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W
Watt’s Technology
Powermat – the
answer for those
damned
gadgets
Cyber-espionage, online
fraud, a major threat
Cyber espionage and online fraud are two of the most urgent
security threats facing companies today, according to the
findings of a report from Ovum, one of the world’s leading research
consultancies.
Graham Titterington, Ovum’s analyst and author of the report
on security threats facing businesses, says that other priorities
that need to be tackled by companies throughout the world are the
protection of intellectual property and compliance methods that
will help to prevent corruption.
He says that businesses must not under-estimate the extent of
cyber crime because the criminals are large-scale organisations
that are well organised, well funded and well resourced.
“The criminal network is intent on defrauding millions of people
and thousands of companies around the world,” he says.
He warns that any of the new technologies, such as cloud
computing, while providing many benefits for companies, bring with
them a whole range of new threats.
“The main thrust of security should be on protecting assets rather
than defending perimeters,” he says. “Moreover, state-sponsored
cyber attacks are a threat to the commercial world, about which
our government should be as concerned as other governments are
right now,” he says.
He says examples of state-sponsored attacks against commercial
organisations include the strike against Google in China earlier this
year. There have, according to the report, been similar attacks on
at least 34 companies in the United States and more and more of
the Fortune 500 multinational organisations are being targeted.
Titterington recommends that companies adopt a risk
management strategy that allows them to manage threats when
they become a risk rather than trying to limit the impact once the
attack is underway.
He says that vendors have a responsibility to provide some
leadership within the security environment so that vulnerable data
can be protected.
South Africa’s rapidly growing number of mobile devices will all
benefit from a revolutionary wireless battery charging mat that
sets new standards in convenience and efficiency while having minimal
environmental impact, and certainly less than if all the devices
were plugged in separately. Platinum Micro, a leading distributor of
various electronic devices has been appointed the sole South African
distributor for the Powermat wireless charging device, which will
soon be on sale via various retail organisations. “The Powermat has
caused a stir all over the world,” said Platinum Micro product manager,
Tyrone Gruner. “It is one of the most convenient ways to charge
the wide variety of mobile devices available on the market today and
it’s literally become a household name in the US.”
The Powermat consists of a charging surface or ‘mat’ which is
plugged into a wall socket, and a variety of different cases, addons
and peripherals that are equipped with a magnetic Powermat
receiver. The receiver is attached to a device and placed on the mat
whenever a battery re-charge is required. Gruner said the Powermat
system does the rest, charging mobile devices more quickly
than their bundled chargers and, unlike other methods of charging,
does little, if any, damage to mobile device batteries.
“It is a combination of Powermat’s magnetic alignment system
and RFID tagging that delivers these benefits. Using a magnet
located inside the Powermat receiver, the system is able to more
accurately align devices on the inductive charging surface. This ensures
a higher quality charge is delivered and that batteries more
quickly reach the full mark.” The RFID identifies each Powermat
receiver’s model and the device it corresponds to. Gruner said this
ensures the exact voltage and wattage of power, required to optimally
charge that device, is delivered.
“Powermat’s charging solution is also more environmentally
friendly than other solutions, since it shuts power off the moment
a device reaches a fully charged state. This not only saves energy,
but it also prevents overcharging of the device’s battery, which can
shorten battery life. “It is the most convenient, efficient and green
battery-charging solution available in South Africa today and we
expect the market to pounce on it the moment stock arrives.”
Platinum Micro plans to stock the entire range of Powermat
charging mats and receivers. “We’re convinced this line of innovations
will be a huge success,” said Gruner. “The Powermat concept
offers the freedom and convenience of charging mobile devices without
plugging, unplugging and wiring tangles and searching for mislaid
chargers.” Four different and incompatible electronic devices
can be charged simultaneously with one power cord. Three of the devices
can be placed on the mat surface and the fourth can be charged
using the USB port at the back of the mat – simple, quick and clean.
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