10 camera are here

Camera limitations and moving beyond idiot-proof cameras

Now fairly comfortable with the DSC-P10, its limitations are becoming too restricting.

Now on the lookout for another camera, not necessarily a compact digital camera, This time, there's the motivation to learn to be semi-professional for the sake of a good photograph.

With infinite expectations now in place, only an SLR camera or a digital SLR camera will suffice.

An SLR (single lens reflex) or a digital SLR (DSLR - digital single lens reflex) will probably be taxing and no doubt will try my patience to the nth degree, but the improved photographs should theoretically compensate in some way;-)

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo 2008. All photographs are by Abimbola Akanwo. All rights reserved.

Field of Remembrance

2007-11-11T22:08:00.000Z

We will remember them

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

Robert Laurence Binyon (1869 - 1943)

In memory of Majorie Jordine

"At the going down of the sun and in the morning", I also remember Majorie Jordine, who lost her battle against breast cancer on the 8th September 2007 at 00:47 hrs, the morning I joined over 1000 people on a sponsored 44Km (26 miles) walk through London in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo 2007. All rights reserved.

London Marathon 2008

2008-04-13T01:41:00.072+01:00

London Marathon

Former Olympic champion Chris Brasher wrote an an article for The Observer in 1979, hours after running the New York Marathon. The article began, "To believe this story you must believe that the human race be one joyous family, working together, laughing together, achieving the impossible. Last Sunday, in one of the most trouble-stricken cities in the world, 11,532 men and women from 40 countries in the world, assisted by over a million black, white and yellow people, laughed, cheered and suffered during the greatest folk festival the world has seen." He concluded the article with a question as to "..whether London could stage such a festival?"

The London Marathon was born within months of the article's publication. Brasher played a central role in setting up the London Marathon with trips to America to study marathon race organisation and finance of large city marathons such as New York and Boston (the oldest large city marathon in the world).

Having secured a £50,000 contract with Gillette, Brasher established London Marathon as a charitable trust and laid down six main goals for the event.

The first London Marathon took place on March 29th 1981. More than 20,000 applications were received, 7,747 applicant runners were accepted and 6,255 runners crossed the finishing line on Constitution Hill. Cheering crowds lined the route.

35,674 runners crossed the finishing line in 2007. The BBC reported that over 40,000 runners will be taking part in the London Marathon 2008.

London Marathon Exhibition

On April 9th, six Maasai Warriors opened the 2008 London Marathon Exhibition at the Excel in London's dockland.

The Northern Tanzania Maasai Warriors left Tanzania for the first time early in April 2008, to acclimatized to the UK whether, run the Flora London Marathon and raise £15,000 to build a well in their village. The Maasai Warriors will run the london marathon wearing their traditional clothing.

The 2008 Flora London Marathon Exhibition showcased the biggest ever london marathon store. All the major athletic brands were present. Other exhibitors showcased and sold a range of varied items, socks, GPS navigation devices and the latest niche products.

The London Marathon 2008 store did not disappoint novice and serious distance runners. It caters for all levels of sport enthusists with its range and number of manufacturers, international races, charities, running publications, medical companies and the best selection of retailers under one roof.

London Marathon start

The London Marathon organisers are advising spectators not to accompany their runner to the "Start". See
start map.

Spectators can however travel on the same trains from Charing Cross, Waterloo East and London Bridge, but will need to buy a ticket. Only runners can travel free on these train to the start point. These trains will be extremely crowded.

Trains go to Blackheath (for Blue Start runners), Maze Hill (Green Start runners) and Greenwich Stations (Red Start runners).

Spectators are not advised to travel to Blackheath or Maze Hill Stations as there are no Underground or Dockland Light Railway (DLR) connections from these stations. The only way to get to a viewing spot is to return to these Stations and get a train back into central London, this is likely to take some time.

Greenwich Station (Red Start) is in the town centre. Greenwich Station connects with the DLR. Runners have a 20 minute walk to the Start assembly area from Greenwich Station. The assembly area is for runners only.

Spectators are advised to say goodbye to their runner(s) at Greenwich Station and watch the race in Greenwich (avoid the area close to the Cutty Sark, this is a busy area) A better option would be to transfer onto the DLR and head out to Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs where there are some much easier viewing spots.

Spectators' Guide

For a spectator's guide and map, see interative map

Flora London Marathon spectators are a fluid crowd:-).

Most spectators like to try and see runners at more than one location on the route, take in some of the landmarks, and pick up some refreshments on the way too.

All the roads will be closed to traffic. The only way to get around is by public transport. Both London Underground and the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) run extra services on Marathon Day. Public transport is the best way to get around London during the London marathon.

Before setting-off, do:

Travel light – you will be standing for hours on end. Carry few items. Leave your valuables at home.

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Be prepared for a typical April day in London, sun,showers and wind - or all at the same time:-)

The day will be crowded and busy - you will often have to queue. Some stations may be forced to shut temporarily while they manage and control the crowd to an acceptable health and safety standard.

Expect a lot of walking (including stairs and escalators) – re-think your plan if you'd planned to take young children. Pushchairs can be problematic in a crowd.

Take a map of Flora London Marathon route , especially one which shows the stations and mile and km locations.

Finish

Avoid if possible arranging to meet your runner at the Finish. The finish is the busiest area of the London Marathon.

The closest undergroung stations to the Meet and Greet point on Horseguards Parade are Westminster and St James’s Park.

Both of these stations will be extremely busy. Expect queues getting in and out of these stations. From lunchtime onwards many spectators will be making their way to the Finish.

Congestion will be compounded by runners who have already finished and are leaving the area with their families plus London tourists visiting the landmarks nearby:-)

Other Underground stations relatively close (and less crowded)to the Meet and Greet area are:

Charing Cross (15 minutes), Embankment (20 minutes) and Victoria (45 minutes). Where stations are on the ‘wrong’ side of the route, you will need to use the designated crossing points. These are clearly signed and marshalled. Again these will be busy and you will often need to wait before you can cross.

A tube map will show the various connections to each relevant station. See London For Transport (lft)journey planner.

The main interchanges from the DLR to London Underground stations are at Canary Wharf (Jubilee Line), Tower Gateway (walk to Tower Hill, District & Circle Lines) and Bank/Monument (Northern, District & Circle and Central Lines.)

Other Meet and Greet area are pubs and cafes on the South Bank. Once through the Finish, runners can walk over Waterloo or Hungerford Bridges (confusingly also labelled on some maps as the Golden Jubilee Bridge)to the South Bank.

The City is to the east and Covent Garden is to the north of Horseguard Parade meet and greet point. For a post-race rendezvous runners are only a short tube journey from the Finish to the City or Covent Garden:-)

If planning to meet at a venue, check in advance (by ringing) to ensure that the venue is open to the public on the day. Many charities hold post-race receptions for their runners and supporters.

For further details on the finish area, see Finish map.

Disabled access

Parking facility suitable for wheelchair users is at the Bishop Challoner School, Hardinge Street, London E1.

If arriving after 08:00 am when road closures are in place, access will be from the north – via Commercial Road, Devonport Street, Cable Street and Hardinge Street. Stewards will be on site to assist with vehicles parking. An accessible lavatory within the school will be available.

It is a short, level walk to The Highway where the marathon passes by twice. At the junction of The Highway and Glamis Road there is an underground subway which has a ramp suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.

For the tube and DLR map showing stations the easy access (without stairs or escalators from street level to platform), see
access guide.

Spectator Routes From Central London Stations

See Spectator routes from the centre of London.

Places To Avoid

Avoid:
Greenwich and especially the area close to the Cutty Sark (very busy area, what with popular Greenwich Market, the nearby Naval College, Cutty Sark a tourist attraction in it's own right and the Greenwich Tube station close by).

Tower Bridge and the route east of the Bridge (East Smithfield) and west of the Bridge (Tower Hill.)

Anywhere from mile 25 to the Finish in The Mall. Avoid this area for as long as possible until late in the day if you have to meet your runner at the Meet and Greet area in Horseguards Road.

The closure of the East London Line until 2010 means that you cannot plan your journey the East London line.

© 2008 Abimbola Akanwo. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances and Bite-Sized

UEFA Cup: Man United v Chelsea

2008-05-22T10:12:00.019+01:00

UEFA Champions League Cup

In case you haven't heard, Europe's premier footbals club competition, the UEFA Cup final between Manchester United v Chelsea FC was decided on a penalty shootout in the pouring rain at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow yesterday.

Watching the football game on a beautiful warm evening in London (ditto Manchester - warm evening I mean), the rain was comforting:-)

The Man U and Chelsea FC players with their army of 42,000 British fans must have felt at home:-)

Mind you, I don't think I've ever seen such a huge rain downpour in the UK:-)

Chelsea were reduced to 10 men, thanks to Didier Drogba. Manchester United won the penalty shootout, 6 - 5.

Didier Drogba

Whatever possess Didier Drogba to "slap" Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic ? Drogba got sent off for his trouble, reducing his team to 10 men, in a Cup final:-(

Lucky Man Utd

Chelsea should have won the Cup. Man U were jammy:-)

Comfortinmg words aside, I guess the best team won on the day.

Difficult not to feel sorry for Chelsea FC. John Terry's face was a picture in misery. Avram Grant's body language after collecting his medal was so despondent, anyone with half a heart would have reached out and pat him on the back.

Better luck next time Chelsea.

Copyright © 2008. Abimbola Akanwo. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances See also bite-sized

Marketing Ideas

2008-05-25T06:10:00.052+01:00

And the speaker is...

Sir Berners-Lee, Director of the World Wide Web Consortium, on "Invention to Phenomenon".

Early this morning, I picked up my notebook and came across notes I'd made at the IET John Pickerton Lecture in September. I laughed...

Tim Berners-Lee was the speaker at the sold out IET Pinkerton Lecture in September 2007.

Berners-Lee did not disappoint, he was articulate and his speech was funny and intelligent on the day:-).

Marketing Ideas

On "marketing" his idea for the world wide web to the Physicist at CERN, where he was working as a contract programmer, he commented that "...the idea was pretty straight forward, as was the programming." However,

"Getting people to buy it"

"Getting people to imagine its use"

was a problem:-)

When months later, one Physicist finally got round to reading Berners-Lee's documented proposed ideas and decided on a follow-up with Berners-Lee, Berners-Lee had "moved on":-)

Luckily for mankind's evolution, Berners-Lee's idea for the web was reviewed by the relevant people at CERN. One priceless early reviewer commented that the idea "...was vague but exciting...":-)

In 1989, Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web, the "internet-based hypermedia initiative for global information sharing" phenomenon, while at CERN (the European Particle Physics Laboratory)".

In 1990, Berners-Lee wrote the programme for the first web client and server.

Berners-Lee's specifications for URIs (Uniform Resource Identifier), HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) and HTML (Hyper Text Markup Langiage) were refined as Web technology evolve.

Asked if...

Asked if on hindsight he would have done anything differently, Berners-Lee replied "No - except perhaps for the http - the http was unnecessary..."

Berners-Lee did explain his reasons for including http in the URI, but you know what? I'm not going to tell you...:-)

Suffice to say that we all laughed at the explanation:-).

If you get a chance to see Berners-Lee speak live, GO... you may get to hear the reason http is now part of the history of the web...:-)

Berners-Lee's parents were at the 2007 IET John Pinkerton Lecture.

Berner-Lee's parents are Mathematicians. This didn't stop Berners-Lee poking fun at Mathmaticians... and Physicist:-)

Berners-Lee's parents had both worked with John Pinkerton on the LEO project. LEO was the world's first computer designed for business applications. John Pinkerton was LEO's designer.

John Pinkerton and the LEO computer project

John Pinkerton was the pivotal engineer on the LEO computer project.

LEO (Lyons Electronic Office) was the result of a vision for radical improvement in the business operations within J Lyons, the catering company. The LEO project was started in 1949 and the system became operational in 1951.

John Pinkerton and his small team transformed the University of Cambridge's developed EDSAC (Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator) computer into a business computing tool.

"No corporate goal can ever succeed if it cannot also provide the ambitious individual with the challenges of extraordinary difficulty and the promise of self-fulfilment... nothing had so much meaning, relevance and truth as the set of values I saw in the early LEO days." - Leo Fantl, a member of the LEO team.

LEO's transition from innovation to application was an extraordinary example of a successful development. An application of a user need driven innovation, guided by an incredibly visionary man, John Pinkerton.

"...the simpler the conception and the design of any item of calculating equipment, the better it will be understood by the operators who use it and the engineers who maintain it" - John Pinkerton (1919 - 1997).

Lyons created a subsidiary company, LEO Computers Ltd - to manufacture and sell computers.

One of LEO Computers Ltd's first customers was the Ford Motor Company. The Pinkerton team developed and produced a commercially successful LEO range - engineered and enhanced with new ideas and technologies.

The Institution (the IET) inaugurated the annual John Pinkerton Lecture in "commemoration and honour of John Pinkerton".

On the day...

I'd called the IET event manager for the Pinkerton Lecture a week or so before the event, to check that I wouldn't be committing a "faux pas" by taking photographs at the Lecture and the drinks reception afterwards.

The chap wasn't happy at the suggestion :-) He said they hadn't thought about it but he felt that taking photographs would not be "the done thing" and that Berners-Lee wouldn't be happy. Sigh...

Nevertheless, I took my digital camera, determined to ask Berners-Lee himself. I wanted a photo of Berners-Lee and me:-)

Sadly, Berners-Lee was a "no show" at the drinks reception. He was cloistered in another room with some people he'd promised to see after the Lecture.

On hindsight I realized that one of the cloistered few was Sue Black (from London South Bank University). During the Pinkerton Lecture, Black had championed the need of women web users in her other role as BCS Women organizer.

I'd congratulated Sue Black for asking her question as to how the W3C and the WSRI (Web Science Research Initiative) were planning to meet women web user requirements. I was still talking to her (having been joined by other people) when someone "signalled" to her and she excused herself without saying why...

I joined another group and was too busy nattering to notice that Berners-Lee still hadn't appeared at the drinks reception. A pause in the conversation gave me a chance to quickly scan the room. I noticed a young chap (looked about 14) wearing his name badge with Berners-Lee's autograph on it - gnash...

With renewed impetus, I went in search of Berners-Lee. Thankfully (I was in danger of wearing out the carpet), an older member of the Institution rescued me by asking who I was looking for:-)

On being told that I was looking for Berners-Lee, he explained that Berners-Lee was in a meeting and that he won't be joining the drinks party as it was likely to be a long meeting. He quickly added "...we can do better and introduce you to Helen Pinkerton".

Helen Pinkerton

Helen Pinkerton is John Pinkerton's widow.

I was given a quick resume as I was expertly guided in her direction. Meeting Helen Pinkerton was for me, the highlight of the evening.

Helen Pinkerton is highly intelligent and mischievous. She had a high profile Civil Service career and I'm 90 per cent certain (though I wasn't categorically told, I simply read between the lines), that she did something "hush-hush" during WW2.

After I was introduced to Helen Pinkerton, other people joined our group and we chatted for a while. Helen Pickerton told a clever mischievous joke which we all laughed at...

NO, I won't repeat the joke, and NO, it's got nothing to do with political correctness - which is just consideration for other people's feelings, in any case.

Helen's joke was clever and funny, but would be hurtful to another race group..., so I'm not repeating the joke:-)

On mentioning that she was leaving but hadn't arranged a lift, our little group became a little apprehensive about her walking to the train station by herself. Since I had to walk in the same direction for my tube, I volunteered to walk with her.

Helen Pinkerton and I walked to the station (about 8 - 12 minutes walk). We talked as we walked. She pointed out a now defunct basement restaurant she said they (she and her colleagues) used as a meeting place. I saw that dusty and darkened basement in a new light:-)

Helen Pinkerton told me her greatest wish. Mrs Pinkerton, I know your wish will come true. Until we meet again, take care.

"Invention to Phenomenon"? I had a phenomenon evening, thanks to John Pinkerton, Helen Pinkerton, Tim Berners-Lee and the IET.

Copyright © 2008. Abimbola Akanwo. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances. See also bite-sized

Nanotechnology

2008-06-25T13:51:00.051+01:00

Nanotechnology

The concept, research and current applications of nanotechnology is intriguing, fascinating and like it or not, seems to be here to stay.

My concerns about nano research and applications became manageable when I read the blurb on the speaker of the IET's 2008 Microsystem and Nanotechnology Lecture. Professor James Gimzewski (UCLA - University of California, Los Angeles) researched nanoscale science and technology for more than 18 years at IBM Zurich Research Laboratory.

In researching nanotechnology, it could hurt no one to remember (even this late in nano research and development) that Maria Sklodowska-Curie, also known as Marie Curie, died in 1934 from aplastic anaemia.

Sklodowska-Curie's death was directly linked to her exposure to radiation during her research and co-discovery of polonium and radium (the Curies also researched and isolated radium elements).

Because the damaging effects of ionising radiation were unknown at the time, Sklodowska-Curie's work had been carried out in a shed with no safety measures:-(

Sklodowska-Curie had carried test tubes containing radioactive isotopes in her pocket and stored them in her desk drawer, entranced by the pretty blue-green light the substances gave off in the dark:-(

The 2008 Micro and Nanotechnology Lecture

The jointly organized IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology) and ION (Institute of Nanotechnology) lecture will be at The IET, Savoy Place, London on the 8th July. Registration and drinks reception at 17:30 hrs. Introduction to the Lecture commences at 18:30 hrs.

The Lecture, sponsored by Unilever, is in celebration of the launch of a joint IET and ION Micro and Nano Technology Network. The Lecture has been given the working title "The age of nanotechnology".

"The age of nanotechnology" by Professor James Gimzewski.

The event organizers promise that Gimzewski will talk about:

the strongest material ever made

the reality of space elevator.

how the electronics industry kick-started the nanomedicine revolution

the potential for programming single molecules.

his passion for the artistic interpretation of the nano world

The nano world continues to elicit some exquisite art form.

STM (Scanning Tunneling Microscopy)

Gimzewski was one of pioneering nanoscientists to image single atoms and molecules with STM.

Involved in projects ranging from the "operation of X-rays, ions and nuclear fusion using pyroelectric crystals, direct deposition of carbon nanotubes and single molecule DNA profiling" Gimzewski collaborates with the UCLA Medical and Dental Schools.

Gimzewski's joint-venture art-science projects have been exhibited in museums world-wide.

I'm expecting a scintillating evening lecture and networking at the IET (organized this time by the IET's Micro and Nano Systems Network).

Here's a taster of what is happening in nano world:-

© 2008. Abimbola Akanwo. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances

BlackBerry Bold

2008-06-29T18:30:00.033+01:00

BlackBerry

BlackBerry® Pearl™ found its way into Hollywood "A" lister handbags with the help of clever strategical marketing. Research In Motion (RIM), the designer and manufacturer of BlackBerry® can now claim with some justification that BlackBerry is not "just a business tool".

Blackberry® Bold™ is the latest addition to the blackberry family of smartphones. Blackberry® Bold™ was called BlackBerry® 9000 before it was launched.

Claimed to have been designed to "challenge Apple's iPhone for style", the features of blackberry bold are still aimed at business users (it wouldn't do to upset the existing customer base). Research In Motion's co-CEO, Mike Lazaridis argues that "Not everyone can type on a piece of glass. I think our design gives us an advantage over Apple's iPhone".

BlackBerry smartphones

iphone v blackerry bold

Lazaridis pointed out that "Putting all the bells and whistles aside - the device is great at delivering email because it does exactly what it says on the tin. It gives you the same experience whether you are on 3G or GPRS. Mobile broadband is not why people buy Blackberry". Hmmm:-)

BlackBerry Bold features (the "bells and whistles")

BlackBerry® Bold™ is the first BlackBerry smartphone to support tri-band HSDPA high-speed network worldwide.

With GPS and Wi-Fi capability, BlackBerry Bold's next-generation 624 Mhz mobile processor speeds up large email downloads, streaming video and web surfing.

BlackBerry Bold has 1GB of storage and 128MB flash memory.

© 2008. Abimbola Akanwo. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances

iPhone 3G

2008-07-11T10:52:00.084+01:00

3G Phones

The launch of iPhone 3G (phone, ipod and fast internet access) implies a much needed convergence of 3g wireless devices at a reasonable cost to users.

So, why would Apple spoilt iPhone 3G launch by rationing the supply of the device as well as imposing bothersome restrictions on cellular network carriers of the gadget.?

In the UK, for example, the only cellular network carrier is O2.

The device can only be bought from:

Apple stores - mind you, it's a good excuse to meander through the Apple stores, especially the big Apple stores like the one in Regent Street, London. The store stay open late as well - perfect:-) Oh, and their staffs are brilliant - polite, helpful and they know their products.

Carphone Warehouse

3G cell phones

3G technologies provide iPhone 3G cell phone with worldwide fast access to the Internet over cellular networks.

Simultaneous mobile multi-tasking of voice and data is a main feature of iPhone 3G. It enables users to surf the web, download email, get directions, watch video while on a call:-) Welcome to 21st century lifestyle.

Using HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) protocol, iPhone 3G download data over UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) networks.

Email attachments and web pages load twice as fast on 3G networks as on 2G EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) networks.

Seamless switching between EDGE, 3G and Wi-Fi (faster than 3G) means that iPhone 3G users can access the best available speed on the cellular network for their data download.

In areas without 3G network, iPhone 3G will connect calls using GSM (Global System for Mobile, originally Groupe Spécial Mobile) and EDGE for data.

Using two antennas, the compact iPhone 3G delivers its voice and data features over UMTS, HSDPA, GSM, Wi-Fi, EDGE, GPS, and Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR.

iPhone 3G - a business tool

The iPhone 3G integrated secure mobile access enables it to be considered as a feasible business tool (in direct competition to BlackBerry®), iPhone 3G supports Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, delivering push email, calendar, and contacts.

The device provides mobile users with secure access to corporate resources using Cisco IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) VPN (Virtual Private Network)and wireless network services with WPA2 Enterprise and 802.1X authentication.

Email on iPhone 3G looks and acts like email delivered to a computer. The gadget supports Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, PDF, JPEG, and iWork. Attachments can be viewed exactly as they were designed to be viewed. Zoom in on information with the tap of a finger:-)

iPhone 3G - maps with GPS

Integrated maps with GPS on iPhone 3G means that it won't be easy to get lost even in an unfamiliar territory:-)

Be warned, it also means that your contacts/friends/colleague may be able to locate your whereabout:-)

The device allows you to find your location, get directions, and see real time traffic. Maps on iPhone 3G combines GPS, Wi-Fi, and cell tower location technology with the multi-touch interface to create the mobile map application.

Using GPS or by triangulating a position using Wi-Fi and cellular towers, iPhone 3G will locate your position. Areas and places of interest can be located using keyword search on the device. Follow the guide list of "turn-by-turn" directions or read the highlighted map route and track your progress with a live GPS tracking:-)

App store

Apple's App Store is for everyone, you, your inner child and your children:-)

With over 500 applications to download, Apple App store caters for your business and leisure time needs. Developers have created iPhone 3g applications for games, chats, social networking, travel, news, sports, finance and business.

New applications are continuously being developed and added to the App store, ready and waiting for you to discover:-)

Some of the applications are free download. You can download the applications via iTunes to your iphone 3g cell phone.

It's just as well the iphone 3g comes in 8GB (available in black only) and 16GB (available in two colours, black or white).

Applications designed for iPhone 3G leverage iPhone technology, such as the multi-touch interface, the accelerometer, GPS, real-time 3D graphics, and 3D positional audio.

Some of the applications available to download include:

eBay - using the eBay application, you can tap, flick, and pinch the iphone 3g multi-touch screen to browse eBay auctions, place bids, and track items of interest or item you're selling on eBay.

iphone games - iphone 3g mobile game console responds to your wrist movements.This means that rolls "tap-and-tilt" games like Super Monkey Ball can be played on your iphone 3g.

Loopt - the loopt application use location feeds to locate you and your friends:-).

IET Innovation Awards

2008-07-22T12:11:00.067+01:00

IET Innovation Awards 2008

The IET Innovation Awards are in recognition and celebration of the emerging "products, technologies and processes in engineering and technology".

Entries for the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) 2008 Innovation Awards closes in three days time, 25th July.

Three days is cutting it fine if you still need to get your materials together:-)

The IET will promote winners and short listed entries throughout the Engineering and Technology community. The awards are announced at an exclusive gala evening.

You can submit your entry application on line.

Awards Entry Categories

There are 15 categories.

Entry to the IET Innovation Awards is free to enter. Entry is open worldwide to everyone. Entry can be submitted in more than more category.

The categories and their sponsors are:

Asset Management - sponsored by National Grid

Built Environment - sponsored by Halcrow Yolles

Electronics

Emerging Technologies - sponsored by RS

Information Technology - sponsored by Amplicon

Measurement in Action - sponsored by NPL

Power/Energy - sponsored by Siemens

Product Design - sponsored by BT

Project Team - sponsored by Accenture

Security
Software in Design - sponsored by The Mathworks™

Start Up - sponsored by Cre8Ventures

Sustainability - sponsored by ABB

Telecommunications

Transport

Some entries for the IET 2008 Innovation Awards

From Ghana: Solution to end the counterfeit drug problem

From a UK-based company: Next generation of energy efficient lighting

From Argentina: Low cost roof-integrated solar generator

The IET Innovation Awards is an annual event. The IET Innovation Awards has been running for 4 years.

The IET Innovation Awards 2008 ceremony will be on the 3rd November at the Park Plaza Riverbank, London.

Copyright © 2008. Abimbola Akanwo. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances See also bite-sized

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Brainstorm your Business to Success

2008-07-28T10:47:00.032+01:00

Brainstorm

Brainstorming with people on the same wavelengh is a buzz:-).

To celebrate and promote the launch of his new book on the real-life stories of current, successful online entrepreneurs, "ClickHereToOrder", Joel Comm is holding a competition.

You can win a "full day, all expenses paid trip to Loveland, Colorado" and join Comm and his team to brainstorm and mastermind your online business to success. Check for more details of the competition here. Sorry, I couldn't resist that...:-)

Due to a "hold-off for now" request from the book stockists - Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders et al (apparently because of a greater demand for the book than had been originally anticipated), the launch of Comm's "ClickHereToOrder" has been postponed until Tuesday, 2nd September.

This means that you can still enter the competition.. Good luck. Enjoy your brainstorming and private mastermind day in Northern Colorado with Comm and his team.

What's the catch...

None that I can see.

You do need to be aware of Comm's book, "ClickHereToOrder", now planned for launch on the 2nd September.

"ClickHereToOrder" is a book of true-life stories of successful internet entrepreneurs; what they did, how they became successful and what they're doing to remain successful.

The competition asks two questions. Er, no I'm not telling you what the questions are, go find out yourself.:-) See brainstorm your online business to success.

Have fun and good luck with the competition.

real-life stories of successful online entrepreneurs.

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo 2008. All rights reserved. For and behalf of Success Mastermind Alliances See bite-sized

21st Century Cars

2008-11-12T10:29:00.017Z

Concept cars

It seems that for a car to be a viable option in the 21st century marketplace, it must:

be compact - think Smartcar or better

use fuel efficiently

have a "negligible" carbon footprint

be good-looking or be very ugly

have some of the above features, plus special features - see Lotus Concept Ice Vehicle or the Nissan Terranaut or World Largest Truck Goes Robotic

The Science Museum's special exhibition, Japanese Car - designed for the Crowded Globe and Motor Development International prototypes and concept cars appear to be the essence of 21st century cars.

Japanese Car - designed for the Crowded Globe

Extreme Vehicles, written a few months ago concluded that concept cars and 21st century car engineering and technology could soon be in family cars on our roads.

It looks as if 21st century engineered cars could be on the roads, highways and motorways (and mines) sooner rather than later:-)

One of the fascinating and exciting thing about the Science Museum's special exhibition (organized in conjunction with Design Platform Japan) is that the creativity behind the car designs is from unexpected sources - Kenya Hara (responsible for Muji as we know it today) and Shigeru Ban (Japanese architect - designer of a satellite gallery in Metz, for the Paris Pompidou Centre).

So, these innovative ideas for cars of the future are not just coming from Engineers and Technologists. The innovative thinking and ideas are also flowing from people in all areas of expertise.

"Japan Cars - designed for the Crowded Globe" exhibition is at the Science Museum from the 29th November. Should be worth visiting, highly recommended.

Besides, the Science Museum is always worth a visit.

Air Powered Vehicle

Motor Development International (MDI) and Guy Negre's air powered vehicles are the latest concept cars about to appear on the roads.

The sound ecological vehicles are probably not the most beautiful looking cars around. However, it wasn't that long ago that most of us gave the Smartcar a definite and resounding, "no thanks".

In today's global economic crisis, not forgetting the need to tackle global warming, air powered vehicles and others of their ilk could be welcomed relieve and a solution.

Copyright © Abimbola Akanwo. 2008. All rights reserved.

Hope

2008-11-05T09:27:00.010Z

Hopes and Dreams becomes Reality

Now the Real Work Begins

The US President Election 2008 has been a long and sometimes frightening spectacle for onlookers. Finally, we have a President Elect.

Congratulations to President Elect Barack Obama.

Now the real work begins.

Bill Cunningham

The voice of Bill Cunningham "on the Street, After-party" - fashion and a dose of "good healthy show of legs...". Delectable news and people during and after the US Election 2008.

Thank you Mr Cunningham - love your podcast.

Thanks also to Plurk friend, Myrnaslist for plurking the podcast:-)

Copyright © 2008. All rights reserved.