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WRIT TEN BY DUMISANI ZUNGU
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION REPORT IN ASSOCIATION WITH
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GOING FURTHER F ord is one of the leading manufacturers in SA, with assembly plants in Pretoria and Port Elizabeth, and employs more than 3 250 people countrywide. Over 17 nameplates are sold in SA, where Ford also assembles the highly popular Ranger bakkie for export to more than 140 countries. DESTINY MAN’s Tech & Innovation Report showcases leading innovations and advancements – attributes that align strongly with Ford’s “Go Further” brand ethos. Our product range showcases progressive design and real capability, and through creating technologies that improve driver and passenger safety, infotainment options, performance and efficiency, we keep the Ford brand top of mind. Kuda Takura, Brand Manager: Ford
TECH & GIVE MINESH BHAGALOO, Product Communications Manager Which Ford innovations are you most proud of? We’re already selling semi-autonomous vehicles that use software and sensors to adjust speed based on traffic flow, or apply the brakes in an emergency. The Ford Fusion is one example. How does Ford keep abreast of technological developments in the motoring industry? Experiments across the globe shape our future decisions and enable us to deliver accessible and affordable personal mobility for people around the world.
We’re already selling semiautonomous vehicles that use software and sensors to adjust speed based on traffic flow. How does Ford’s EcoBoost give the brand an edge? EcoBoost uses smaller overall engine size combined with turbo-charging and petrol direct injection for the power customers want and the fuel economy they need. In 2014, more than 80% of our global nameplates were available with EcoBoost, but our true flag-bearer remains the one-litre, three-cylinder version that’s been named International Engine of the Year in its class for the past four consecutive years.
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ENSLY DOOMS, Social Media Lead: SA and Sub-Saharan Africa What’s your mandate? Ensuring that Ford’s fans and followers are taken on the Ford journey as it expands into different markets and launches new models and technologies. I achieve this by engaging with these communities through interactive conversations on various social media platforms. How do you gauge brand penetration through social media? Through positive engagement and online reputation management systems that measure brand popularity and general social conversation, compared with who we consider our competitors to be. What’s your favourite Ford feature? I’m an avid music-lover and with Ford’s SYNC infotainment system, I can make music selections through simple-to-remember voice commands and make and receive phone calls while driving, without my hands leaving the steering wheel.
I can make and receive phone calls while driving, without my hands leaving the steering wheel.
Ford executives share their perspectives on communication and innovation
PRAEWPAILIN JITJUAJUN, Smart Pillar Communications Manager What’s been your biggest achievement at Ford? I’ve managed to capture the tech audience’s attention and create conversations about the Ford brand in a very crowded space which has historically been dominated by start-ups and Silicon Valleybased IT companies.
Technical jargon can be intimidating, so we equip our sales people with the tangible benefits of our features. What are the challenges of communicating technical terminology to motorists? Technical jargon can be intimidating, so when we train our sales people on features such as SYNC, AppLink or infotainment, we equip them with the tangible benefits. They can then explain these features to potential customers in a way that’s easy to understand. Tell us about Ford’s collaboration with Microsoft in the development of in-car infotainment systems. Partnering with the software giant brought SYNC to the Ford brand. It changed the way Ford and many of its consumers looked at in-car entertainment.
TRENDS WRIT TEN BY CRAIG WILSON
IN FLOODS THE FUTURE
Between driverless cars, 3D printing, nanotechnology, augmented reality and artificial intelligence, science fiction is rapidly becoming science fact. But to which of these technologies and innovations should we pay attention? We asked three experts Arthur Goldstuck, MD: World Wide Worx “We always exaggerate the impact of tech that’s only just emerging,” Goldstuck says. “But at the same time, when tech is going mainstream, we underestimate how quickly it can happen and how big an impact it can have. The Internet is a perfect example. In 1996, The Economist had a famous cover story calling e-commerce a failure, but the commercial Internet was only
two years old.” Today, of course, e-commerce is enormous. Goldstuck says while some innovations face tremendous resistance and may become mainstream, others appear to be on an “inexorable march towards take-up”. He believes the failure of the now-shelved Google Glass project could be predicted simply by observing its use cases (or lack thereof) and the public response to them.
“This is the problem facing Bitcoin and other crytocurrencies. There’s huge enthusiasm about them in the tech community and minieconomies emerging around them, but mainstream adoption could take a long time because there’s limited trust outside this community,” says Goldstuck. The challenge new technology faces in becoming mainstream is something author Geoffrey Moore refers to as “crossing the chasm”. It
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Simon Dingle, co-founder of BitX and broadcaster Like Goldstuck, Dingle believes education is desperately in need of an overhaul. “We should be teaching kids the essence of science, which is critical thinking,” Dingle says. “We have a fundamentally broken education system. We still school children the way we did in the 19th century.” Dingle says we need to “re-imagine” education, and that starts with “building healthy scepticism in young
minds”. He believes we need to teach children to relentlessly question because “that leads one to maths and science and those are the disciplines needed to become meaningfully engaged with technology”. However, unlike Goldstuck, Dingle is decidedly bullish about crytocurrency Bitcoin and its underlying blockchain system. “People separate Bitcoin and the blockchain in discussions, which is ridiculous. They don’t exist without one another,” he says.
“Car ownership won’t make sense. You’ll just summon a vehicle like you do with Uber.” The blockchain is a public, digital ledger of transactions that’s recorded in a linear, chronological order and can’t be retrospectively altered because it’s decentralised by design. The interdependency that exists between the various parts of the blockchain network serves as a vetting mechanism. “People will come up with transactional systems, or ways of preserving copyright, or may even use the blockchain for things like land deeds,” Dingle says. “You can write things into the blockchain using infinitesimal quantities of bitcoin. There’s a Canadian band writing their copyright into the blockchain and the Honduran government is writing title deeds into it.” He says this may even be how investments work in future, with portions of equity assigned and traded using the blockchain. “We will probably need something like a bourse even then, but who knows what shape it will take or how it will actually work?” Just as trying to imagine what a future stock exchange might look like is almost impossible, because we don’t know enough about the variables at play, we can’t really imagine what machine intelligence will be like a decade or
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needs to be picked up by more than just early adopters if it’s to take off, but if it does, uptake thereafter could be extremely rapid. “Apple’s iPod, iPhone and iPad are all examples of products that made that transition successfully,” Goldstuck explains. A good example of an innovation on the “inexorable march” is driverless or autonomous cars. “You can already buy cars that park themselves. That’s a really complex procedure. The complexity on the roads is other cars, but once car-to-car communications are common, this becomes far less of a challenge,” he says. According to Goldstuck, driverless cars are going to have huge knock-on effects, from how we build roads and
design cities to the materials we use to build vehicles, safety features and things we have yet to consider. These connected vehicles will also be one of the key elements of the Internet of Things, where more and more inanimate objects are connected to one another. “The intersection between the Internet of Things and the Internet of People is going to be fascinating and many careers will come of it,” he says. “Helping people navigate information systems is going to be a key skill.” In this new economy, Goldstuck says the skills most in demand will be problem-solving and creative thinking. “The education system needs to be geared towards this, not rote learning.” Goldstuck says it’s also worth noting that many professions may not become obsolete in the face of technological advances, but may instead evolve. “Look at actuarial scientists,” he says. “Much of their traditional work is now done by computers, but that’s fired them up enough to leverage their qualifications and skills. “Now actuaries can engage in creative thinking above and beyond the grunt work. And this may make the dazzling insights they’re after easier to come by.” This notion of freeing people from the burdens of monotonous tasks remains one of the key promises of technology and innovation generally. Which is why considering whether or not your line of work could one day be done by computers – and preparing accordingly – is perhaps more important than ever.
two from now, Dingle says. “We’re approaching computing at 10 000 trillion cycles per second,” he says. “Which means we can imagine computers being able to synthesise a human brain. But we don’t know what this will mean. We can’t talk about machine intelligence in the same terms as a human’s. We can’t imagine it having the same fears, insecurities and languages.” One area where we can make more substantial predictions, Dingle says, is in the realm of self-driving cars. For a start, they’re set to disrupt vehicle ownership. “Ownership won’t make sense,” Dingle says. “You’ll just summon a vehicle like you do with Uber.” He adds that things like traffic may become a thing of the past as cars communicate with one another to optimise routes and that the “underused resource” of parking spaces – “you need space at home, at the office and in public places for a car” – will be thought about differently. Another technology Dingle expects will “redefine lives” is augmented reality. “Sci-fi always imagined chips inside us, but companies like Magic Leap are suggesting we won’t need a headset or anything else because lightfield technology will augment your reality. You’ll simply see things when, where and how you need to.” Without actually bringing anything tangible to market, Magic Leap has raised over $500 million (about R6,1 billion) in funding. “There’s no way you move that kind of money from investors without an incredibly compelling story,” Dingle says. “And Magic Leap’s narrative is ridiculous. This is well beyond anything like Google Glass or Microsoft’s Project Halo.”
Michelle Atagana, Head of Communications: Google SA “Many of us are ignoring the biggest part of what’s happening in technology and innovation today – the sharing economy – especially in Africa,” Atagana says. “Services like Uber and AirBnB are taking off and African entrepreneurs are realising they can use excess capacity to make money and are eager to find out how to do it.” She is also excited about wearable
technology: the smartwatches, fitness trackers and as-yet-unimagined devices we may don in years to come. “As soon as the big players get wearables right, there’ll be huge uptake,” she says. “But first, these devices need to fit into human experience and meet our needs.” By way of example, Atagana points to early mobile phones, which were derided by many. “As manufacturers came to understand human needs better and the uses we actually had for them, they soon began to build devices we found we couldn’t live without.”
an instant HIV/Aids test.” In the interim, Atagana would most like to see the tech sector “get mobile payments right”. She says she’d like to see a “continent-wide payment system” that allows one to use a single app or service, potentially linked to a bank card in one country, that can be used anywhere. “In Kenya, people expect you to pay with your phone using M-Pesa, in Nigeria they expect cash and in SA, they expect you to pay with a card,” she says. “I want to be able to scan a Snapscan-like QR code anywhere on the continent and pay
“That’s what our generation does: we teach ourselves things. That’s why the most important skill we can teach our children is constant curiosity.” Atagana says many of today’s wearable devices are criticised for not meeting a need. “But the companies building them – Apple, Samsung, Fitbit and Jawbone – are all futurethinking. The devices they’re building may not have demonstrated their intrinsic or unique value yet, but that doesn’t mean they won’t do so down the line.” Key to wearables taking off, according to Atagana, is their independence from other devices, like mobile phones. “When a smartwatch is independent of a phone, you’ll start seeing users getting more interested,” she says. In technology, timing is often key. “Take the Fitbit,” Atagana says. “The company has recognised that this generation loves having the ability to collect its health-related data. Some 10 or 15 years ago, it would have been tough to sell people on the idea of being able to track data about themselves on their mobile phone, but today it’s perfectly normal.” This new interest in the quantified life is also going to drive massive changes to the healthcare industry, Atagana says. “Wearables and healthcare are going to overlap or merge as devices are able to track more metrics,” she says. “Just imagine the possibilities of a watch that can test for insulin levels, iron, or perform
with the same card.” The one company that’s got this right, Atagana says, is Uber. “Users can create an Uber account in one country, link it to their credit card and then use the service anywhere in the world that it operates while still using the same card.” While mobile payments may have a long way to go, she is far more optimistic about the careers of the future. “Every job I’ve ever had, I wasn’t really trained for,” she says. Atagana started her career as a lecturer, then became a journalist and is now a publicist. “That’s what our generation does: we teach ourselves things. That’s why the most important skill we can teach our children is constant curiosity.” She says she’s seen friends use online education sites like Udacity and Codecademy to teach themselves to be user-experience designers or computer programmers or, in one case, a robotics expert. “Conventional education has a place when it comes to teaching critical thinking and thoughtfulness, but there are important lessons you must learn outside the classroom,” she says. “We need to give students the space and the incentive to self-learn.” Because, ultimately, that’s how we prepare our children for the things we can’t yet imagine. DM
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THE NEW BREED A round-up of the latest state-of-the-art gadgetry
Multi-sport marvel – Fitbit Surge The convenience and ease of use of Fitbit’s range of devices have played a massive role in the recent explosion in activity tracking. The problem with activity tracking, however, is its linear nature. Generally speaking, devices like these only track two activities: walking and running. This has meant that active folks who don’t do either of those activities haven’t found much value in using a tracker. Say “hello” to the Surge. Pitched at the serious user, the Surge marries the wrist-based heart rate monitoring of the Charge HR with wider activity tracking capabilities. That means users can now track their efforts at cycling, yoga, weight training and more. It’s also equipped with a larger, touch-sensitive LCD screen, a GPS for route tracking and is water-resistant. It’s more durable than the Charge range (but you still can’t swim with it on). It will also notify you of incoming phone calls and SMSs, if that’s still your thing. Price: Around R4 000 Visit: www.fitbit.com
Bigger and better – Hisense 85” T910 Series Vision TV An 85” TV is almost comically big, which is why the T910 comes with a decent upscaler. That means its beautiful 4K panel will crisp up nicely, provided you’re pushing at least a 1 080p signal through it (the kind you get from a DStv Explora). The T910 is Android-powered, which means you can download apps for it and work with it as if it’s a massive tablet with an air remote instead of a touch screen. There’s a wealth of apps to choose from – anything from games to web browsers and media players – allowing you to make it the true centre of your digital home. At half the price of some competitors’ offerings, it’s also great value for money. Price: Around R130 000 Visit: http://hisense.co.za
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OFF-GRID AWESOMENESS
The world is facing a power crisis and the effects are truly diverse. South Africanborn Elon Musk may have a solution
Bendable beauty – Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro Convertible notebooks are the next big thing and few machines manage to pull it off quite as well as the Yoga 3 Pro. For starters, it has four modes of operation: a conventional notebook mode, which allows the keyboard and screen to be set up the conventional way; a cinema mode which allows the keyboard hinge to be folded back beyond the 180 mark so that it behaves like a stand; a tent mode, which allows the keyboard to be folded back so the machine stands up; and a tablet mode, which sees the keyboard folded back onto itself. The Yoga 3 is equipped with a 10-point touch-screen (the combination of keyboard, trackpad and touch-screen is quite intuitive) and runs Windows 8.1. And despite the fact that it’s using a power-conscious Core M processor (lowpower processors can impact performance), its 8GB of RAM and 256GB of solidstate storage combine to produce a snappy performer, with over seven hours of battery life. If the Yoga 3 is a clue to where things are going, we’re in for a real treat over the next couple of years. Price: Around R22 000 Visit: http://lenovo.co.za
Sexy sharp-shooter – LG G4 While LG isn’t anywhere near to being a dominant smartphone player, if it continues making products like the G4, it won’t be long before it begins stealing market share from the likes of Apple and Samsung. The new phone looks great and performs fantastically. It’s curved, just like its G Flex cousin, and comes with a choice of a metallic or a leather back, which adds a level of sophistication and class to this technological marvel. The G4’s party piece is definitely its camera, however. The phone is fitted with a F1,8 lens and a 16MP sensor that’s 40% larger than its predecessor’s. The lens sees 80% more light hitting the sensor and the bigger pixels add detail. This boosts the camera’s low-light performance considerably and crisps up images shot in adequate lighting. The results are astounding. It also comes with manual control (shutter speed, white balance and ISO) and stores image in JPG and RAW formats, so prosumers can get their kicks. Price: From R500 per month on contract Visit: http://lge.co.za
While for some, the worst problems they’ll face are rising costs and damage to the environment, closer to home we’re experiencing load-shedding and permanently scheduled blackouts. Using knowledge built in the electric car business, Musk’s Tesla Motors recently launched a lithium-ion battery, the Powerwall, which can be charged by solar panels and simultaneously tied to the grid. When the household’s consumption is normal, power is drawn from the battery, which is topped up by the solar panels. When consumption spikes, however, power can also be drawn from Eskom. The batteries are available in two flavours: a 7kWh and 10kWh box, priced at $3 000 (about R37 000 and $3 500 (about R43 000) respectively. That’s not much cheaper than current battery solutions. However, if you throw the bundled control systems, home networking and Internet of Things capabilities into the mix, it is a sweet deal. There is currently a year-long waiting list, but the development has spurred local innovators to add their offerings to the mix. Check out Netshield SA‘s inverter (www.netshieldsa.com) and Freedom Won’s FreedomCOR (www.freedomwon.co.za) for some inspiration. DM
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PlayPumps Hundreds of schools in SA don’t have access to a clean source of drinking water. This problem is at its worst in rural areas, where people might have to walk many kilometres every day to collect water from unreliable sources. But that’s changing thanks to revolutionary PlayPumps, a sustainable pumping system that uses power generated from a children’s merry-go-round. “Prior to the installation of a PlayPump, each borehole is tested,” explains Sandra Hayes, Director of producer Roundabout Water Solutions. “Borehole tests comprise both chemical and bacteriological testing to ensure that the water is fit for human consumption, as well as a step-down test to establish the rate at which water can be drawn from the borehole without it running dry.” Roundabout has an agreement with the Department of Water Affairs and is currently raising funds to install PlayPumps in rural communities. Clean water means improved health and more time for children in school, because they don’t have to walk long distances to collect water from rivers and dams, which leads to higher attendance and better education. Who said playtime didn’t have to be productive? · Visit: www.playpumps.co.za
INNOVATION These four rural projects showcase the best of South African problem-busting know-how Sun-e-light Another innovation that is powering rural areas is Sun-e-light, a solar-powered lamp that can charge a cellphone and even act as a wifi hotspot. “As a company that is involved with the majority of underbanked and unbanked people of SA, we are always looking for ways to provide innovative, authentic and life-changing services, whether it be a banking programme that strives for financial inclusion, or a mobile application that provides information and education,” says José Carlos da Silva Soares, Chief Marketing Officer of technology company Net1 Mobile Solutions. He explains that Sun-e-light was created to change lives by providing a solar-powered lamp that not only illuminates a room, but also connects people to the Internet. It’s all part of a corporate social responsibility initiative to give people in rural areas access to the digital world. At present, the project is still in its infancy as the company works to ensure production and the inclusion of the wifi modem. However, it has already distributed a number of prototypes around SA. The response has been tremendous and shows the need for effective energy alternatives, particularly in view of the challenges faced by Eskom. “We want to distribute as many as possible, connect people to the Internet and give them access to information and opportunities,” Soares says. “We are also hoping that jobs will pop up around the lamp, in terms of repair and servicing of the devices themselves. Although it is not our only mandate at this point, it is something we are passionate about.” · Visit: www.net1mobile.co.za
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SolarTurtle “Across Africa, utilities have failed to provide for the basic electrification needs of the majority of the population, especially in rural communities,” says James van der Walt, social entrepreneur and founder of social renewable energy business Ugesi Gold. “There are an estimated 585 million people living without electricity in sub-Saharan Africa, with 70% of those in rural communities.” Around 3,4 million houses in SA don’t have metered electricity. To address this problem, Van der Walt created SolarTurtle, a spaza shop that sells electricity by the bottle and all the energy-efficient appliances that go with it. He explains that SolarTurtle is basically a solar-powered, used shipping container. Community members buy an electricity pack, which is a battery inside a plastic bottle with a 12V socket like those found in cars. These can then power lights, TVs and large appliances like fridges. When the electricity runs out, the owner takes the SolarTurtle back for another charge. “Our goal is to deploy SolarTurtles at every off-grid school in SA to enable students to study effectively by powering LED lights and mobile devices,” Van der Walt says. The innovation won the Climate Solver Award from World Wildlife Fund SA in 2014 and seems to have a bright future. · Visit: www.solarturtle.co.za
NATION SHAKTI ENERGY IMAGE COURTESY OF NURU ENERGY
Top 12 tips for aspiring innovators Feeling inspired? Stefan Louw, Director of Innovate SA, has this advice: • Make sure you know why you do what you do. • Ensure that you understand what drives you. Innovate to change the world, not to be rich. • Find the pain and supply the cure. If there isn’t a problem that you’re solving, you have no value to add. • Choose the right team and learn how to delegate. • Define what success means to you. Work on developing yourself, as well as your business. • Never stop learning. • Innovation isn’t a one-way street. Users know what’s best for them, so draw on that to continue innovating your product or service. • Practise the 4Cs: critical, collaborative, creative and connected thinking. • Be persistent. Thomas Edison made 1 000 prototypes of the light bulb before he found the right one. • Test your idea. This is essential to making it a success. • Be open to constructive feedback. • See challenges as opportunities, rather than problems. Change the way you see the world and you will change the world you see. · Visit: www.innovatesa.org
Shakti Energy With load-shedding now a routine part of South African life, many are looking for solutions. That’s why Vijay Mitha, who has a background in corporate and government IT project management and systems implementation, founded Shakti Energy in 2012. He was tired of seeing the high levels of poverty and limited access to electricity that was a problem for many of the country’s informal settlements. “Shakti Energy is a social enterprise offering lighting and mobile phone recharging to people living without electricity using a pedal-powered generator,” he says. “This creates employment in the local community and empowers communities with clean, safe and efficient lighting.” Each Nuru light, which provides bright LED lighting, lasts for 20 hours on a single charge. It takes 20 minutes of easy pedalling on a PowerCycle to charge up to five lights at the same time. Because there is no need for flickering candles, children can do their homework at night. And because there are no dangerous emissions from paraffin lamps, there is no damage to the environment or the health of people in the vicinity. Each light displaces 0,2 tonnes of CO2 per year. Mitha is passionate about helping people in poverty find solutions to their challenges. He also believes that it’s better to give people a hand up instead of a hand-out, so that they can make progress in sustainable ways. DM · Visit: www.shaktienergy.net IN ASSOCIATION WITH
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THE RETURN OF THE
SUPER-SHOOTER
While smartphones have almost wiped out point-and-shoot and compact cameras, the digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera is experiencing a revival. Here’s what you need to know about buying and using these high-end devices
T
he ubiquity of camera-equipped smartphones and social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook has caused a photography explosion. Smartphones have become so proficient over the past couple of years that they’ve managed to almost single-handedly kill off the point-andshoot and compact camera segments. You’d think that high-end cameras in the DSLR segment would be the next to fall. But, instead of cutting these specialist devices off at the knees, the surge of interest in photography has given the market new impetus. DSLRs are becoming popular all over again. The reality is that there are certain things that smartphones just can’t do as proficiently as high-end cameras.
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Just plain better Those things stem directly from DSLR lens interchangeability (these cameras are almost infinitely adaptable) and the physical size of the sensors they use. Lens swappability adds versatility to photography. You want macro lenses for shooting things up close, fixed focal length ones for portaits and zoom lenses for getting closer to a subject far away. Sensor size (not resolution, but physical dimensions) is all about maintaining high quality in a variety of conditions. Depending on what market they’re designed for, DSLRs will have a sensor that’s 10-24mm in height. Sensors on the smaller side of this equation are for more cost-conscious buyers and are often referred to as “cropped frame” or advanced photo
system-classic (APS-C). Bigger sensors – those that approach the 24mm mark – cost a premium and are referred to as “full frame” because they’re the same size as the 35mm film cameras of old. Simply put, two cameras with the same MP count or resolution, but different-sized sensors, will not take the same quality image. The one with the larger sensor will have bigger pixels and transfer more light onto each of those pixels than its smaller, similar-resolution counterpart. The more light the pixels
The reality is that there are certain things that smartphones just can’t do as proficiently as high-end cameras.
receive, the stronger the signal and the less “noisy” the image. To place things in perspective, a smartphone like the iPhone 6 Plus has a sensor that is 3,6mm in height and 8MP in terms of resolution. Compare that with an entry-level DSLR, a sensor that’s 10mm in height, but with the same MP count and it’s clear why the pictures are that much better.
TIPS: TAKING BETTER SHOTS
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It’s not just about equipment. Taking a great photo is 80% composure and 20% everything else you can control from a technical perspective Start by positioning your subject in the right part of the frame. If you’re shooting a person, ensure that there’s nothing you don’t want in the shot, like a plant “growing” out of their head or a a dustbin in the background. You might also want to position them on the left or right third of the image to make things more interesting. It’s worthwhile reading up about the rule of thirds to get a sense of shot composure. Ensure that you leave enough room around them (but not too much), so that if you need to crop, you won’t chop off the top of their head. Start thinking about technical details, like adding light by employing a flash, tinkering with aperture size (exposure), shutter speed and depth of field (what’s in and out of focus). Try different options for the same shot, recording the settings and comparing the results. Take your camera everywhere. The only way you’re going to get lots of practice, experience how versatile these devices are, get the interesting shots nobody else does and become better at your new hobby is by carrying your DSLR with you everywhere you go. Carry on researching. Join a camera club and learn from more advanced photographers. Read. There’s a veritable ton of information available on the Internet. The best part is that it’s mostly free. DM
TOP CAMERAS FOR YOUR CASH Entry-level: Nikon D3100 Perfect for newbies looking to test the DSLR waters, the D3100 has a DX format (15,4mm high), 14,2MP sensor, an 11-point auto-focus system and the ability to shoot HD video and comes bundled with an 18-55mm lens. Its Guide Mode is also particularly useful for newcomers, since it automatically adjusts settings and shows a live preview of the image to be shot, based on the user’s preferences. Price: About R3 000 (with one lens) Visit: www.nikon.co.za
Mid-range: Samsung NX1 This mirrorless camera punches way above its weight. It has an APS-C (16,7mm high), 28,2MP sensor, 205-point continuously tracking auto-focus, the ability to shoot 15 continuous shots per second and 4K video-capture capabilities. Bluetooth, 802,11ac wifi and USB 3,0 functionality add to its allure. Price: About R16 000 (body only) Visit: www.samsung.com/za
Top-end: Canon EOS 5D Mark III A top-class DSLR shooter, the 5D Mark III heads out of the gate with a 22,3MP full-frame sensor. This is complemented by a 61-point auto-focus, six-frame-per-second continuous shooting and an implausible ISO100-25 600 range that’s expandable to 102 400. It can also record HD video at full 1 080p resolution and is durable enough to go anywhere. Great for getting that professional feel, without having to refinance your house. Price: About R36 000 (body only) Visit: www.canon.co.za
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GAME OF DRONES Drones are more than fun toys for weekend warriors – they’re helping make everyday jobs safer, faster and more efficient. Flying them in South African airspace was technically illegal until July, when the new South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) regulations came into play
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De Villiers cites formal training and certification as key to ensuring safety. “There is a huge difference between simply ‘flying’ a drone and being able to accurately control the unit and position it where and when you want it, every time, safely and reliably,” he says. “Just about anyone can ‘fly’ a drone and not crash it, but very few people are able to truly fly the unit with advanced features like GPS. Aircraft pilots train for emergencies and drone operators should also be able to manually control the aircraft when things go wrong.”
projects with our drones, mapping seagull colonies in breeding season, completely eliminating the need for Cape Nature staff to count nests on foot, which is very invasive. We’re also busy working with the Knysna Basic Project to gather aerial data on growth and changes in the Knysna estuary.” Internationally, drones are being used as a cheaper and safer alternative to sending in people to inspect remote or dangerous places like oil rigs, electrical towers and damaged buildings. Privacy concerns have been raised –
“Just about anyone can ‘fly’ a drone and not crash it, but very few people are able to truly fly the unit with advanced features like GPS.” Amazon, Google and DHL are among the companies which have announced ambitious programmes to deliver small packages via drone, but De Villiers feels they’re at least five to 10 years away from realising that, thanks to current payload and battery power constraints. “The positive uses for this technology are almost limitless,” he says. “In SA alone, SteadiDrone has done various conservation
particularly in the surveillance-conscious USA – but De Villiers feels common sense will prevail. “I don’t see the privacy concerns being a massive problem, simply because the money that can be made using these machines for positive purposes far outweighs the negatives we foresee,” he says. “Just like anything else, drones can be used to cause as much harm as good, so it is essential to have some basic rules in place.” DM
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n April 2014, the SACAA announced an outright ban on commercial and recreational drone use, with users liable for fines or even jail time. After a draft set of regulations were published for comment in early 2015, the new legislation – known as “Part 101” – of the Civil Aviation Act came into effect on 1 July to govern the operation of these remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS). Different rules will govern the commercial and private use of drones, but fundamentally, the common thread is that a drone may not be flown within 50m of a person or structure. They may also not be flown above or next to a nuclear power plant, prison, police station, crime scene, court of law, National Key Point or strategic installation or take off, land or fly above any public roads. Commercial and recreational drone users who do not comply could be liable for fines of up to R50 000 and face up to 10 years in prison. Duran de Villiers, Director of local manufacturer SteadiDrone, agrees that there’s a need for regulation. “Drones do pose a very real safety concern, not only to full-scale aviation, but also to people and property,” he says. “You can’t simply drive a car or fly a helicopter without a licence, which takes a great deal of time and experience to get.”
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