News

The fuss about 5G

First it was 2G the OG (‘Original Gangster’ / ‘Day One’) followed by 3G, then 4G arrived on the scene and now we have 5G – expected to be the ‘Fast & Furious’ equivalent of a mobile network, which sounds great in theory – but what does it actually all mean, where can we get it, and perhaps most importantly right now – what’s it going to cost us? Well, first things first let’s break down exactly what 5G means and why it makes a difference. 5G is an abbreviation for fifth-generation wireless and is the latest “iteration” of cellular technology. This next generation of wireless technology is designed and engineered to […]

Finding pandemic clues in poo

A new method of disease detection may be in the works for COVID-19, and from an unlikely source, as it involves getting down and dirty. Researchers at the Australian National University have discovered that traces of COVID-19 can be detected through an infected person’s excrement before they start to exhibit other, more definitive flu-like symptoms. This provides an interesting alternative method of early detection that does not necessarily entail getting up close and personal with a potentially infected person, but rather shifts the focus to the rougher end of the stick. The idea behind this detection method is to establish areas or communities that have a high prevalence of the virus […]

Zooming In on the social network of the pandemic

The digital transformation has unarguably been amplified by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has necessitated the fast-paced development, updates and upgrades of new and existing digital technology. With a large percentage of the world currently under lockdown, curfew or restricted movement – many people are now working from home (#WFH), with children being home-schooled and students participating in online lectures and seminars, there has never been a greater need for digital technology to ensure that all of the above is possible and sustainable. With people spending hours and hours in front of a screen, whether it be a mobile, desktop or television screen, the […]

A Pangolin Pandemic

With the ensuing COVID-19 chaos, and with the virus permeating every form of news and media outlet, it’s become impossible to ignore. With the advent of any new disease or virus, an in-depth investigation needs to be carried out in order to effectively treat it, not only on a symptomatic level but a vaccination need to be developed too – which entails a certain level of understanding about the origins of the virus too. As has been largely publicised, COVID-19 is what is known as a coronavirus which by definition is a zoonotic virus. This in turn means that the virus’ origins lie in pathogens found on animals that are then passed onto […]

Just Roll With It: Life before toilet paper

Its times like these that help us appreciate the little things in life or at the very least – think about them a little differently or with a fresh perspective. I know that we may be feeling sick to death (definitely no pun intended) of hearing about COVID-19 and the effects of living in times of self-isolation, lockdown and uncertainty, however it undeniably affects us all – and in different ways. Unsurprisingly, pandemics have a way of inspiring a certain amount of panic that manifests in different ways across the world.  However, there are certain trends that have manifested themselves in the human behaviour that can be seen […]

The world’s biggest pandemics before COVID-19

With everything that’s happening in the world right now, and with the news constantly bombarding us with new statistics and daily, minute-by-minute updates about COVID-19, it’s almost hard to imagine that this is not the world’s first pandemic. With over a million people currently infected and the rate of infection rising by the day, it may feel as if it’s never going to end, and with entire countries on lockdown for weeks and months on end except for essential services, it’s also hard to believe that this is not the biggest pandemic the world has ever witnessed.

A pandemic, is a disease, or in the case of COVID-19, a virus that […]

Budding Biometrics

Biometrics are proving themselves to be a supremely effective form of fortifying online privacy and protection. Biometrics, as the name indicates, involves the application of a statistical analysis to biological data. The basis behind biometric authentication is that each person can be positively and correctly identified by their unique physical or biological characteristics. Biometrics can also be defined by behavioural characteristics or identifiers too.

Why are biometrics important though and what are they used for? The use of biometric identification is becoming more and more popular as an almost fool-proof and reliable means of authenticating an identity through undeniable and intrinsic physical and behavioural features. There is however a difference between biometric identification and biometric […]

#EachforEqual – International Women’s Day 2020

“An equal world is an enabled world” is one of the International Women’s Day mantras and speaks to the purpose of the day and the cause that it aims to raise awareness for. International Women’s Day is celebrated on the 8^th of March every year and is aimed at establishing a society that promotes equal opportunity and a society that is free of gender-based bias and celebrates women’s achievements accordingly. Every year, the relevant organisation, also entitled International Women’s Day launches a new focus or theme for the year – and this year’s theme is #EachforEqual. The notion behind #EachforEqual acknowledges the fact that the society in which we all […]

Covid-19: Keep calm & wash your hands

On the 5^th of March 2020, the first case of Covid-19 was positively diagnosed in South Africa. For most, this was not entirely unexpected and was deemed an inevitability given the rate at which the virus has spread on a global level. At this point in time there are over 100,000 diagnosed cases of the virus worldwide, which have in turn resulted in 3,497 deaths, most of which have occurred in Wuhan, China – the site of the outbreak, with Italy boasting the second highest death toll by country, followed closely by Iran.

The South African that was positively diagnosed this week was a 38 year old male who had […]

Budgeting in 2020 – how to survive Janu-Worry and beyond

The January blues are a feeling experienced by most after the December break. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, the festivities enjoyed in the last month of the year generally come at a price in more ways than one, and can leave our wallets substantially lighter while our bodies might not feel the same.  It’s easy to overspend in the months leading up to the December break, and as we all know – January or rather Janu-Worry as its come to be known, can feel like the longest month of the year and in fact financially it is as most people get paid their last salary […]