Topics

Software & computer science

Series

A man with tortoise shell glasses smiling at the camera.
  • Software & computer science
  • Profiles
  • Issue 101

A network for change

Dr John Lazar CBE FREng, the new President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, talks to Michael Kenward OBE about his role in changing the shape of network engineering and his passion for technology businesses that meet social needs.
An illustration of hands around a crystal ball containing a weather forecast on a backdrop of computer code
  • Environment & sustainability
  • Software & computer science
  • Issue 101

AI shakes up the world of weather forecasting

It has been a banner year for the UK’s AI powerhouse, Google DeepMind. Beverley D’Silva reports on how the company’s award-winning weather forecasting technology is transforming meteorology and beyond.

Quick read

A woman with blonde hair wearing glasses and a pink evening dress holds two certificates and a trophy.
  • Software & computer science
  • How I got here
  • Issue 101

Q&A: Aurelia Brzezowska, cybersecurity expert

An Amazon Future Engineer bursary has helped computer science student Aurelia Brzezowska to make the connections and meet collaborators to launch a network for women working in tech.
A person wearing a sensor on their residual limb, to calibrate their arm muscles' electrical signals for a myoelectric prosthesis
  • Health & medical
  • Software & computer science
  • Issue 100

Machine learning boosts medical devices

As AI becomes more widespread, medical devices are among the everyday technologies that could see real improvements. Stuart Nathan finds out how engineers are incorporating AI into hearing aids and prosthetic arms.

A group of five men and one women stand chatting in a room with large windows.
  • Software & computer science
  • Electricals & electronics
  • Profiles
  • Issue 100

Raspberry Pi: the chip that floated a thousand ideas

For Dr Eben Upton CBE FREng, floating the Raspberry Pi business on the London Stock Exchange is another step in a career that has straddled engineering and business.
Dr Harrison Steele holding the Royal Academy of Engineering's Sir George MacFarlane Medal.
  • Health & medical
  • Software & computer science
  • How I got here

Q&A: Dr Harrison Steel, researcher in synthetic biology

Dr Harrison Steele credits his beginnings in engineering to smashing up an old printer, aged four, to investigate the electronic wonders within. Today, he’s an associate professor at the University of Oxford developing biotechnology-based solutions to challenges in biomedicine and the climate crisis.

Fiber optic light cables with red hue on black background.
  • Software & computer science
  • Opinion
  • Issue 68

Broadband needs its champions

Access to fast and affordable broadband communication has become an essential part of modern life. Dr David Cleevely CBE FREng, founder of several telecoms businesses, maintains that any strategy to deliver universal broadband has to jump from a high cost/low demand model to low cost/high demand.

Quick read

  • Software & computer science
  • Environment & sustainability
  • How I got here

Q&A: Meng Wu, PhD student in data science

Having studied computer science and AI at university, Meng Wu has applied his skills in a wide range of fields. He’s now a PhD student based in Orkney, applying software and data engineering to help local fishing communities become more sustainable.
  • Civil & structural
  • Technology & robotics
  • Software & computer science
  • Issue 94

3D printing a bridge with a twin

Virtual models of structures could help engineers use less material and save CO2 emissions in future construction projects – like with this 3D-printed bridge in Amsterdam.
A woman wearing a white shirt, standing in front of a white wall.
  • Software & computer science
  • Transport
  • Profiles
  • Issue 94

The entrepreneur solving engineering problems with data

Elspeth Finch MBE FREng started her first company in her 20s and is now heading up her second, which is using data to transform supply chain relationships.

A tablet device shows data modelling onscreen, with a hand shown exploring the data by touching the screen
  • Technology & robotics
  • Software & computer science
  • Issue 93

Using data in engineering

In engineering, data is being used in multiple ways to accelerate the transition to renewable energy and reduce unnecessary use of resources.

Quick read

A cartoon of a woman with a smartphone next to her showing it has recognised her face.
  • Technology & robotics
  • Software & computer science
  • Sports & leisure
  • How does that work?
  • Issue 92

Face filters

It started with face swaps, flower crowns and appended dog ears. Now, all manner of transformative sorcery is just a tap away.

Quick read

  • Software & computer science
  • Arts & culture
  • How does that work?
  • Issue 91

How do NFTs work?

Love them or hate them, NFTs took the art world by storm in 2021. But even this far into their explosion in popularity, many people still have no idea what they are and how they work.

Quick read

  • Electricals & electronics
  • Software & computer science
  • Issue 90

Q&A: Rose Grey

Rose Grey is a higher software engineer at location services startup Focal Point Positioning (FocalPoint). She recently received an award from the Royal Institute of Navigation.
  • Aerospace
  • Electricals & electronics
  • Software & computer science
  • Issue 90

Supercharging GPS precision

With the help of startup FocalPoint (headed up by ‘the real-life Q’), we examine the past, present and near-future of this integral technology.

Quick read

A person taking a live image of themselves with their phone. Their face can be seen behind the phone and also in the front screen of the phone taking a photograph.
  • Software & computer science
  • Technology & robotics
  • Innovation Watch
  • Issue 88

Remote and secure ID verification

Charlette N’Guessan is an Ivorian tech entrepreneur who is passionate about solving local challenges with technology. She used her software engineering background to launch BACE API, a digital identity verification system currently being used in financial services in West Africa.

Quick read

A cartoon of a robot head in a speech bubble
  • Software & computer science
  • Technology & robotics
  • How does that work?
  • Issue 86

How do chatbots work?

As human interaction online gradually gives way to automated responses, chatbots must impersonate us without attempting to replicate human empathy or enthusiasm.
An aerial view of the mayflower submarine that has solar panels on it.
  • Software & computer science
  • Maritime & naval
  • Issue 86

The Mayflower sails again

A fully autonomous vessel is preparing to retrace the 1620 route of the Mayflower ship from Plymouth to New England. Neil Cumins spoke to Andy Stanford-Clark, IBM’s UK and Ireland Chief Technology Officer, about the pioneering technology behind this 21st century mission.
Vint Cerf standing in front of a room of people in a lecture hall.
  • Software & computer science
  • Opinion
  • Issue 82

Our 21st century information superhighway

Vinton G. Cerf, an American internet pioneer, explains how the highspeed transfer of information has become an integral part of our digital society, and touches on the infrastructure initiatives which would make the internet and communications networks accessible across the whole globe.

Quick read

  • Software & computer science
  • Innovation Watch
  • Issue 81

Darktrace, an immune system for computers

Darktrace has developed AI software designed to detect and defend against cyber threats from within computer networks – an immune system for computers.
An earth observation image of Europe.
  • Software & computer science
  • Issue 77

The evolution of Earth observation

Satellite images are used to monitor changes in Earth’s natural and built environments, with applications in areas as diverse as land use, natural disasters and climate change. This collected data is becoming more widely accessible, resulting in it being used by companies to solve problems on Earth.
A woman in black long sleeve shirt covering her face with her hands.
  • Software & computer science
  • Opinion
  • Issue 76

Supporting the digitally left behind

As vital services are becoming increasingly online, a large community of people are being digitally left behind. IT systems experts Dan Bailey, Dr Maurice Perks and Chris Winter argue that it is up to IT systems engineers, among others, to ensure that everyone can take advantage of, and enjoy, the digital revolution.

The Amazon Echo dot. The edge of the device and the microphone symbol on the device are lit up in a red colour.
  • Software & computer science
  • Opinion
  • Issue 75

Should we trust connected devices?

Domestic applications of the Internet of Things (IoT) can yield myriad benefits, but they also bring risks. Paul Taylor FREng, Partner, Risk Consulting, at KPMG LLP, asks whether these risks should make us question whether we should trust the devices that connect our homes to the internet.
A child holding a book and typing on a keyboard, with a Raspberry Pi connected to the computer in front of them.
  • Software & computer science
  • Issue 72

Chips that changed the classroom

The team behind the Raspberry Pi computer had big ambitions when it developed and launched an inexpensive device the size of a credit card. The computer won the Royal Academy of Engineering’s MacRobert Award and sparked a revolution in low-cost computing that has spread far beyond the classroom.

Quick read

A structure of wooden blocks placed on top of each other.
  • Software & computer science
  • How does that work?
  • Issue 72

Blockchain technology

Blockchain technology records secure online transactions through a shared and continually reconciled database. Originally created in 2009 to manage the digital currency bitcoin, it is now being considered for applications as diverse as online voting and cloud storage.
A headshot of Suranga Chandratillake.
  • Software & computer science
  • Profiles
  • Issue 72

Natural born code writer

A childhood introduction to writing software for a BBC Micro set Suranga Chandratillake FREng on a path that led to Silicon Valley, and a hugely successful software startup before he returned to the UK and began backing the next generation of young entrepreneurs.

A person with a siemens jacket on wearing a virtual reality headset and a handheld controller to practise engineering.
  • Technology & robotics
  • Software & computer science
  • Issue 70

How virtual reality is changing engineering

Virtual reality is now well established in multiple industries and sectors, from entertainment, communications and education to design, scientific research and defence. Professor Anthony Steed explores how companies use immersive tech to transform their engineering processes.
A five-story library building.
  • Software & computer science
  • Opinion
  • Issue 69

Data as critical national infrastructure

Once considered dry and boring, data is an important asset and at the heart of a digital society. Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt FREng, professor of Computer Science at the University of Oxford, sets out why data is a vital infrastructure that needs to be invested in, maintained and supported.
A person holding a phone and using a laptop.
  • Software & computer science
  • Issue 68

Broadband in the backwaters: rural Britain's fight for faster internet

Superfast broadband is non-existent in some parts of rural Britain and the situation may not change soon. What is the state of broadband in the UK, what options are available and what are some innovative engineering solutions generated by rural communities to tackle the problem?

A headshot of David Cleevely CBE FREng with his hands together in front of his face.
  • Technology & robotics
  • Software & computer science
  • Profiles
  • Issue 67

A web of networks

Information technology has come a long way since David Cleevely CBE FREng investigated the suitability of computers for word processing and communications. He has been shaking up innovation in the UK and trying to do something about the advice that governments receive on technical matters.

A headshot of Nick Mckeown.
  • Software & computer science
  • Profiles
  • Issue 64

Evolving the internet

He may have given the world the technology that speeded up the internet, but in his next move, Professor Nick McKeown FREng plans to replace those networks he helped create.
A padlock on a keyboard.
  • Software & computer science
  • Opinion
  • Issue 62

EU clarifies the European parameters of data protection

The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, due for adoption this year, is intended to harmonise data protection laws across the EU. What are the engineering implications and legal ramifications of the new regulatory regime?
Two GPUs resting on top of a keyboard.
  • Software & computer science
  • Issue 61

The rise and rise of GPUs

The technology used to bring 3D video games to the personal computer and to the mobile phone is to take on more computing duties. How have UK companies such as ARM and ImaginationTechnologies contributed to the movement?
A close up of the strontium ion optical clock.
  • Software & computer science
  • Issue 57

Compact atomic clocks

Over the last five decades, the passage of time has been defined by room-sized atomic clocks that are now stable to one second in 100 million years. Experts from the Time and Frequency Group and the past president of the Institute of Physics describe a new generation of miniature atomic clocks that promise the next revolution in timekeeping.
A concept image of modelling software showing a golden box shape made out of circuit boards on an orange and white background
  • Software & computer science
  • Issue 34

Pushing the barriers to model complex processes

In 2007, Imperial College London spinout Process Systems Enterprise Ltd won the MacRobert Award for its gPROMS (general-purpose PROcess Modelling System) software. Costas Pantelides and Mark Matzopoulos, two of the key people behind the success of gPROMS, tell how they created a way in which engineers can harness physics, chemistry and engineering knowledge within a framework that solves highly complex mathematical problems.