Local Networks have been covering a variety of hot topics over the last several months including IT security, technologies to improve mental health and drones.Drone technology
Surrey Local Network
As use of drones has grown in recent years there has been a growing amount of publicity and about their pros and cons. Much has been said about privacy concerns and public misuse, however in his recent talk, IET Aerospace Network member Lambert Dopping-Hepenstal discussed the societal benefits of drones.
“They have been associated with ‘dull, dirty and dangerous’ activities – for examples the initial survey of the Fukushima nuclear power station after the tsunami,” he notes. “However, the public may not be aware of their widespread use in news reporting, sporting events and documentaries.
“They have an advantage of being non-invasive in many circumstances which can be advantageous in, for example, tracking and monitoring wildlife or investigating a crime scene. As a drone does not have to carry its pilot, it has none of the constraints of size, shape, flight duration or operational envelope required to sustain human life.”
Looking forward Lambert believes developments in batteries, motors and sensors will continue to extend the capabilities of small drones and expand their applications but there remains technical and regulatory challenges before these and larger drones can be fully realised.
“Undoubtedly new applications will emerge – much of our airspace is unexploited and it allows a different view on our world in a less invasive way,” he says.
IT security
London Local Network
The talk given by Julian Storr and David Cash on ‘How to hack a bank’ looked at the steps an attacker takes when attempting to breach a company’s security in order to gain sensitive information. Aimed at both a technical and lay audience, the consultants from NCC Group highlighted how organisations need to pay increasing attention to their security efforts in order to avoid becoming a victim of a serious attack.
“All organisations have security weaknesses and areas in which they could improve,” Julian says. “Our talk highlighted the fact that attackers use a large number of techniques to perform a successful stealthy attack against an organisation.
“Organisations and users need to stay vigilant when it comes to security. Performing simulated attacks of this nature is a great way to test user response, and response from internal security teams, to help them learn some of the techniques which may be used and allow them the opportunity to exercise their defensive capabilities in a controlled manner.”
Technologies to improve mental health
Wellington Local Network and Healthcare Technologies Network
The burden of mental health disorders is high: over the course of a lifetime one in six New Zealand adults will be diagnosed with a common mental health disorder such as depression, with suicide the leading cause of death New Zealanders aged 15-44. At the lecture event in Wellington, New Zealand, Dr Mark Larsen from the Black Dog Institute and Dr Theresa Fleming from the University of Auckland discussed how technology can help with these health issues.
Mark presented a number of new measurement techniques for mental health, which included mapping social connectivity with Bluetooth and paralinguistic analysis of speech, while Theresa discussed SPARX, an interactive fantasy game designed to deliver cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) by overcoming negative automatic thoughts (NATs).
“We’re finding ways to detect changes in mental health severity and symptoms using different types of sensors and data from smartphones,” Mark highlights. “The really exciting part is we’re now combining these with the delivery of evidence-based interventions, allowing us to create tailored, adaptive interventions.
“There can be lots of barriers that can get in the way of seeking help for a mental health condition – stigma, geography and social circumstances. This sort of technology can complement existing services, by providing immediate and non-stigmatising access to support. Here in Australia [where Mark is based], being able to offer this support to everyone – whether they live in a metropolitan or remote area – is a great benefit,” he notes.
If you are interested in any of these subjects then you should attend your Local Network's events. They are usually free to attend and you don't have to be a member of the IET - these talks are open to anyone with an interest in engineering and technology and how they will impact all our lives in the future. To find your Local Network please use our interactive map.
