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IT varsity Tech Watch

IT varsity Tech Watch

By Bilal & Maseeh Kathrada

There are two things we are totally passionate about: technology and education. Nothing gives us more joy than teaching and empowering people.

In this podcast we (father and son duo from South Africa) discuss the latest trends and life changing innovations in technology.
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A Battery Operated World

IT varsity Tech WatchAug 26, 2019

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22:49
Technology to Turn our minds into Supercomputers

Technology to Turn our minds into Supercomputers

Imagine a time when the blind will be able to see, the deaf to hear, the disabled will be able to walk, people with brain disease will be cured, and people will have computer-like mind power. This might seem like science fiction, but is going to be a reality in the near future.

Mar 18, 202021:05
Video gaming is BIG business

Video gaming is BIG business

Which country has the most video gamers in the world? Hint: not the USA.

Video games are BIG business globally, with billions of dollars of annual revenue. The big question is, are video games the cause of violence, like the El Paso shootings in the USA in 2019, or is it all just media hype?

#technology #videogames #violence #massshootings

Mar 16, 202021:28
Incorrect Perceptions about Smart Cities

Incorrect Perceptions about Smart Cities

South Africa is long overdue for Smart Cities Last  week I was invited to speak on the Economics Unbound programs on the SABC Live News channel. The topic was Smart Cities, and we discussed  various aspects, primarily whether President Ramaphosa’s vision for a  South African Smart City was realistic, and whether South Africa was ready for a Smart City. 

Based  on the feedback received via social media, it became clear that the  general sentiment among South Africans on the topic of Smart Cities was  negative. However, most of this negativity stems from misconceptions many people have about smart cities

Aug 27, 201922:12
Rise of the megacities

Rise of the megacities

We are living in a time when the world’s population is experiencing accelerated growth. According  to the study, by the end of this century 25% of the earth’s population,  which will hit the 13 billion mark, will reside in urban areas. This  will give rise to cities that will be much bigger than anything we’ve  seen in human history: cities I like to call mega-mega cities.

Aug 27, 201921:56
How cities are becoming smarter

How cities are becoming smarter

In 2006, for the first time in  human history, the number of people living in urban areas equaled the number living in rural areas. This was due to what is often labelled as  the “biggest mass-migration in history”, where the world’s population is moving in masses away from rural areas into urban areas. Naturally, this increase in population will place tremendous amount of pressure on the infrastructures of the world’s cities like public transportation, water supply, power supply, sanitation, solid waste management and others.


Aug 27, 201923:47
Don’t dismiss President Ramaphosa’s smart city idea

Don’t dismiss President Ramaphosa’s smart city idea

The recent announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa about developing a  “smart city” in South Africa has created quite a stir and has triggered a  lot of conversation. Unfortunately, it seems not many people are  thrilled about the idea.

Aug 27, 201923:29
Retail Genesis

Retail Genesis

Naseema Adams has had enough. She has decided to close her women’s clothing store after four years in operation.  

“The rentals and operating costs are insane. It’s just not worth it anymore,” she says. 

Naseema has decided to become part of a global movement that is taking the world by storm: she is joining the ranks of what I call the “micro-e-entrepreneurs”.  

Aug 27, 201923:23
Why is online retail taking over?

Why is online retail taking over?

In the previous episode, we spoke about the impact of ecommerce on traditional brick-and-mortar stores. But why is ecommerce so successful, and why is it taking so much away from traditional stores? 

Aug 27, 201922:52
The Retail Apocalypse

The Retail Apocalypse

The  ongoing “retail apocalypse” in the United States has claimed more  victims in the first quarter of this year than all of 2018 combined. By  end April this year, almost 6000 retail stores closed down in the US, while the total number of store closures in 2018 was just 5864.

This  a continuation of a trend that has been going on since 2010, and rather  than slowing down, it is only showing signs of accelerating.  Researchers predict that by 2026, nearly 75000 stores will have closed  down in the US alone.

What is causing this this apocalypses and should we try and stop it?

Aug 26, 201923:53
Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrencies  have gained a lot of negative publicity recently, due in large  part to their wildly volatile prices, but also due to reports  of cryptocurrency theft to the value of over US$ 1 billion in 2018  alone. This is particularly alarming for a currency that was touted as  being blockchain-based, and hence super-secure. I have nothing against  cryptocurrencies; I believe they are great in theory, even though they  do have some unresolved issues. But in time, they might evolve to a  point where theory becomes a practical reality.

Aug 26, 201922:46
How Blockchain can revolutionize the vehicle industry

How Blockchain can revolutionize the vehicle industry

Imagine if there was a database that collected and stored information about every vehicle on the road, from the time of it's manufacture to the present moment. This database would track every transaction that took place relating to the car. By simply entering  the chassis number, you could get access to minute details about the vehicle’s manufacture, its previous owners, its service and maintenance records, records of any accidents it has been in, and a host of other pertinent info. Thanks to blockchain, this technology could be a reality.

Aug 26, 201922:43
Blockchain and Bitcoin are not the same

Blockchain and Bitcoin are not the same

Let me start off by clarifying a huge misconception: the blockchain is not the same thing as Bitcoin. They are two very  different technologies, even if they are somewhat connected.

Aug 26, 201921:10
Great internet in the sky

Great internet in the sky

Elon Musk has done it again. Just when we think the South African-born  entrepreneur has no more cards up his sleeve, he amazes the world once  again with a new and mind-blowingly amazing concept.

Aug 26, 201920:44
Can South Africa catch up technologically to the rest of the world or is it to late?

Can South Africa catch up technologically to the rest of the world or is it to late?

It was with great excitement and enthusiasm that I learned about your decision to set up a presidential commission on  the fourth industrial revolution. I believe it is a positive step in the right direction for our country, even though many people say it is  too late.



Aug 26, 201925:29
Should tech companies share their technology with militaries?

Should tech companies share their technology with militaries?

Should  tech companies work with governments and militaries, knowing that their  technology might be used for war? This is a major dilemma that US tech  giants like Microsoft and Google are currently facing.

Aug 26, 201925:07
A Battery Operated World

A Battery Operated World

The energy situation in South Africa is unsustainable, and it is not just the poor and working class who are suffering; the entire economy is feeling the pain, and it is just a matter of time before it reaches the verge of collapse, unless we do something about it urgently. Fortunately, there is hope on the horizon or, more accurately, in the sky.

Aug 26, 201922:49
Why has South Africa lagged so far behind in solar power production?

Why has South Africa lagged so far behind in solar power production?

China has solar power plants that cumulatively produce more than four times South Africa’s total electricity needs. The question is, why has South Africa lagged so far behind the rest of the world in solar power production?

Aug 23, 201925:04
New plastic recycling process

New plastic recycling process

Ever  since its invention by Leo Baekeland in 1907, plastic has transformed  our world in countless ways. It is simply not possible to imagine a  world without plastics: everywhere you look, you will find plastics. But what was a miracle for us, has turned out to be a disaster for the environment. Is it too late or can advancements in technology prevent a possible ecological disaster.

Aug 23, 201923:25
What are Social Media Networks Doing to Prevent the Spread of Hate Speech?

What are Social Media Networks Doing to Prevent the Spread of Hate Speech?

When  Mark Zuckerberg started Facebook in 2004, there was no way he could  have known that his little website was going to become the world’s most  popular social network with nearly 2 billion registered users. He also  could not have known that his social networking site would be  instrumental in one of the most heinous crimes committed in the past century.

Aug 23, 201921:33
IBM’s 5-in-5 predictions (Part 2)

IBM’s 5-in-5 predictions (Part 2)

In this episode, we continue our discussion on IBM's 5-in-5 predictions. The five technologies that are going to transform society in the next 5 years.

Aug 23, 201920:50
IBM’s 5-in-5 predictions (Part 1)

IBM’s 5-in-5 predictions (Part 1)

What  are the five technologies that are going to fundamentally reshape  business and society in the next five years? Some of IBM’s leading  researchers shared their thoughts on this at IBM’s annual Think  conference.

Aug 22, 201919:43
Career tips for the 21st century

Career tips for the 21st century

In the previous episode we talked about several in demand jobs that are going to go extinct within the next ten years. However, all hope is not loss. Although the advancements in technology will undoubtedly lead to job loss, it will also create an abundance of new jobs and opertunities.

Aug 22, 201921:36
Jobs that have gone or will go extinct by 2030

Jobs that have gone or will go extinct by 2030

With the explosive advancements in technology, many in demand jobs today are going to go extinct within the next 10 years

Aug 22, 201919:18
Can we blame technology for people's job loss?

Can we blame technology for people's job loss?

Technological advancements and automation has always lead to job loss, and with the rate technology has been advancing and continues to advance, this is only going to get worse. But who's really to blame?

Aug 22, 201921:06
The Electric Car Revoluiton

The Electric Car Revoluiton

In this episode we talk about electric cars. The technology that has the potential to transform the world of transport and completely change the economies of countries. 

Aug 22, 201921:23
Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality

In this episode we talk about augmented reality, the technology that merges the real world with the virtual worlds behind our phones and computers, and the impact it can have on our everyday lives. 

Aug 22, 201922:39
The end of the cell phone

The end of the cell phone

In this episode, we talk about some of the gadgets that a couple years ago could have been found in every home but have today become completely obsolete. We talk about the likeliness that this could also happen to mobile phones, and sooner than you'd think.

Aug 22, 201924:30
South African Tablet Rollout at Schools

South African Tablet Rollout at Schools

In this episode we discuss the recent plan by the Department of Education to rollout tablet PC's to nearly 23 000 schools in South Africa.

Aug 07, 201922:16
Children and Technology

Children and Technology

In this episode we discuss one of the most contested topics around technology: children and technology.

Aug 07, 201921:53
Great Pioneers of Technology

Great Pioneers of Technology

In this episode we take a look at some of the great minds throughout history who have shaped the way we use technology today.

Aug 07, 201918:10