Page 6 - Dainfern Precinct October 2021

EDITOR’S MESSAGE

Challenging the

Status Quo

pring is all about kick-starting Progressing from enjoyment of – and on our Cover. Well done to
the garden and, in this issue, nature to fun with gadgets, be sure Peugeot for once again bagging
SGARDENA shares the features to check out the article about the the accolades, with their Peugeot
of some of their exciting new gardening Tuks Robot Race Day. Put together 2008 taking top honours as voted
tools that they have just launched – all to by the University of Pretoria’s Faculty by members of the SA Guild of
make your time in the garden that much of Engineering, Built Environment Mobility Journalists.
more enjoyable. and Information Technology, this
event was one of the casualties And whilst our Humour
James Clarke is also excited to from last year, which was finally able Column bemoans the frequent
share a recently published book to be staged this year in August. disappearance of one of society’s
all about insects. As you probably The finalists were narrowed down firm favourites, the Bic pen, which
know, insects not only come in all from an initial field of more than 85 first made its appearance in
shapes and sizes, they also have teams, with the preliminary rounds 1950, Xperien CEO, Wale Arewa
the amazing ability to change shape being held online. encourages us to hold on to our
and characteristics while evolving electronic devices for just that little
throughout their life cycle. Along To give you a taste of just how far bit longer, in an attempt to reduce
with all wildlife, insects are under you could go in a robot competition, the demand for more and newer
threat, with some species facing if you really wanted to, check out devices at the current rapid rate
extinction, which is very sad. But Neflix’s reality series, Battle Bots. that threatens to stretch the planet’s
at least, with the help of this book, These robot wars will keep you on natural resources to the point of
Pollinators, Predators & Parasites the edge of your seat, as sparks fly, depletion.
published by Struik Nature, we get flames are thrown, and hammers,
to enjoy and appreciate the different whizzing cutting discs, Unfortunately, stretching a device’s
types of insects that frequent wedges and rotating lifespan does also depend on how
our gardens and learn all cylinders are pitted much the suppliers are tempted
about what makes each one against each other to manipulate us as consumers
special. as the bots seek by making perfectly functioning
to cripple each equipment ‘obsolete’ and no longer
other, to determine ‘supported by the manufacturing
who is the ultimate and software companies.’ This
winner. This series, push-pull dynamic can be very
and competitions such stressful, with the suppliers
as the Tuks Robot Race Day, ultimately coming out on top as
are an excellent way to get your they hold us ransom and threaten
‘engineering brain’ working to cripple our lifestyles if we don’t
and there’s even an online dance to their tune.
community that you can join to
get you more involved. But then, all we need is a maverick
to step up and challenge the status
Moving on from small gadgets quo – and we can only hope that
to much bigger transport this will happen sooner, rather than
devices, we have the exciting later!
announcement of the 2021
South African Car of the Year Till next time, please stay safe and
winners featured in this issue take care.
Ann

One of the cars
powered by
RSPRO's 9v battery Ann Arnott
racing passes the Editor
competition. annar@nowmedia.co.za
2 4
DPL