Page 3 - Energize December 2022

FROM THE EDITOR:

Change is inevitable

by Roger Lilley, Now Media

echnological developments make change inevitable. We have But despite these changes, the basic format remained
seen it in all areas of life: developments in communication, unaltered. That is about to change. This issue is the last one in that
Tentertainment, transport, buying and selling, power format.
generation, lighting and cooking, the list is endless. As technologies As from January 2023, Energize will be published every two
develop and improve, people change their way of life. Change is weeks. The issues will no longer be referred to according to month,
inevitable. It’s like getting older. As much as you may hate the idea of but to year and issue number. Each issue will focus on one of three
it, you cannot escape it. primary themes. And, each primary theme will be repeated every
Regarding information, people find content on topics of six weeks. The three primary themes are Generation, Renewable
interest from multiple, easy to find, sources. Many of these Energy and Storage; Transmission and Distribution Networks and
sources offer free-of-charge access. People who used to pick up Equipment; and Application and Lighting (see page 2 for details).
and browse an 80-page print magazine for information on any This is a welcome change. It provides us with the opportunity
topic, now search the Internet for quick, easy to find answers. to improve the way we deliver the content you want to read
It has been said that the 21st century is the Information about, to you more quickly, more frequently and in a more
Age. The information age was made possible by the invention focused way.
and development of the microprocessor, which in turn owes its The first issue in 2023, Issue 1, deals with the theme of
existence to three engineers: William Shockley, John Bardeen Generation, Renewable Energy and Storage. It will be published on
and Walter Brittain, the inventors of the transistor. The transistor Tuesday 17 January. And the next issue of Energize will appear two
was invented in about 1949 and revolutionised the world of weeks later on Tuesday 31 January – and every second Tuesday
electronics. Suddenly electronic appliances could be made smaller, thereafter.
lighter and portable. The microprocessor was invented in 1971. This new arrangement will keep readers more up to date
Since then, digital systems – which microprocessors work with – with developments in the power sector and will provide more
have progressively revolutionised the world. Things, which in the opportunities for companies wishing to promote their products
1960s seemed nothing more than science-fiction, have become and services more frequently through the year.
commonplace. Personal computers developed into laptops, and The magazine will still contain sections covering Industry
then into tablets, and today, mobile phones have more processing News; Product and Company News; Views and Opinion; and
power than a ten-year-old PC has. Technical articles. We invite our readers to submit editorial on any
Technological changes affect how people view the world. of the afore-mentioned themes to the editor for possible inclusion
The digital revolution has ushered in social media - instant news in a forthcoming issue.
updates from around the world. Information which in the past Should you wish to submit an article for consideration, kindly
would have required a visit to the public library can now be contact the editor (rogerl@nowmedia.co.za) who will be pleased
located quickly, easily and cheaply via the Internet. to send you an author’s guide.
Publishing has not escaped the change in reading habits. So, It’s an exciting change. The magazine will be shorter and
it’s time for a change. After about 24 years of distributing Energize quicker to read. It will be easier to find information on a topic, or
as a printed magazine, the title became a digital, or virtual, to reread an article one has read before. Each issue will contain
magazine in 2020. This changed the method of delivery rather less content, but more focused content will be included over the
than the magazine itself. year than has previously been the case.
No longer does the publisher need to have the magazine We are also working on a system to allow a reader to send
printed, packed, prepared for delivery, and then posted or another person a direct link to any article in the magazine.
collected by a courier company to get the magazine into the hands This magazine is the last of the old type, but the new one will
of its subscribers. be here soon. We hope you enjoy the new Energize.
Suddenly, since April 2020, Energize was available on the web.
It was published and delivered to subscribers on the same day. At Wishing you a fantastic festive season and a happy and
the same time, in fact. prosperous 2023.
Because the subscriber no longer receives a physical magazine,
the publisher sends an email notifying the subscriber that the Roger
latest issue is available. Editor

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