Smart Special - Smart Materials
Spy drones, raindrop power generators, camouflage clothing and jellyfish robots? Welcome to the wacky world of smart materials.
We take a final wander around the main Olympic venues, buffing up the floors, retesting the pH of the pool, and making sure that everything is in its right place for London 2012.
Mark Williamson spies a landmark moment in the tortuous commercial journey from PowerPoint presentation to actual orbit.
How do you develop a standard that meets the need for thousands - maybe millions - of devices to connect without human intervention? Welcome to the ‘Weightless’ world.
E&T likes its engineering smart and its technology smarter, so what can a smart world offer us today? We look at smart living; smart materials (spy drones, raindrop power generation, camouflage clothing and jellyfish robots); smart farming (integrating robots with livestock); the smart house; smart appliances; smart gadgets; smart meters; smart cars (automotive technology, that is, not the Mercedes Benz small car range); smart buldings; smart humans, smart factories and smart warfare. Yep, if you don't like any of that other stuff, we've got smart bombs to blow it to smithereens from a reassuringly safe distance. Plus much more in this issue, as per usual.
The E&T podcast: download episode 18
In this edition of the E&T podcast, we look at smart farming with Peter Mennake from DeLavel; sports engineering with Dr David James from Sheffield Hallam University; ethical hacking with Mohammed Naseer, Penetration Tester at Tranchulas Ltd; 100 years of the Strowger telephone exchange system at the Avoncroft Museum, home of the National Telephone Kiosk Collection; at the service tunnel for EuroTunnel with the French; and at wind farm power transmission with Norman MacLeod from Alstom Grid.
Smart Special - Smart Transport 
Smarter transport systems are encouraging cities to enhance mobility, reduce emissions and personalise the user experience.
London data centres will feel the effects of the 2012 Games
How significant will the impact of the London 2012 Games be on the capital's data-centre operators?
Smart Special - Smart Home Tech
Just when you didn’t think digital entertainment couldn’t get any smarter, the big guns have changed the state of play again.
Smart Special - Smart Warfare
The development of aerial drones, smart bullets and laser guns all point to a future of global conflict resembling science fiction.
Turing anniversary books - the best and the rest
Books published to mark the 100th anniversary of Alan Turing's birth in June this year take different approaches to telling the computing pioneer’s story.
Smart Special - Smart Humans
As the relationship between humans and machines moves ever closer, technology is beginning to have far-reaching effects on the chemistry of the brain.
Interview - Bob Stuart, Meridian
The way we listen to music is undergoing revolutionary change. But the way Meridian designs and manufactures its speakers isn't, says the company's co-founder and CTO, Bob Stuart.
Smart Special - Smart Appliances
Smart appliances are being hailed as the new technology to make our lives easier. Are they just technological gimmicks or do they have a place in our homes?
Smart Special - Smart Factories
The smart factory is said to herald the fourth industrial revolution, a fundamental shift in operating practices that will change the way that manufacturing companies operate.
Smart Special - Smart Materials
Spy drones, raindrop power generators, camouflage clothing and jellyfish robots? Welcome to the wacky world of smart materials. 
Smart Special - Smart Cars
Cars are getting smarter by the mile, but are distracted drivers too quick to dismiss efficiency innovations ‘as standard’? Do we really only value exciting gadgetry?
Smart Special - Smart Farming
Automation is now the norm for the manufacturing industry, but how has the dairy farming industry overcome integrating robots with livestock?
Smart Special - Smart Dust
Surface-to-surface sensors are now linking up for the ultimate ‘surveillance and control’ network.
Smart Special - Smart Buildings
If smart buildings are to deliver the energy savings that are hoped for they will need to evolve from their present reactive state and become truly predictive.
Smart Special - Smart Meters
Utility companies have been trying for years to get consumers to accept smart meters into their homes, but there are still barriers that must be overcome.
Smart Special - Smart Cities
Despite the relative prevalence of the term there is no universally agreed-upon definition for what exactly makes a city smart. We round up six modern cities implementing cutting-edge strategies to up their smart credentials. 
Interview - Guy Clapperton
Switching onto social media as a commercial tool is critical to your marketing strategy. Nick Smith talks to author Guy Clapperton, whose new book tells you how to turn social media into business.
Emobility vehicles - electric bikes and scooters
The new generation of e-bicycles and e-scooters shown at this year's Hannover Messe exhibition are aiming to take powered urban mobility to new levels of drive versatility and environmental sensitivity. Not only are they green and groovy, but find an open power point and you can juice 'em up for free!
For and Against: management styles
For
Developing networks has become more important than command and control for today’s manager
Executive director, speaker and author
Profile: Dr David Fraser
Dr David Fraser is a chartered engineer with a major projects background and has qualifications in neuro-linguistic programming and mediation. He is executive director of change for Leaders, a consultancy focused on bringing out the best in people. He is also an international speaker and author of the award-winning book ‘Relationship Mastery: A Business Professional’s Guide’. www.drdavidfraser.com
Against
Developing networks has not become more important than command and control for today’s manager
Founder of the Business Genome project, author and speaker
Profile: Andrea Kates
Andrea Kates is the founder of the Business Genome project and author of the bestselling business innovation book ‘Find Your Next’. She is a member of the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) community and a featured 2012 TED speaker
Developing networks has become more important than command and control for today's manager.
The new rPac is a portable digital-analogue converter boosting audio quality from laptop to headphones
The i.Fuzen iPhone case includes: 1650mAH battery, doubling battery life; a headphone amplifier and an extra port
World’s slimmest digital TV recorder, 14mm casing crams in Freeview+ HD’s 50 standard channels and four HD channels
Bagless and cordless, this lightweight vacuum cleaner’s AirRAM stores dirt “bales” behind its brushes
Fastest autofocus camera (from 0.09 seconds) and it’s smaller than a dSLR, but still with interchangeable lenses
The Super AMOLED smartphone, 1.4GHz quad-core processor and 8MP camera promise speed and power
Latest Issue
"Summer is on the way, so we turn our attention to a few leisurely pursuits - and some not-so leisurely ones..."
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