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Q: Display raspberry Pi via Gnu/Linux I have a raspberry Pi and I want it to display on my monitor. My monitor only supports DVI and the Pi supports only HDMI. I was wondering if there is a way I can connect my raspberry pi, via hdmi, to my pc and have it display on its screen.

A: Option 1) Get a cheep hdmi to dvi cable, they are electrically the same (except no sound on dvi).
Option 2) Use X11, to display windows from raspberry pi (running Raspbrian, or other X11 based Linux). Use ssh -X to connect to raspberry Pi.
Option 3) Use VNC, to display whole screen, or a virtual screen.
(Options 2 and 3, require a network connection between the machines.)

A: You can use a HDMI to DVI adaptor. There is a cheap one here for £2.99 on amazon.
You can also connect directly to a computer using a crossover. This is just like a standard telephone cable but has an Ethernet connector at both ends. There is a cheap one here you can use.
Note: Links are for example purposes only.


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Cyber Security Issues In India
There are many cyber security issues in India that requires urgent attention of Indian government. For instance, issues like cyber terrorism, cyber warfare, cyber espionage, etc are some of the burning cyber security issues that deserve attention of our policy makers. This also means that we must develop both offensive and defensive cyber security capabilities in India.
For the past few years, serious cyber threats have been endangering the critical infrastructures of India and there is an urgent need to strengthen critical infrastructure protection in India. To achieve this objection, cyber security skills development in India must be immediately ensured.
While Indian government has been indifferent to cyber security of India for long yet a few committed and dedicated private players have been playing a pro active role in this regard. For instance, Perry4Law, Perry4Law Techno Legal Base (PTLB) and Perry4Law Techno Legal ICT Training Centre (PTLITC) have launched exclusive techno legal cyber forensics research centre of India, cyber security research centre of India and cyber crimes investigation centre of India for long.
There is no doubt that cyber security of India is under transformation but we are too lax in this regard. The cyber security initiatives of India must be expedited as we do not have any more time to waste. Similarly, while cyber security initiatives have been strengthened by private players like PTLB yet Indian government must also play a pro active role in this regard.
It would be a good idea to seek the services of those who can make a difference in this regard. The same can be effectively achieved by formulating the cyber security policy of India and acting accordingly.
Posted by Catherine Fernandes at 10:21 AM

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Twitter's 8th birthday surprise lets you take a trip down memory lane and relive your first tweets.
Twitter turned eight today, which is a somewhat unremarkable anniversary. But the micro-blogging site is making things more interesting by releasing a new tool that lets you find your first tweet - as well as the first tweets of anyone with a public account.
Just navigate to the first tweet website and type in the Twitter handles of friends, co-workers, celebs, and other luminaries. My first tweet, from Sept. 2009, was about the FCC proposing new net neutrality rules, so some things never change, apparently. The first tweet from PCMag (pictured), meanwhile, from June 2008, was a link to a Michael Miller piece about dispelling iPhone myths and rumors.
Over the years, a number of tech execs have jumped on the Twitter bandwagon, from Bill Gates to Tim Cook. Unfortunately, most peoples' first tweets are somewhat boring; quick blips about getting set up, being forced to tweet, or a little self-promotion. But it is fun to take a trip down memory lane. In the grand scheme of things, eight years isn't a huge amount of time, but in tech, it can be a lifetime. Who knew that 140-character messages would have such an impact on (some of) our daily lives? Check out some of the first tweets from tech's biggest names.
Tim Cook: Apple's CEO just joined Twitter last year and has only sent out about 45 tweets. But many, if not all, of them garnered headlines, like this one about last year's iPhone launch.
Bill Gates: The Microsoft co-founder was a few years ahead of Cook, making his mark on Twitter with a nod to the "Hello World" computer program. In four years, he's amassed more than 15 million followers with tweets that focus primarily on his philanthropic efforts.
Elon Musk: The real-life Tony Stark thwarted an imposter and claimed the @elonmusk Twitter feed in June 2010. Though he has since used Twitter to publicly battle his detractors - from The New York Times to NJ Gov. Chris Christie - he was quite pleasant in his first tweet, even inserting a smiley face.
Eric Schmidt: The Google executive chairman - then CEO of the search giant - made his Twitter debut with a plug for an upcoming appearance on CNN. Schmidt is not a terribly prolific tweeter; having only posted 178 messages in just over four years, but has amassed about 783,000 followers.
Steve Wozniak: The Woz's first tweet was certainly not boring. But lest you think that the Apple co-founder is a regular at the dance studio, his message was a reference to his season of Dancing With the Stars, from which he was eliminated just a few weeks later.
Rare massage (for me), then dance practice. No pain, no gain. Awkward but fun, this dancing. I still can't do Macarena.
Steven Sinofsky: The former Windows chief unlocked his Twitter account just prior to the launch of Windows 8. But a presence on social media was not enough to keep him around at Redmond; two months later, he was out. He's not doing too bad for himself, though, with gigs at Harvard, Andreessen Horowitz, and Box.
@SurfEvangelist @maryjofoley @MohammadMsft yep...just unblocked following.
Marissa Mayer: Before she was Yahoo's CEO, Mayer was a Google exec taking in the sites in Baltimore. Mayer tends to tweet more than some of her CEO counterparts, but it's not usually anything personal and focuses largely on Yahoo products.
Mark Zuckerberg: It's probably not surprising that Zuck isn't the most active Twitter user. He's only posted 19 tweets since 2009, four of which were posted on that first day.
Sean Parker: The Napster co-founder, who played an early role in the development of Facebook, gave a shout out (and apology) to Zuckerberg in his first tweet, arguing that Hollywood manager Scooter Braun made him do it.
David Karp: The Tumblr founder had a similar first tweet, claiming that Betaworks founder John Borthwick pressured him into posting.


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Africana Studies researcher's book continues to win acclaim
UNC Charlotte Africana Studies associate professor Oscar de la Torre's first book continues to garner awards, now recognized with two best book prizes and one honorable mention award.
"The People of the River: Identity and Environment in Black Amazonia, 1835-1945," published in 2018 by UNC Press, has won:
· Outstanding First Book Award, Association for the Study of the Worldwide African Diaspora
· Best Book in Amazonian Studies, Amazonia Section of the Latin American Studies Association
· Honorable Mention, Roberto Reis Book Prize, Brazilian Studies Association
In this history of the Black peasants of Amazonia, de la Torre charts the understudied lives and livelihoods of Afro-descendant peasants in the Brazilian Amazon from the mid-19th century through the Second World War.
Relying on their world as a repository for traditions, discourses and strategies, Afro-Brazilians fought for autonomous communities and developed a vibrant ethnic identity that supported their struggles over labor, land, and citizenship. In commonly referring to themselves by such names as "sons of the river," Black Amazonians melded their agro-ecological traditions with their emergent identity as political stakeholders.
"De la Torre's reliance on field research, archival materials, personal interviews, as well as a wide range of published primary and secondary sources in order to recount these fascinating and well-crafted stories is a remarkable achievement," the Brazilian Studies Association commented.
The Association for the Study of the Worldwide African Diaspora describes the book as an ambitious and important work of history that also incorporates theoretical insights and methods from the discipline of anthropology.
The book will be the subject of a Personally Speaking community conversation in March 2021. The series, presented by the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences in partnership with J. Murrey Atkins Library and The Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City, is a signature speakers series showcasing college authors and their research.
Prior to joining the faculty in the Department of Africana Studies in 2012, de la Torre was an assistant professor of history at the University of Central Oklahoma. He earned doctoral and master's degrees at the University of Pittsburgh.
He also received a post-doctoral fellowship with Yale University's Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance and Abolition. He was guest editor with Akin Ogundiran of Ofo: Journal of Transatlantic Studies' special issue on "Community Engagement and Citizen Empowerment in Africa and the African Diaspora."


Mary Sylvester easily plays and sings all these different styles. She produces her own songs, but she also does Cover-Versions of some of her favourite musicians, like B. B. King, Bob Marley, Patty La Belle, Luther Allison, and others.
Mary Sylvester – BLUES BAND The Band started in Freiburg /Germany and was successful right from the start. The members were Mary Sylvester, lead vocal, Klemens Gassner, guitar, Thomas Beck, drums, and Stephan Conradi, bass. After a few changes the Band took the name "Mary Sylvester Blues Band". Mary Sylvester sang with Luther Allison, Champion Jack Dupree, and Louisiana Red. One of her greatest moments was to be with B. B. King in the Konzerthaus in Baden-Baden.
Mary Sylvester – REGGAE Band UPRISING Mary Sylvester founded in Germany the Reggae-Band UPRISING. The Band travelled all over Europe and was very successful. Mary Sylvester performs LIVE-concerts with different Reggae-bands. Mary Sylvester has been on stage with artists like "The Wailers", Marcia Griffith, Alpha Blondie, Max Romeo, and many, many more.
Mary Sylvester and BAND Mary Sylvester plays Pop and R&B with her Band, and with a lot of famous musicians from Freiburg, Germany. The band played very often in places like the Konzerthaus and the Jazzhaus in Freiburg, in the Sandkasten in Frankfurt, as well as in many Open Air-concerts all over Europe.
Mary Sylvester – JAZZ Quartet Live-Standard Jazz in the style of Billie Holliday or Ella Fitzgerald, presented by Mary Sylvester with her piano-player Frygies Pazeller is a must for every party, from free-style to Evergreens.
Mary Sylvester – LIVE Playback Mary Sylvester as Solo-Singer singing LIVE to Playback-CDs from famous artists such as Lionel Ritchie, Tina Turner, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Bob Marley, and many more.
Mary Sylvester – GOSPEL JOY Mary Sylvester "Live" – Soulful Gospel Music with the Band GOSPEL JOY. Soulful, appealing music – for your special events – in the church – at your wedding – at funerals – for private festivities – The band GOSPEL JOY has a large repertoire and has played all around in Europe. Mary Sylvester and GOSPEL JOY made a lot of successful concerts.
Request your favorite Gospel Song!


In the last 50 years, the global population has consumed more goods and services than the combined total of all previous generations. This has fostered economic growth and improved the quality of life for many while having a negative impact on the environment. However, consumption patterns differ significantly between developed and developing nations.
Technological development in the electronics industry has evolved not just at a rapid pace but has been accelerating steadily over the past 20 to 30 years. There have been many success stories and many failures. Competition is fierce. Companies that were start-ups a decade ago are now leaders in the electronics sector while many that were at the top have now ceased to exist. The advent of smart technology and the ever growing demand for smart devices and connectivity are bound to speed up the process even more.
Remotely operated vehicles (ROV), often described as "robot submarines", have been used by the oil and gas industry for many years, mainly for underwater drilling, construction and installation, inspection, maintenance and repair jobs in the wells of offshore oil platforms. Equipped with very sophisticated electronic devices, they are the eyes, ears and hands of those who operate them from ships or offshore platforms.
As with any other day, you wake up, check the smart phone, read emails, note sleep quality, get the real-time weather update and dress accordingly, adjust your smart home settings from an app, jump in the car, ask your virtual personal assistant for your agenda, read news on phone in train, pay some bills and all before arriving at work.
In his address to Council, Frans Vreeswijk, IEC General Secretary & CEO, reminded the audience that electrotechnology is essential in addressing broad societal challenges, such as universal energy access, more efficient use of energy, smart urbanization, climate change mitigation, digitization, cyber security, to name but a few. "Our vision is to have IEC work used everywhere to make the world more efficient and a safer place for everyone. To remain broadly relevant and avoid duplication, we need to cooperate extensively between technical committees in the IEC and with other organizations", underlined Vreeswijk.
The IEC General-Secretary and CEO, Frans Vreeswijk, has told 150 stakeholders from across the renewable energy sector that international standards and public policy share important objectives. These include facilitating international trade, bolstering economic competitiveness and enhancing safety and efficiency. Mr. Vreeswijk was addressing the first IEC Regulator Forum during the recent General Meeting in Busan, South Korea.
Every year, the IEC pays tribute to people from its organization, for their distinguished work and commitment to improving the safety, compatibility and energy efficiency of electrical products and systems, with its Thomas Edison Award.
In 2018, IECQ, the IEC Quality Assessment System for Electronic Components, held its annual meetings in October, in conjunction with the 82nd IEC General Meeting in Busan, Republic of Korea. One of the highlights of the week-long events was the official launch of the IECQ Avionics Users Forum (AUF), a discussion platform that aims to bring together professionals working in the avionics field as well as in counterfeit avoidance.
As the amount of electronic and electrical equipment waste (e-waste) generated each year continues to increase, the work accomplished by the IEC becomes ever more essential in helping manufacturers meet legal requirements.
Take a moment to think about the number of electronic devices you've acquired in your lifetime. Can you remember all the computers, tablets, phones, game consoles, cameras that passed through your hands at some point? Not to mention the electric toothbrushes, microwave ovens, hair dryers that you discarded because newer, smarter, more powerful models were launched and you thought you absolutely had to upgrade! Do you ever stop to think that all these devices that you enjoyed for a while only to be replaced by the next generation are your (small) contribution to the ever growing pile of electronic waste (e-waste)?
We use the expression "belt and braces" to mean that we are being extra careful about something. The idea is that if our belt breaks unexpectedly, our braces will ensure that our trousers stay up.
Artificial intelligence, robotics, biometrics, virtual and augmented reality, smart transportation, digital health and 5G connectivity are hot topics these days. What is their common denominator? They all rely heavily on electronic components – in fact they would not even exist if not for them.
Many countries around the world are working towards producing more power from and increasing the amount of renewables to be integrated into national energy supplies.
Electronics are omnipresent today. For the younger generations, it must be difficult to imagine life without the array of electronic, smart devices that are an integral part of our daily interactions. Few realize that, without the inventors, thinkers and scientists of past centuries, the world as they know it, might not be the same.
Innovation brings new challenges – or, put another way, every silver lining has a cloud. While the Internet has given us connected, smart and interactive technologies, it has also spawned the murky, underground world of cyber crime.
When the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into force, on 25 May, it will have a humongous impact on web properties all over the world. It will affect all organizations, wherever they keep their servers, if they provide EU citizens with any kind of information, content or service online.
Avionics - a term coined from the merging of aviation and electronics - deals with all electronic devices and systems that perform specific individual functions on aircraft, satellites and spacecraft.
In the past few months, IEC has welcomed two new Members, Peru in December 2017 and Côte d'Ivoire in March 2018, both countries joining IEC after about 15 years of participation in the IEC Affiliate Country Programme. In March as well, São Tomé and Principe became the latest participant in the Programme. Taking these changes into account, the IEC family now comprises 171 countries, of which 85 are Members and 86 Affiliates.
Since the publication of its first edition in 1999, ISO/IEC 17025 has become the international reference for testing laboratories and for calibration laboratories around the world. The Standard contains requirements for laboratories to enable them to demonstrate they operate competently and are able to generate valid results. The process ensures that a laboratory's quality management system is thoroughly evaluated on a regular basis to guarantee continued technical competence and compliance with ISO/IEC 17025.
Recognizing the need to ensure continuity in its standards development and conformity assessment activities, the IEC has, since 2010, reached out to up and coming young experts active in a variety of technological sectors through the IEC Young Professionals Programme and its annual workshop, held in conjunction with the IEC General Meeting.
Baby-related technology is increasingly about monitoring newborns from afar using the latest facial recognition tools and artificial intelligence software.
According to the International Energy Agency's (IEA) Renewables Market Report series for 2017, renewables accounted for almost two-thirds of net new power capacity around the world in 2016, thanks to a strong solar PV market. The Report forecasts that though coal will still be the largest source of electricity generation, renewables are expected to halve the gap down to 17% by 2022.
What do artificial intelligence, robotics, biometrics, virtual and augmented reality, sports innovations, digital health and 5G connectivity have in common? First, they were all singled out at CES 2018, the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, as mega trends that will have an impact on society this year and in the future. Secondly, they all rely heavily on electronic components – in fact they would not even exist if not for them.
For more than half his life, Ulrich Spindler has participated in standards development and conformity assessment (CA) activities, at the German, European and international levels. Between 2002 and 2007, he was President of CENELEC , the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization, and since 1 January 2015, he has been Chair of the Conformity Assessment Board (CAB) and IEC Vice-President, the first time that a German national has occupied these roles. As his assignment comes to an end, he shares with e-tech what has motivated him and why his company participated in standardization in the first place.
By 2030, total installed PV capacity could range between 1 760 gigawatts (GW) and 2 500 GW. However, if market growth is to remain sustainable, the technology must be enhanced, and the risk for investors, policy makers and consumers reduced, according to a recent report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
Highlights of the IEC Conformity Assessment Board (CAB) meeting, which took place during the 81th IEC General Meeting in Vladivostok, Russian Federation.
With the digitization of societies, electronics has become ubiquitous in modern life. Smart devices and appliances, industrial automation and robotics, autonomous vehicles, the internet of things (IoT) and everything, aerospace and defense equipment medical equipment are only some of the fields where electronic equipment are increasingly becoming indispensable, leading to considerable market growth.
The ubiquitous internet of things (IoT) comprises billions of "sensorized" and connected devices and systems, which are used in many industries, including agriculture, energy management, healthcare, industrial automation, smart buildings, smart cities and transport.
The market for smart home devices and systems is booming. The IEC is helping the various industries involved by publishing a number of Standards in the relevant sectors.
Our world is changing rapidly and technologies are converging all around us. Enhancements in communications, renewable energy, medical devices and many other areas have improved health, economic safety and development, which can benefit everyone.
In his address to Council, Frans Vreeswijk, IEC General Secretary & CEO, reminded the audience that digitization is a key focus for both industry and standards organizations. Standards will play a key role in the digitization of industry, healthcare and every other part of our life. The new Masterplan, approved and published prior to the General Meeting in Vladivostok, Russia, sets the goals and expectations for the Commission, in this area among others, for the years to come.
The demand for energy is growing fast, for electricity even faster. To meet the needs of over 9 billion people by 2050, energy production will have to double while at the same time greenhouse gas emissions will have to be drastically reduced. This can only be achieved through a transition from a carbon-based economy towards a sustainable and efficient energy model that is accessible to all on the planet.
As the price of photovoltaic (PV) systems continues to tumble and the requirement for cleaner renewable forms of energy grows, more and more of our energy needs will be met by PV-generated power. The IEC is a leader in the field of PV standardization which falls under the responsibility of IEC Technical Committee (TC) 82: Solar photovoltaic energy systems. The TC is publishing International Standards which facilitate market growth and global trade in this crucial sector.
From smart clothes to talking cows: the IEC prepares Standards for the latest wearable applications.
Natural and industrial or accidental disasters can take many forms and have devastating human and material consequences. Some may be prevented or their impact mitigated through forecast, others not. Rescuing victims and repairing damage are essential for a return to normal life. Standardization work by a number of IEC technical committees (TCs) and subcommittees (SCs) may help warn of impending disasters as well as aid in assessing, repairing and mitigating their consequences.
All IEC regional centres are focal points for IEC standardization activities in their respective part of the world. They have greatly contributed to raising awareness on and promoting the Commission through country visits, participation in international, regional and national events, networking and establishing an ever growing number of invaluable contacts.
IEC work has to be relevant to companies and countries to help them address real market and societal needs.
Standardization work by the IEC technical committees (TCs) and subcommittees (SCs), and by the Joint Technical Committee (ISO/IEC JTC 1) set up by the IEC and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), is meant to prevent and mitigate the catastrophic impact of cyber attacks on parts of the critical infrastructure everywhere. In addition, IECEE, the IEC System for Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components, is working on a generic conformity assessment (CA) model which can be applied to cyber security.
Inventions of past centuries have paved the way for today's technological innovations. This is the case for many of the electronic components that we use so liberally today. The Leyden Jar, for instance, is the ancestor of the capacitor. Just look at any technology timeline and you'll have the complete sequence of events that leads to the tiniest components and ever smarter devices that connect everyone and everything.
Each year sees an increase not only in the number of countries participating in the IEC Affiliate Country Programme but also in the number of International Standards adopted as national ones, national electrotechnical committees (NECs) established and Affiliate Plus status granted. In the past 12 months, the Affiliate Secretariat has been extremely busy supporting participants in the Programme through workshops, seminars, webinars and training sessions, to name but a few of the support activities organized to raise awareness and know-how in developing countries.
Established in 2014, IECRE, the IEC System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Renewable Energy Applications, is the newest of the IEC Conformity Assessment (CA) Systems.
Today, many devices and services found in homes, hospitals, the workplace and industry run off electricity. Such machines and equipment can be dangerous if they malfunction, causing explosions, fires or electrocuting users or anyone who comes into contact with them, in addition to damaging property.
IEC National Committees have selected the IEC 2017 Young Professionals who will represent them at this year's workshop, to be held in Vladivostok, Russia, from 9-11 October 2017, during the IEC 2017 General Meeting.
Energy efficiency (EE) is the most important and easily available source of energy; it can be collected along the entire energy chain, from generation, transmission and storage to final use in industry, homes or transportation. IEC standardization and conformity assessment (CA) work are central to electrical EE at all levels.
The IEC National Committee of Morocco (COMELEC), held a successful forum to enhance stakeholder awareness of IEC Conformity Assessment Systems in Casablanca, in May.
Smart and connectivity are two of the words that probably best describe our society in the 21st century. Everyone and everything is connected nowadays, or soon will be. Cities, buildings, homes, farms, industrial plants, transportation, appliances, wearables and mobile devices are intrinsically linked to our way of life.
It is with great sadness that the IEC learnt of the passing away of former IECQ Chair Dave W. Smith on 20 June 2017.
New flexible and organic printing technologies are revolutionizing the medical wearable device market and the IEC is establishing the key relevant International Standards.
The MET-CERTIFIED project is holding a series of workshops in Belgium, France and the UK, to explain the marine technologies sector of IECRE, the IEC System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Renewable Energy Applications.
Learn more about how IEC Young Professionals are becoming involved in the technical work of the IEC.
Natural and industrial or accidental disasters can take many forms and have devastating human and material consequences. Some may be forecast, others not, and there may be a range of significantly different outcomes. Standardization activities by a number of IEC technical committees (TCs) and subcommittees (SCs) may help warn of impending disasters as well as aid in assessing and mitigating their human and economic impact.
Explosions in a wide range of industrial or other installations can be caused by the wrong or faulty equipment, and/or by poor operating procedures or mistakes. Risks can be significantly reduced if equipment and systems that meet IEC Standards developed by IEC Technical Committee (TC) 31: Equipment for explosive environments, are used.
Today, a number of different technologies are being developed to extract energy from oceans, such as tidal, river and ocean current and wave power. Though only a few large-scale systems currently operate, several are being demonstrated in Asia, Europe and North America.
Electrical and electronic equipment is part of our lives, from televisions, fridges and other appliances, to computers, printers and mobile phones.
The one subject guaranteed to get everyone hot under the collar is the subject of the marking of Ex Equipment. There is not much disagreement about the need to identify the equipment type, its operational parameters and its manufacturer, but everyone seems to have an opinion on how the hazardous area code should be expressed. The discussions at the recent IEC TC 31: Equipment for explosive atmospheres, standards meetings in Sydney, Australia, were no exception, and we will return to this later. But first, we need an historical perspective.
Today, numerous machines and devices powered by electricity can be found in our homes. Take, for example, the kitchen. This room alone probably has a dishwasher, an oven and a fridge, not to mention an array of smaller appliances for preparing and cooking food.
Want a weather update, real-time air pollution status, or are you just trying to find that elusive parking space? It's simple…ask the lamppost!
National Committees (NCs) have until the end of July to register participants, selected at national level, for the IEC Young Professionals (YP) – 2017 workshop. The workshop will be held in Vladivostok, Russia, in October during the IEC General Meeting.
Long gone is the time when populations knew of an earthquake when it was actually happening, when rescue teams cleared rubble with their bare hands, when it took days to deliver food and medical supplies to devastated and isolated areas in the aftermath of natural disasters. Technology now plays a major role not only in disaster relief but also in disaster prevention and mitigation.
Power tools are lighter, perform better and last longer, thanks to improved cordless battery technology, benefiting professionals in manufacturing, aerospace, automotive and construction, and amateurs alike. This booming global industry is expected to post revenues of more than USD 34 billion by 2020, according to market research by Technavio.
While recent developments in home automation are bound to make anyone's life easier, there are certain categories of the population for which it may be a life-changing experience: elderly and/or disabled people have very specific accessibility needs and can benefit fully from the technological advances associated with the Internet of Things (IoT) and the smart home.
To deal with Active Assisted Living (AAL) issues, the IEC has established a Systems Committee, IEC SyC AAL. This SyC has the role of promoting safety, security, privacy and cross-vendor interoperability in the use of AAL systems and services, and of fostering standardization which boosts their usability and accessibility. Its role and scope are constantly being expanded.
Demand for the use of solid state technology for general and specific lighting applications continues to grow at a very rapid pace. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in particular, on the market since the early 1960s, have been extremely successful in recent years. Mostly used as indicator lamps for electronic devices in the early days, they are now increasingly used in a wide range of domestic, commercial and industrial applications.
Smartness has become a way of life. Today most of our activities are – at least in part – smart. Whether you work, drive, sleep, enjoy an idle moment, it is most likely that smartness is part of it. We also keep our energy consumption in check with smart appliances and meters. Even our pets now have their own smart devices and apps, allowing us to track their every movement. All this smartness has one common denominator: electronic components and in particular sensors.
We are all familiar with remote controls. We use them to change TV channels, select our favourite music and protect ourselves with sophisticated security systems. Still, more appliances and systems in our homes work by using automated electronic controls.
With the steady increase in energy demand from developing, emerging and developed countries, the recent drop in oil prices as well as national or regional regulations to drastically reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the oil and gas sector needs to explore new avenues to expand productivity and at the same time cut down costs. One way to achieve this is to embrace smart technologies.
In our mobile world, portable smart devices keep us connected and able to access information anytime, anywhere. The healthcare industry has also embraced connected technology in the form of medical wearables and portable devices. These offer accurate real-time monitoring, diagnosis and tailored treatment of conditions, such as some types of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The interoperation between electrical and mechanical energies has existed for a long time. In standardization and conformity assessment, the need to provide a holistic solution to cover both is vital for industry and the community. While this may have been a given for most industries, the Ex sector has, for many years, focused exclusively on electrical equipment for its standardization and conformity assessment needs. This is no longer the case.
Electronic systems used on most modern commercial aircraft include hundreds of systems that help perform specific functions.
Each year with the Thomas Edison Award, the IEC pays tribute to members of the IEC Family for their distinguished work and commitment to improving the safety, compatibility and energy efficiency of electrical products and systems. The Thomas Edison Award is in the spirit of Thomas Alva Edison, one of the greatest inventors in history. He developed a system of electric power generation and distribution which was a major development in the modern industrialized world.
Manufacturing continues to expand its geographic reach. Electrical and electronic goods now represent 17,7% of global trade and more companies than ever need to be able to collaborate and participate in the value chains that span the globe. IEC work uniquely enables this type of cooperation. Industry is a high priority for IEC, since most experts participating in our work come from it.
Smart and connectivity are two of the words that probably best describe our society in the 21st century. Everyone and everything is connected nowadays. Cities, buildings, transportation means, mobile devices are becoming smarter. Even the most mundane objects – the smart frying pan is a good example – have their connected version.
From the smartphone alarm first thing in the morning to switching off the lights last thing at night, many products and systems in our daily lives run off electricity. We use the hairdryer, washing machine, stove, get on and off transport and walk through automated doors at the office, take the elevator, fire up the computer and purchase items online, expecting that everything will work reliably and safely.
We are more mobile today than ever before and expect to be able to carry out many daily activities outside the home or office. Having embraced the era of information overload, we want access to whatever information we need anytime and anywhere.
Renewable Energy (RE) plays an increasingly important role in providing global populations with clean, affordable, sustainable energy. RE production and use continues to increase thanks to the falling cost of equipment and installation.
Many items we use on a daily basis require battery power, such as tablets, laptops, medical devices, toothbrushes, gaming hardware or power tools. They enable our ever-increasing mobility - batteries power e-bikes, the starter, lights, and ignition systems of electric and fuel powered vehicle engines, and they start the engines or auxiliary power units of planes.
Long gone are the days when you had to be home and in front of your television to watch major sports events such as the Olympics or a football championship. Today you have access to broadcast on your computer, tablet or smartphone, and you can even experience virtual reality (VR).
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) is increasingly used in locations that need constant monitoring – banks, casinos, airports, military installations or shopping malls, to name but a few. A great number of municipalities around the world have installed CCTV cameras in sensitive areas of their cities to deter criminality and monitor traffic. Many industry sectors resort to video surveillance in their manufacturing processes. And video cameras are playing a major role in the monitoring and management of explosive (Ex) areas.
During the United Nations Climate Convention – 2015 Paris COP 21, it was recognized that renewable energy (RE) is a key part of the answer to achieving sustainable development and reducing the impact of climate change. Global electricity networks must adapt and include RE technologies.
We don't think twice about using lights at home during the day or after dark. We have also got used to charging our smart phones wherever we are – at the airport, on a train or in the office – so that we can make online purchases, read the news, send messages, do banking or make a call. When we forget our phones or there is a blackout for an hour and we can't watch television, use the computer or boil the kettle, we find it very annoying, but imagine if this were the norm.
In the past, a little knowledge in mechanics was all it took to do minor repair on your car. Nowadays you probably need a degree in IT engineering to perform even the most mundane type of maintenance on your vehicle.
Batteries come in all forms and shapes and are probably the most common and widespread means of energy storage. From the AA or AAA type you buy at your local supermarket to the highly-sophisticated new generation of batteries used in smart portable devices, there are millions of products on offer. Not to forget electric vehicles (EVs). To increase their capacity and minimize their size, the batteries that power them are the focus of intense research and development throughout the world.
Electric motors have many uses, in heavy industry, hospital generators, power tools, pumps to clean swimming pools, and many transport vehicles. Yet, they are the single biggest users of electricity, driving pumps, fans and other machines.
The doctor-patient relationship has evolved tremendously in the past decade or so. There was a time when any medical exam had to be performed at a hospital or a doctor's practice. The recent and rapid emergence of home healthcare technologies is slowly changing the whole medical landscape.
"L'union fait la force" or "unity makes strength" in English is the national motto of Belgium and Bulgaria and appears on the coat of arms of several countries and regions around the world.
What is conformity assessment (CA)? Why is it important? Why is it inevitably linked to standards? Does it really add value to products and systems? Does it have a role in fighting counterfeit goods? Does it facilitate access to markets and trade? Those are just a few of the many questions that were raised during the World Standards Cooperation (WSC) Workshop on Conformity Assessment that took place in Geneva, Switzerland, on 1-2 December 2015.
Is there a time of day or night when we do not rely on electrical or electronic devices in one way or another? Home and workplace are obviously full of appliances, devices and equipment that help us in our daily professional tasks and domestic chores. And with the ever growing number of wearables with us at all times, everything's connected. Our reliance on electronics seems to be a 24/7 affair.
Do you realize that your local bakery may be a potentially hazardous location? In fact any area where flour, sugar, or any other type of powder is stored or processed is a potential risk area. Your kitchen as well, if you think of it, since you're bound to regularly use a wide variety of ingredients in powder form.
On the one hand, energy efficiency is a new way of life that requires behavioural changes on the consumer's part. On the other, the pressure is on the manufacturers of electrical equipment and devices to produce goods that consume as little energy as possible.
Traditionally, the December issue of e-tech provides feedback on the IEC General Meeting (GM), held in Minsk, Belarus, on 12-16 October 2015.
During his address to Council, the IEC General Secretary & CEO, Frans Vreeswijk, provided a brief overview of key accomplishments since Tokyo and drew the audience's attention to a number of topics of high importance for the future relevance of the Commission.
It is with immense sadness and regret that we have to inform the IEC community of the tragic death of IECEE Chairman Ron Collis on 10 November 2015. Ron Collis had been the victim of an unfortunate accident a month ago and never woke from a deep coma. He leaves behind his wife Marion.
Workers are increasingly mobile and a growing number of enterprises around the world provide their workforce with mobile devices such as tablets, phablets or smartphones. Moreover, many people favour tablets over laptops when traveling or doing field work. The Ex industry sector is no exception.
Solid-state lighting (SSL) is rapidly becoming the preferred light source for many lighting applications and the demand will continue to grow. SSL solutions are widely used in industrial and commercial environments. They are also making inroads in urban and airport lighting, automotive headlamps, traffic signals and advertising. They can be used in almost any kind of applications.
The IEC has had a tradition of cooperating with other standardization and conformity assessment (CA) organization for many years. In addition to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), with which it forms the World Standards Cooperation (WSC), one of the Commission's main partners is the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the context of the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement. These are but a few of the 180+ bodies with which the IEC has close links.
The IEC organizes events, as well as regularly supporting other key global and regional industry events, which can present the IEC endorsement on their website and materials.
The IEC has recognized the efforts of three Young Professionals Programme alumni with 1906 Awards in 2015. Congratulations on this achievement.
The number of CB Certificates issued by members of IECEE, the IEC System of Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components, keeps increasing each year and is again expected to break the 80 000 mark at the end of 2015. Add to that the successful and fruitful collaboration with international organizations, the outreach to developing countries and the introduction of new programmes and you have confirmation that IECEE is THE global certification system for electrical and electronic products. In 2015, IECEE is celebrating its 30th anniversary!
Big Data, Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Energy and Smart everything…None of these would be remotely possible without electronics. Sensors in particular are present everywhere and they have a major impact on our home and work environments.
Taipei in June, Bosley in July and Tianjin in August: colour powders blown in the air and allegedly ignited by the heat emanating from the spotlights during a colour festival in Taiwan, a building collapsing at a flour mill site in the UK and warehouses storing hazardous chemicals totally devastated in China. These three cities made headline news for dramatic reasons, i.e. massive explosions that killed many, seriously injured many more and caused significant damage.
Want to learn about conformity assessment (CA)? Get personalized and practical insights on topics of interest to you? Exchange views and network with experts and peers? Don't look further, the WSC Workshop on Conformity Assessment will help you get answers and meet people that matter in the CA field.
The dramatic incident at the Formosa Fun Coast, a water park in Taiwan, at the end of June was an extremely tragic but important reminder that dust explosions are real and that any activity that involves the use of powder or dust is potentially hazardous.
How many electrical appliances and devices do we rely on in any one day? From the lights that we switch on, to the hair dryer, oven and television at home and the computer in the office, most of the tasks we accomplish require the assistance of electrical devices. And then there are the appliances that run 24 hours a day, seven days a week: refrigerators and heaters, for example.
Electronics are everywhere in commercial and office buildings. Elevators, escalators, automatic sliding doors or lighting all rely heavily on electronics nowadays. The same can be said of most of the smaller devices that equip stores and offices. While safety is an important issue for any electronic device, it is becoming crucial for equipment that is used by hundreds, if not thousands, of people every day.
The IEC regularly lends its support to key global and regional industry events allowing them to put forward IEC endorsement on their website and materials. We would like to draw your attention to several events that may be of interest to the IEC community.
Fibre optic lines have revolutionized communications, from long-distance phone calls to cable TV and Internet. Business and industry have used fibre optic technology for years to move large amounts of data quickly. Fibre-based communication is expected to grow tremendously in years to come.
Pipelines are widely used throughout the world to transport oil, gas and other fluids over long distances and across continents. They are frequently subjected to extreme climatic conditions and huge temperature variations that can cause serious damage to the outer shell. This is why companies operating these lines use preventive methods to detect clogging or worse, cracks and flaws that can have disastrous consequences.
When buying a new electrical appliance, who pays much attention to the cord – or to the control switch, for that matter? Customers tend to focus on the design, the look, the size, the price or the overall performance of the product. Cords and switches, seen as necessary appendages that don't merit close examination, are seldom, if ever, part of the decision-making process that leads to the purchase of household goods. Consumers usually take it for granted that the device they acquire is safe and reliable, and will perform without any problems.
Sensors: they are invisible, most people don't even know what they look like, but they are omnipresent today. They have a major impact on our home and work environments and are making our lives much safer and easier in many ways.
Big Data is set to change the way we work by improving operations and allowing faster, more accurate analyses which lead to more informed decisions being made. Confident decision-making could in turn lead to greater efficiency, reduced risks and cost savings. While the oil and gas sector hasn't really embraced the concept yet, it could derive huge benefit from it.
The development of automation throughout the 20th century brought enormous changes to the industrial world: some jobs disappeared, others underwent major transformation, new ones were created and, most importantly, the interaction between man and machine was altered forever. In recent years, the emergence and proliferation of robots on the factory floor has raised automation to a new level.
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, careers are still very much the prerogative of men. Electrotechnical standardization and conformity assessment are no exception. In recent years however, women have made dents in this long-standing tradition. Marie-Elisabeth d'Ornano, who became Chairman of IECQ, the IEC Quality Assessment System for Electronic Components, on 1 January 2014, is such a woman and a good example for others to follow.
Although many automotive manufacturers have added EVs (electric vehicles) to their product lines in recent years, they remain very much a niche market, albeit one that is dynamic and developing steadily. And while potential buyers may still be somewhat concerned by the short range and long charges generally associated with EVs nowadays, industry is striving to come up with innovative solutions to remedy these problems.
Static electricity has been a serious industrial problem for centuries. As early as the 1400s, European and Caribbean forts were using static control procedures and devices to prevent electrostatic discharge ignition of black powder stores. By the 1860s, paper mills in the USA employed basic grounding, flame ionization techniques, and steam drums to dissipate static electricity from the paper web as it went through the drying process.
More than a century ago, the introduction of electrical apparatus for signalling and lighting in coal mines provoked many electrically-induced explosions of flammable gases and dust. Consequentially, specific types of protection were developed to prevent explosions by eliminating contact between an explosive atmosphere and an ignition source.
Have you ever been shocked?
Who among you hasn't at least once in your life received an electric shock, for example while changing a light bulb? In most cases you don't feel much and it has no serious consequences. So much so that you will not do anything about it once the new light bulb is in place. That's where the problem starts. An electric shock is a first sign that something may be defective in the electrical installation of the building.
IEC Affiliate Country Programme Executive Secretary Françoise Rauser usually combines the IEC GM (General Meeting) with a visit to a neighbouring country participating in the programme. This year, following the GM in Tokyo, Japan, she flew to Mongolia, accompanied by IEC-APRC (Asia-Pacific Regional Centre) Regional Director Dennis Chew.
The United Nations proclaimed 2015 as the International Year of Light and Light-Based Technologies, recognizing "the importance of raising global awareness about how light-based technologies promote sustainable development and provide solutions to global challenges in energy, education, agriculture and health". This global initiative ties in very smoothly with another, put forward by IECQ (IEC Quality Assessment System for Electronic Components), namely the IECQ LED initiative.
In just three years, the IECEx international conferences have made their mark and are becoming must-go events on the annual conference circuit for the Ex industry sector. After Dubai, UAE (United Arab Emirates) in 2012 and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2014, the city of Gdańsk, in Poland, will host the 2015 IECEx International Conference on 22-23 April, so please save the date in your calendar!
For many of us, switching a light on or off is such a routine task that we take it for granted. With the exception of extreme situations – major power outages – we've never had to worry about lighting in our homes offices, factories, streets, and so forth. But there are still millions of people with limited or no access to electricity who don't have that privilege. The United Nations have declared 2015 the International Year of Light to raise awareness on the central role played by light-based technologies in providing solutions to global challenges in energy, education, agriculture and health.
Highlights of the IEC CAB (Conformity Assessment Board) meeting that took place in Tokyo, Japan, during the 78th IEC General Meeting.
Traditionally, the December issue of e-tech provides feedback on the IEC GM (General Meeting), held in Tokyo, Japan, this year.
Addressing Council for the first time as IEC President, Junji Nomura expressed his pleasure at doing so in his home country, Japan. Satisfied with the state of the organization which he described as 'strong and healthy' with a 'truly global reach', he nonetheless emphasized the need for the IEC to continue to improve its services while keeping up with the fast-changing global market.
IECEx (IEC System for Certification to Standards relating to Equipment for use in Explosive Atmospheres) has continued to grow in the past year. The IECEx International Conferences – in 2012 in the UAE (United Arab Emirates), and in 2014 in Malaysia – have contributed to increase awareness and visibility in the Middle East and Asia. The IECEx Certified Persons Scheme, launched in late 2010, has really taken off since 2013, benefitting from the support of several majors in the oil and gas industry.
IECQ (IEC Quality Assessment System for Electronic Components) has been thriving in the past 12 months. The launch in 2013 of new programmes for the automotive industry and counterfeit avoidance have enriched its portfolio and broadened its scope. Together with the complete restructuring of the Schemes and a new website, they have brought new dynamics to the System. Not resting on its laurels, IECQ is actively working on new developments.
The number of CB Certificates issued by members of the IECEE (IEC System of Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components) keeps increasing each year (more than 80 000 in 2013). Add to that the successful and fruitful collaboration with international organizations, the outreach to developing countries and the introduction of new services and product categories and you have confirmation that IECEE is THE global certification system for electrical and electronic products.
The DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo) is extremely rich in natural resources. In its soil lie huge amounts of metal and mineral ores such as diamonds, gold, copper, tantalum and the world's largest reserves of cobalt. While artisanal and small-scale mining still plays an important role in ore extraction, the country is increasingly developing its industrial mining sector.
Even if the packaging of the brand-new device you just acquired indicates that it was made in a specific country, you can be assured that it isn't quite the whole picture. Chances are great that some of the components came from country A, others from country B, and the rest from country C. Nowadays, very few manufacturers can boast that their products are made in one country.
In thousands of ways, new and smaller technologies are helping us move forward. From surgical tools that are smarter to toys that let us compete at playing tennis with someone around the world, electronics and their components are doing more than ever before.
From indicator lamps on electronic devices or numeric readouts on digital clocks to their current use in a wide variety of lighting solutions, LEDs (light-emitting diodes) have come a long way in a few decades. They are now replacing incandescent or CFL (compact fluorescent lamp) light bulbs in domestic, residential, commercial and industrial applications.
In less than 20 years, the LED (light-emitting diode) technology has emerged as an increasingly popular light source. LED-based lighting solutions, first used in commercial and industrial environment, can now be found in all kinds of environments and applications. The new generation of LED lights is more efficient, less costly, lasts longer and can be fitted in any kind of lamp or luminaire available on the market.
Fast-evolving technologies and a wealth of electronic devices and equipment on the market have dramatically altered people's lives in recent years. All facets of life have been affected by these changes; home chores, office and factory work, education, leisure activities and commercial endeavours have at some point all embraced a new technology.
What makes a person buy a certain type of equipment, a particular brand? What are the criteria that come into play?
More than a century ago, the first IEC President, Lord Kelvin, was quoted as saying: "If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it". This is as true today as it was then. One thing that has changed since those words were uttered is the way we measure things today.
The ever increasing demand for electricity and the need to reduce the share of fossil fuels in power generation have led to rapid development and growth of the RE (renewable energy) sector. The IEC, which has been at the forefront of international standardization in the wind, solar and marine energy fields for many years, has now gone a step further and launched IECRE, the IEC System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Renewable Energy Applications.
Batteries are probably the most common and widespread means of energy storage. From the AA or AAA type you buy at your local supermarket to the highly sophisticated new generation of batteries used in EVs (electric vehicles) or by utilities, there are millions of products on offer.
The development of automation throughout the 20th century brought enormous changes to the industrial world: some jobs disappeared, others underwent major transformations, new ones were created and, most importantly, the interaction between man and machine was altered forever. The rapid evolution of IT (information technology) in the second part of the 20th century enabled engineers to create increasingly complex control systems that integrated fully between the factory floor and the office environment.
While many countries throughout the world are integrating renewable energy sources into their energy mix, they still rely heavily on fossil fuels. According to the IEA (International Energy Agency), as primary sources of electricity generation, oil, gas and coal together account for the lion's share (67,4%) of the world's supply (IEA 2010).
Electricity is so deeply entrenched in our lives that we take it for granted…until there's a power outage. Whether on a small or large scale, power outages may have dire social and economic consequences: no lights in homes, offices, public places; disruption of public transportation services; temporary factory shutdown, to name but a few. In recent years, major power outages have been able to paralyze whole regions or countries in North and South America, Europe and Asia. Can this happen again? Probably, but there are ways of ensuring that energy generation, transmission and distribution occurs in the safest, most reliable and efficient way possible.
The vision of the future sees robots doing a number of things that humans don't want to do, such as vacuuming. Though the use of artificial intelligence is not yet widespread, robots are moving into sectors that seemed unlikely even a decade ago; for example, assisting in surgical procedures. IECQ, the IEC Quality Assessment System for Electronic Components, helps to ensure the reliability of components used in any robots that care for us.
Since 2007, IECEE (IEC System of Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components) has been managing the risks surrounding medical electrical equipment. Its task has become more important as technological changes and enhancements have radically increased the complexity of the sector.
Some days it looks if you are going to be stuck in traffic forever. Sometimes it is because traffic volumes have suddenly increased. All you can see is car ahead of car as far as the eye can see. At other times, you hear the squeal of tyres and then you see two cars collide. About 1.24 million people died on the world's roads in 2010, said the Global Health Observatory of the WHO (World Health Organization). But technology may be able to increase safety or save you from being stuck in traffic sooner than you think.
e-tech talks to Kerry McManama, the new Executive Secretary and Chief Operating Officer of IECEE (IEC System of Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components) to find out how he arrived at this point and the challenges he sees in his new role.
Children born in the 1990s probably can't remember what it was like without internet access, when making a mixed tape was cool or when the newest game from Sega was the Christmas gift that everyone yearned for. Since that time kids' toys and children's own technological understanding have advanced. But how safe is that robotic dog that you want to buy for your child?
It happens to every parent at some point. Your child is playing with her toys in the living room. You step out of the room for a minute, knowing that the room has been baby proofed, feeling confident that nothing could happen. Then you come back and see that your curious little one is chewing on the television cord. A raft of nightmare scenarios pass before your eyes as you imagine what could have happened while you were gone. Then you shake yourself and remove the cord from your child's grasp. You are able to do this because IECEE, the IEC System of Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components, tests and certifies the safety of audio/video equipment.
In explosive areas, seemingly small failures can have disastrous effects. To meet the world's ever increasing demand for energy, the oil and gas industries have built larger and more complex installations for extraction, processing and distribution, requiring increasing levels of capital investment. To protect these investments and the people working in the installations, compliance with International Standards is paramount.
TAITRONICS, one of the world's largest electronic shows, took place in October with IECQ leading the way.
IECEE, the IEC System of Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components, has a new Executive Secretary and Chief Operating Officer. Kerry McManama will assume this role on 1 January 2014. McManama, a US citizen, has been involved in Conformity Assessment almost since its beginning. His goal is to continue to ensure the safety of the products that are certified and tested by IECEE.
Dr Hiromichi Fujisawa, IEC Vice-President and Chairman of CAB (Conformity Assessment Board) reported to the IEC Council.
Fujisawa gave an update on CAB activities in the 12 months since the Oslo GM (General Meeting). He talked about the creation of IECRE, the new IEC CA (Conformity Assessment) System for renewable energies, presented the work of some of the CAB working groups and of the WT CAC (Wind Turbine Certification Advisory Committee). Furthermore Fujisawa provided insights into the process that is currently being undertaken to harmonize the basic rules of the three CA Systems, IECEE, IECEx and IECQ.
IECEE has a working group that is trying to satisfy the needs of industry in terms of Smart Grid. It is looking to help industry ensure that its products are safe, of high quality and interoperable.
Since it first began, IECQ has been gaining worldwide recognition as the international system for providing independent verification that electronic components, related materials and processes comply with appropriate standards and specifications.
IECQ, the IEC Quality Assessment System for Electronic Components, ensures the safety and reliability of electronic components used in the IT, avionics, and a number of other industries. It also monitors and tests the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment and provides assessment and certification for facilities that handle unprotected ESD (electrostatic discharge) sensitive devices.
The last 12 months have been extremely successful and fruitful for IECEE, the IEC System of Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components. Increased collaboration with international organizations, outreach to developing countries and the introduction of new services and product categories have contributed greatly to confirming IECEE as the leading global certification system for electrical and electronic products.
In 2007, the International Energy Agency estimated that lighting accounted for just under 20% of electricity use worldwide. Public policies, reflecting environmental and energy saving concerns, are driving the global take-up of energy-efficient bulbs. The lighting industry's need for proper International Standards to ensure the safety and measure the performance of these bulbs is obvious and proceeding apace under the aegis of IEC TC (Technical Committee) 34: Lamps and related equipment, and its SCs (Subcommittees).
IECEE Executive Secretary and COO Pierre de Ruvo will step down at the end of 2013. As in previous years, IECEE, the IEC System of Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components, held its annual series of meetings at the beginning of the summer, this time in Vancouver, Canada, from 17 to 21 June 2013. What distinguished this year's gathering was the announcement that IECEE Executive Secretary and COO Pierre de Ruvo would step down at the end of the year.
The development of automation throughout the 20th century brought enormous changes to the industrial world: some jobs disappeared, others underwent major transformations, new ones were created and, most importantly, the interaction between man and machine was altered forever. In the pre-automation era, machinery had been used to assist workers.
The heart has been a symbol of human emotion and complexity since before Common Era. The ancient Egyptians believed that the heart ruled the way people thought, their wisdom and who they were. The ancient Greeks thought that it was the heart, and not the brain, that controlled logic and emotion. It was in the Middle Ages, when Valentine's Day gained popularity, that the concept of romantic love became associated with the broken heart.
A few weeks ago, as I underwent eye surgery, I realized that I was much more worried about the outcome than about the operation itself. Why was that? Given the numerous problems caused by poor eyesight since I was a kid, I had difficulties imagining a world that wasn't hazy and out of focus, a world in which I would see sharp outlines and well-defined silhouettes. As for surgery, I had total confidence in the skills of my ophthalmologist. I trust him.
The April issue of e-tech will focus on transportation and more specifically on EVs (electric vehicles), be they electric cars or electric urban transport vehicles.
The IEC has recently published the 2nd edition of IEC/TS 62239-1, Process management for avionics – Management plan – Part 1: Preparation and maintenance of an electronic components management plan, which now includes the management of lead-free termination finish and soldering of avionic components.
As winter comes to a close, your jacket may give you an electrostatic shock. You may get one from touching a metallic doorknob after crossing a carpeted room or from shaking someone's hand. Although static electricity is ever present people rarely notice it.
A CA System for marine energy?
Oceans offer an enormous source of renewable energy with the potential to satisfy an important percentage of the world's demand for electricity. Marine energy however has not evolved at the same rate as other types of renewable energy. While research in this field has been ongoing for more than 30 years, the technologies used to harness the energy from waves and from tidal and water currents are still in development. Driven by the necessity to look for alternative options to increase the amount of energy produced, some countries have started to invest in projects that convert ocean power into electric power.
Those of you who are frequent visitors to the IECQ website will undoubtedly be pleased to discover the new and totally revamped website that launched in mid-January. And for first-time visitors who want to learn about IECQ, finding their way around the different sections will be child's play.
Cooperation agreements with other standardization and conformity assessment bodies have been on the IEC agenda for many years. One such agreement, made between the Commission's three CA (Conformity Assessment) Systems, IAF (International Accreditation Forum) and ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation) has proved highly rewarding, with levels of collaboration increasingly constantly.
IECQ, the IEC Quality Assessment System for Electronic Components, has recently published the 3rd edition of IECQ QC 080000, Hazardous Substance Process Management System Requirements. The specification and its requirements are based on the strong belief that the provision of hazardous substance-free products and production processes can only be achieved by integrating management disciplines fully.
Invisible yet omnipresent, electronic components play a crucial role in modern technology. Found in parts as diverse as integrated circuits to resistors, capacitors, transistors, LEDs (light-emitting diodes) and switches, they are an essential part of all electrical and electronic devices, equipment and installations, including the heating and cooling systems that form the topic of this month's e-tech.
The past 15 years have seen the extraordinary growth of the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) sector. The emergence of mobile devices, and their immediate success in markets worldwide, has provided an additional boost to a sector that was already expanding rapidly.
In countless ways, modern day technologies have changed the way we live. The emergence and extraordinary success of small mobile devices has increased our reliance on electronics at all times of day – and night. Whatever we do, wherever we are, we rely on them for communication, connecting with others – whether at work or at home – travelling, playing and keeping fit.
In an effort to establish a single market and production base with an aim to facilitate the free flow of goods, services and investment, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member countries are moving towards establishing the AEC (ASEAN Economic Community). The goal is to allow capital to flow more freely and to stimulate more equitable economic development, while reducing poverty and socio-economic disparities.
The 2012 'IECEX International Conference: Equipment and Services in Explosive Atmospheres' was held in Dubai, UAE (United Arab Emirates) on 20-21 March, marking the launch of the IECEx in the Gulf. The conference was organized by ESMA (Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology) in collaboration with IECEx and UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe).
This original article was published in Hazardous Area International, a media sponsor of the Dubai conference.
Avionics – a blend of aviation and electronics – comprises all electronic systems used in aircraft, satellites and spacecraft. It includes communications, navigation, flight and engine control, collision-avoidance and weather-based systems.
Standardization and conformity assessment are complementary. While it is essential that products and systems comply with standards, this compliance has then to be verified and certified. This may be a given in industrialized countries; it is less obvious for developing and industrializing countries.
When it was signed in October 2010, the MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) between IEC, ILAC(International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation) and IAF (International Accreditation Forum) was seen as a cornerstone of enhanced collaboration for the three organizations involved. Now this agreement, which generated much interest in the CA (conformity assessment) community, is bearing more fruits.
IECEx Executive Secretary Chris Agius received the HazardEx Lifetime Contribution to the Industry Award on 29 February 2012 at a gala dinner that took place during the annual HazardEx event in Harrogate, UK. The Award recognizes an individual for making a significant personal contribution to improving health and safety in hazardous areas.
We don't see them, most of us don't even know what they look like, but we are all dependent on them. They make life easier and safer. Modern technologies couldn't do without them. In short, sensors are indispensable.
Offshore oil platforms, refineries, shipyards, gas and oil tankers operate 24 hours a day. Most human activities may go at a reduced pace at night but the tanker will continue to trace its route across the ocean, the rig will continue to drill or pump oil, and refineries never stop refining crude oil. Night-shift crews need powerful and reliable lighting to be able to work when it is dark. Lighting fixtures, as with any other piece of equipment or device used in hazardous areas, have to be explosion-proof.
Smart is the word. Appliances, multimedia equipment, security systems are all becoming more sophisticated, making life much easier and safer. All these devices and systems would not exist without electronic components. To accompany the rapid technological developments of recent years, electronic component manufacturers have been designing products that are smarter, smaller and offer enhanced performance and functionality.
Testing and certification of Ex (explosive) equipment and its servicing is essential, as is the assessment and certification of competence of those individuals that install, repair and handle equipment in hazardous areas. Safety depends on it.
"If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it". Lord Kelvin, First IEC President.
What Lord Kelvin said more than a hundred years ago is still true. The technology of the 21st century may be a far cry from that of Lord Kelvin's era, but metrology is still a key element of standardization and conformity assessment, essential to the work of the IEC and the OIML, the International Organization of Legal Metrology.
Incidents such as the explosion that caused the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 clearly demonstrate the need for the strictest safety measures not only for equipment operated in hazardous environments, but also for the people who man these installations and often work in harsh and extreme conditions.
IECEx, the IEC System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres, was invited to address these issues, focusing primarily on personnel competence, at the IEC industrializing country workshop which took place during the General Meeting in Melbourne. IECEx is the only international system that covers the testing and certification of equipment, repair and overhaul facilities and personnel competence.
An LED (Light-Emitting Diode) is basically a semiconductor light source. LEDs, primarily used as indicator lamps in many devices, are increasingly used for industrial, commercial, residential and domestic lighting. The market for LEDs is large, growing fast and is dominated by Asian manufacturers from China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.
When buying a new electrical appliance, who pays much attention to the cable – or to the control switch, for that matter? Customers tend to focus on the design, the look, the size, the price or the overall performance of the product. They are likely to overlook other aspects and see the cable and the switches as necessary appendages that don't merit close examination. They usually take it for granted that the device they acquire is safe and reliable, and will perform without any problems.
Pipelines, tanks and vessels that store or transport potentially explosive substances are frequently subjected to extreme climatic conditions and huge temperature variations. Confronted with the problem of protecting equipment from freezing or ensuring that products were stored at the correct temperature, engineers were quick to find a solution: electric trace-heating cables.
Batteries are used in numerous devices and their safety determines the lifespan and faultless operation of countless products. With converging technologies and the advent of horizontal standards comes the need to regularly review, compare and update the standards that define safety requirements in order to ensure that testing and conformity assessment processes are coordinated. This is what is currently happening for the standards issued by IEC TC 108 and IEC SC 21A.
IECEE, the IEC System of Conformity Testing and Certification for Electro-technical Equipment and Components, is a truly international conformity assessment system. The IECEE CB Scheme opens up access to the global market, while the IECEE CB-FCS (Full Certification Scheme) takes testing and certification a step further with a complete factory inspection process. IECEE is also the exclusive provider of the PV (photovoltaic) Quality Seal and Quality Mark. Technological innovations and environmental issues have prompted the setting up of additional services to meet specific demands from industry and governments worldwide.
Oil and gas refining, chemical processing, coal mining, paper and textile manufacturing, grain handling and storage, sugar refining. These are very different industrial sectors that have one thing in common. They all have hazardous areas in which flammable liquids, vapours, gases or combustible dusts present a fire or explosion hazard. The use of on-site electrical equipment just adds another spark to this dangerous mix. IECEx, the IEC System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres, is globally recognized as helping companies tame hazards in Ex (explosive) areas.
Middle Eastern countries that have a large number of oil producing and processing operations are expressing a strong interest in IECEx, the IEC System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres. To help educate interested parties about the System and learn how the region can benefit from it, ESMA (Emirates Authority for Standardization & Metrology) has taken the initiative and approached IECEx to host a major event in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Electronic components. We don't see them. Most of us don't even know what they look like. But we cannot do without them. Homes, offices, factories and transportation systems all rely heavily on them. Mobile telephones, computers, car and aircraft navigation systems, and automated production chains wouldn't exist without them.
From the wheel that helped transport heavy loads to the fire that provided heat, inventions and discoveries have made life much easier. The advent of electricity was a turning point in the industrial world. Automated operations were introduced that could be performed without the need for human intervention. The development of automation throughout the 20th century brought enormous changes: some jobs disappeared, others underwent major transformations and new ones were created.
In Iraq, one of the world's three leading oil-rich countries, the first signs of economic recovery are in place, but total reconstruction and restoration of existing superstructures and infrastructures is still a long way off.
While oceans are an enormous source of renewable energy with the potential to satisfy an important percentage of the world's demand for electricity, marine energy has not evolved at the same rate as other types of renewable energy. Although there has been on-going research in this field for the last 30 years, the technologies developed to harness the energy from waves, tidal and water currents are still at early stages of development. Driven by the necessity to look for alternative options to increase the amount of energy produced, some countries have recently started to invest in projects that convert ocean power into electric power.
IECEE, the IEC System of Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components, held its annual series of meetings in Istanbul, Turkey, during the last week of June 2011. IECEE Executive Secretary Pierre de Ruvo made a presentation on the System's activities over the past 12 months and highlighted the good results obtained by CB Test Certificates.
Potentially explosive environments are obvious terrains in which to choose to deploy robots. During the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, robotic submersibles were sent underwater to contain and ultimately cap the spill on the sea floor, where direct human intervention was impossible. But most robots used in Ex atmospheres don't operate in such difficult and extreme conditions.
There are all types of robots loaded with electrotechnology and the electronics and semiconductor industries are relying increasingly on robotics for their product assembly processes. According to data compiled by the US Robotic Industries Association, the volume of robot sales to the electronics and semiconductor industry rose by nearly two-thirds during the first quarter of 2011.
In commercial and office buildings, energy is consumed by appliances and equipment, from computers and copiers to water coolers and lighting. Heating and cooling equipment – often out of sight – is another major source of energy consumption.
Sunny days. Milder temperatures. No doubt spring is back. If you have a garden, it's time to resume all the great outdoor activities the winter interrupted. Mowing the lawn, pruning the trees, fixing things around the house, uncovering and filling the pool (if you're lucky enough to have one) and getting the barbecue ready are some of the tasks to be performed before you can relax and enjoy the good life in your garden.
In April, IEC TC (Technical Committee) 31 and SC (Subcommittee) 31M were proud to announce the publication of ISO/IEC 80079-34, the first standard to be developed by this unique subcommittee.
Modern-day technologies are not confined to homes, factories or offices. They have also reached the outdoors. While electric lawn mowers and gardening tools have been around for some time, they have, in recent years, benefitted from the numerous developments in the electronics sector, as have other outdoor devices and equipment.
As EVs (electric vehicles) make their comeback — they were first seen in the 1900s and then briefly in the 1970s — much of the focus is on batteries, their main power source. Fuel-powered and hybrid cars, trucks, buses, locomotives and aircraft also rely on batteries to start their engine or, in some cases, the APU (auxiliary power unit).
In January 2011 the United Nations, via UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe), recommended the IEC and IECEx, one of the three IEC Conformity Assessment Systems, as the world's best practice model for the verification of conformity to International Standards.
The boom in air and road traffic in the past 40 years or so has been determinant in the development of electronics in those sectors. Today, all modes of transportation rely on electronics for navigation, communication or engine-control management as well as for entertainment. Electronic devices and systems are designed to bring more safety, reliability and comfort to pilots, drivers and passengers alike.
Ex or explosive atmospheres are not restricted to oil refineries, offshore oil rigs, gas plants or mines. Many other industries also operate in potentially hazardous environments: sugar refineries, flour mills, grain silos and the paper and textile sectors, to name a few. Ex risks also exist in transportation.
It is safe to assume that there is at least one electrical appliance in every room of your house or apartment. If nothing else, there is at least a lamp.
Ron Sinclair, Managing Director of the private certification body Baseefa Ltd., was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the UK's (United Kingdom's) 2011 New Year's Honours List for his services to Certification and Standards.
Your 15-year-old washing machine just broke down and you need to buy a new one? You're in for a big surprise…the simple washing machine that you switch on by turning the operating dial and pressing the start button is gone. The new machines all use advanced technologies, taking modern lifestyles and environmental issues into consideration.


Ceo Report To Board Of Directors Template – Have you been still using Excel 2003? Many businesses and individuals have been reluctant to purchase the brand new Excel. Following years of releases which did not definitely change this program much, Excel 2007 presented a major change.
You may find several varieties of a budgeting worksheet on the internet you may print or utilize as a template in one of your current programs. Even if you simply utilize it in order to get ideas, it is sometimes a huge help whenever you sit down to develop a funds management program. While not everybody gets the same earnings and expenditure situation, this type of worksheet is just a significant place to start.
Be certain that you remain uptodate with the changes which have taken place. If the company that you work for doesn't use the newest Excel, go get it on your very own personal use. I am hearing an increasing number of stories about accountants being asked in job interviews with that this matter: What version of Excel does your company usage? When the applicant says 2003, the interviewer cites that this app has changed much at the new 2007 release, also shows the candidate has been obsolete using the equipment he's utilizing.
Does this signify there is really a steep learning curve into the more recent variants of Excel? No, if you already know Excel effectively, you are able to determine the newest menus quite fast. However, it is different and also you must shell out time with it. The primary difference between your older Excel and the newer upgrades is that the menu process. The older style menus have been now gone and changed with newer ones. I needed to search around for a bit to understand where matters were. The fine thing though is that the mouse right-click menus are all enlarged. You must spend some time together with this to be proficient by it.
Excel 2007 along with the brand new 2010 improve break the old hurdles on the number of columns and rows out there. No longer can you use up all your columns at pillar I V, there are currently more than 16,000 available. The rows are currently over a thousand. Wow, if you work with large worksheets like I do, it really matters. Your spreadsheets will probably look brighter as well. It is easier to earn a good-looking desk and other products for presentation. You will find more colors available to use way too, that will be really fine if you employ them just as far since I really do. The principal cause to update though is always to keep your skills current. You don't want to become out-of-date yourself. We are all aware that technology is moving forward. Some occasions it walks sometimes even is emptied. Do not miss this jump.
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Bentside spinet with mitred tail. Walnut veneered casework with stringing and crossbanding (in ash?) on the interior. Solid walnut lid. Raised on a turned trestle stand.
Thomas Hancock London in ink on name batten, and 1732 on the FF keylever (reproduced on new lever).
One 8', strung in brass.
Boalch3 number: HANCOCK, T. 1723(A) (confused entry, some of which refers to this instrument).


text:
The Importance of Giving Thanks by - Jonathan Sacks
The first words we are taught to say each morning, immediately upon waking, are Modeh/modah and — "I give thanks." Note that the normal word order is inverted: Modeh ani, not ani modeh, so that in Hebrew the "thanks" comes before the "I."
Judaism teaches "gratitude with attitude." And this, according to recent scientific research, really is a life-enhancing idea.
The source of the command to give thanks is to be found in this week's parsha. Among the sacrifices it itemizes is the korban todah, the thanksgiving offering: "If he offers it [the sacrifice] as a thanksgiving offering, then along with this thanksgiving offering, he is to offer unleavened loaves mixed with oil, unleavened wafers spread with oil, and loaves of fine flour well-kneaded and mixed with oil" (Lev. 7:12).
Though we have been without sacrifices for almost 2,000 years, a trace of the thanksgiving offering survives to this day, in the form of the blessing Hagomel: "Who bestows good things on the unworthy" — which said in the synagogue, at the time of reading of the Torah, by one who has survived a hazardous situation.
For me, the almost universal instinct to give thanks is one of the signals of transcendence in the human condition. It is not just the pilot that we want to thank when we land safely; not just the surgeon when we survive an operation; not just the judge or politician when we are released from prison or captivity. It is as if some larger force was operative, as if the hand that moves the pieces on the human chessboard were thinking of us — as if Heaven itself had reached down and come to our aid.
Insurance companies sometimes describe natural catastrophes as "acts of God." Human emotion tends to do the opposite. God is in the good news, the miraculous deliverance, the escape from catastrophe. That instinct — to offer thanks to a force, a presence — is itself a signal of transcendence. Though not a proof of the existence of God, it is nonetheless an intimation of something deeply spiritual in the human heart. It tells us that we are not random concatenations of selfish genes, blindly reproducing themselves. Our bodies may be products of nature ("dust you are, and to dust you will return"), but there is something within us that reaches out to Someone beyond us: the soul of the universe, the Divine "You" to whom we offer our thanks.
Not until the early 1990s did a major piece of medical research reveal the dramatic physical effects of thanksgiving. It became known as the Nun Study.
Some 700 American nuns, all members of the School Sisters of Notre Dame in the United States, agreed to allow their records to be accessed by a research team investigating the process of aging and Alzheimer's disease. At the start of the study, the participants were aged between 75 and 102.
What gave this study its unusual longitudinal scope is that in 1930, the nuns, then in their twenties, had been asked by the Mother Superior to write a brief autobiographical account of their life and their reasons for entering the convent. These documents were analyzed by the researchers using a specially devised coding system to register, among other things, positive and negative emotions.
By annually assessing the nuns' current state of health, the researchers were able to test whether their emotional state in 1930 had an effect on their health some 60 years later. Because they had all lived a very similar lifestyle during these six decades, they formed an ideal group for testing hypotheses about the relationship between emotional attitudes and health.
The results, published in 2001, were startling. The more positive emotions — contentment, gratitude, happiness, love and hope — the nuns expressed in their autobiographical notes, the more likely they were to be alive and well 60 years later. The difference was as much as seven years in life expectancy. So remarkable was this finding that it has led, since then, to a new field of gratitude research, as well as a deepening understanding of the impact of emotions on physical health.
Since the publication of the Nun Study and the flurry of further research it inspired, we now know of the multiple effects of developing an attitude of gratitude. It improves physical health and immunity against disease. Grateful people are more likely to take regular exercise and go for regular medical check-ups. Thankfulness reduces toxic emotions such as resentment, frustration and regret, and makes depression less likely. It helps people avoid overreacting to negative experiences by seeking revenge. It even tends to make people sleep better.
It enhances self-respect, making it less likely that you will envy others for their achievements or success. Grateful people tend to have better relationships. Saying "thank you" enhances friendships and elicits better performance from employees. It is also a major factor in strengthening resilience. One study of Vietnam War veterans found that those with higher levels of gratitude suffered lower incidence of Post-traumatic stress disorder.
Jewish prayer is an ongoing seminar in gratitude. Birkot ha-Shachar, "the Dawn Blessings" said at the start of morning prayers each day, are a litany of thanksgiving for life itself: the human body, the physical world, land to stand on and eyes to see with.
Gratitude also lies behind a fascinating feature of the Amidah. When the leader of prayer repeats the Amidah aloud, we are silent other than for the responses of Kedushah, and saying Amen after each blessing — with one exception. When the leader says the words Modim anachnu lakh, "We give thanks to You," the congregation says the a parallel passage known as Modim de-Rabbanan.
For every other blessing of the Amidah, it is sufficient to assent to the words of the leader by saying Amen. The one exception is Modim, "We give thanks." Rabbi Elijah Spira (1660-1712) in his work Eliyahu Rabbah, explains that when it comes to saying thank you, we cannot delegate this away to someone else. Thanks has to come directly from us.
Hence the transformative idea: giving thanks is beneficial to the body and the soul. It contributes to both happiness and health. It is also a self-fulfilling attitude: the more we celebrate the good, the more good we discover things that are worthy of celebration.
This is neither easy nor natural. We are genetically predisposed to pay more attention to the bad than the good. For sound biological reasons, we are hyper-alert to potential threats and dangers. It takes focussed attention to become aware of how much we have to be grateful for. That, in different ways, is the logic of prayer, of making blessings, of Shabbat, and many other elements of Jewish life.
It is also embedded in our collective name. The word Modeh, "I give thanks," comes from the same root as Yehudi, meaning "Jew." We acquired this name from Jacob's fourth son, named by his mother Leah who, at his birth said, "This time I will thank God" (Gen. 29:35).
Jewishness is thankfulness; it is not the most obvious definition of Jewish identity, but it is by far the most life-enhancing.
published at algemeiner.com
Life for a New Day
True Thankfulness; THE GIFT OF SIMPLY BEING ALIVE
Modeh Ani


It's a popular request for wedding attire; so-many of the women I hear from want mother of the bride dresses with jackets! Dresses with jackets are a great option for mothers of the bride during transitional weather seasons like spring and fall. They are also a smart choice if you're not sure if you want a little bit of a sleeve. Here is our shopping guide of some of the best Mother of the Bride Dresses with Jackets we've found this season.
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A mother of the bride dress with a jacket is a really good choice for a variety of wedding scenarios.
If you want a little coverage for your arms, jackets or boleros are wonderful!
If you are worried that the weather might be a little iffy or chilly and you'd like to dress in layers, a jacket is the perfect solution! The other wonderful thing about choosing a mother of the bride dress with a jacket, is that you then have a jacket to wear with other outfits. It also gives the dress with a different without the jacket that you may choose to wear again to another event.
There are a few different styles of jackets; drapey lace and chiffon styles, or more tailored suit style jackets, or short cropped shrugs and bolero jackets. There are also some styles with capelet overlays. The choices and silhouettes for this style lovely!
Many mother of the bride dresses come in a range of sizes from and small and petite to plus and curvy! Here are a few pretty plus size mother of the bride dresses with jackets. Also take a look at our other selections for plus size mother of the bride dresses.
It's not just dresses! If you prefer a pantsuit or other separates, it's also easy to find a mother of the bride outfit that comes with a jacket.
Here are a few more dresses with the two-piece style we love!
If you didn't find quite the dress here are a few other brands, labels and shops that have dresses with jackets for the mother of the bride.


This week on The First Run, Chris and Matt are joined by Caless Davis of the Feelin Film podcast to discuss Jordan Peele's latest, 'Us'. Peele's sophomore effort deals with the concept of the other. And us. After the breakout hit of 'Get Out', can Peele repeat the runaway success and deliver another intellectually and emotionally resonant thriller? Then Matt and Chris finally catch up with Black Mirror's 'Bandersnatch' with Caless. The Choose-Your-Own-Adventure sci-fi thriller that dares to answer the question, "Are you in avideo game, man?!?" Can the film elevate itself above its central conceit, or is it weighed down by it? There's the always deliriously entertaining rundown of the big releases on Blu-Ray & DVD, featuring the Straight to DVD and Streaming Picks of the Week! Then it's the return of Call It!, the game of fatalistic choices featuring your favorite films, characters and actors. Who is the best Alfred? Which do you keep; Seven or Fight Club? Who will win the streaming wars between Amazon and Netflix? Tune in to find out!