ENGGtalks Newsroom

17 May 23

Is it time to ban PVC? Ohio freight train crash reopens the debate

Civil, Structural & Architecture, Mechanical, Production & Manufacturing

Environmental issues take us round the world in this issue, but let’s start with the Coronation. Whatever you think of him or the monarchy, you have to admit that the newly crowned King Charles III was there early, talking about global warming, conservation and many other environmental issues long before they were fashionable, let alone…

17 May 23

Just Calm Down About GPT-4 Already

Electrical, Electronics & Instrumentation, Mechanical, Production & Manufacturing

Rapid and pivotal advances in technology have a way of unsettling people, because they can reverberate mercilessly, sometimes, through business, employment, and cultural spheres. And so it is with the current shock and awe over large language models, such as GPT-4 from OpenAI.It’s a textbook example of the mixture of…

17 May 23

What can we do about the consequences of our current energy challenge?

Electrical, Electronics & Instrumentation, Mechanical, Production & Manufacturing

There is no doubt that ongoing issues surrounding energy have created significant challenges for global industry. However, the varied nature of global industry means it can be difficult to see the big picture. That’s why we at ABB conducted a survey of 2,300 leaders across key global markets: US and…

17 May 23

Budget Drones in Ukraine Are Redefining Warfare

Electrical, Electronics & Instrumentation, Mechanical, Production & Manufacturing

The war between Russia and Ukraine is making a lot of high-tech military systems look like so many gold-plated irrelevancies. That’s why both sides are relying increasingly on low-tech alternatives–dumb artillery shells instead of pricey missiles, and drones instead of fighter aircraft.“This war is a war of drones, they are…

17 May 23

Tech’s role in the quest for climate justice: What not to miss at TNW Conference

Computer & Information Technology

Award-winning innovators Caroline Lair and Lucia Gallardo will be speaking at TNW Conference, which takes place on June 15 & 16 in Amsterdam. If you want to experience the event (and say hi to our editorial team!), we’ve got something special for our loyal readers. Use the promo code READ-TNW-25 and get a 25%…

17 May 23

Decoding Stress from Wearable Tech

Computer & Information Technology

Can your mind be read at arm’s length? Scientists and clinicians at Mt. Sinai hospital in New York have taken a step down this road—using smartwatch data to discover aspects of a wearer’s psychological state. The researchers want to predict a person’s resilience, optimism, and emotional support–all correlated with positive…

17 May 23

Self-driving cars will cause ‘moral panic’, says transport minister

Civil, Structural & Architecture, Mechanical, Production & Manufacturing

Jesse Norman told MPs that a “horrendous” part of the development of the technology will be “scare stories, particularly in the early stages”. Last month, the UK became the first European country to allow drivers to take their hands off car steering wheels on public roads, after the Department for…

17 May 23

Crypto has ‘no intrinsic value’ and ‘no useful social purpose,’ say lawmakers

Computer & Information Technology

The crackdown on cryptocurrency escalated today after lawmakers called for consumer trading to be regulated like gambling. In a new report by a cross-party committee, British politicians claimed the likes of Bitcoin and Ether have “no intrinsic value” and serve “no useful social purpose.” They also noted several adverse impacts of…