An alert is given that a hazardous zone has been breached: a person has entered the zone and may be at physical risk. As a result, the machine operating in that zone is automatically switched off. This is an example of...
The Internet of Things, big data, advanced robotics and artificial intelligence are transforming the connection between technology and people. It may even be possible that a new dimension is added to machines in an area...
The news that the first all-woman spacewalk was cancelled in March 2019 because NASA did not plan spacesuits adapted to the women astronauts’ morphology highlighted an issue that has rarely hit the front pages. The world...
Switching on a light, using a smartphone, plugging in a hairdryer, taking the bus, car or electric scooter to work, heating food in a microwave, using a computer or electric drill, the list of our daily interactions with...
Nuclear energy might be the source of all evils for environmental activists, but for many countries around the world it is a key option to meet the targets set by the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Household appliances have developed into an immense industry. According to Statista, global sales of domestic appliances amounted to more than €200 billion in 2019. This is unsurprising given the many household...
Products come in many shapes and sizes. They could be systems, services, goods, software or any combination of these, and range from a child’s toy, to complex safety-critical systems in an industrial plant.
While cyber security is primordial nowadays in all types of industries, it is even more so in in the oil and gas sector. Cyber attacks can have critical consequences to human lives and the environment: fires, explosions...
In recent times, there has not been a more critical need to have access to and use technology, for work, education and in healthcare, to help patients and protect healthcare workers, as the world adjusts to living during...
IEC and ISO develop international standards for AI. SC 42, the joint committee of IEC and ISO tasked with this work, recently approved new standards projects in the areas of trustworthiness and computational methods.
In the case of healthcare, medical devices and systems can help save lives and improve quality of life for people living with different conditions and diseases. Machine learning, natural language processing and image...
Over the last century, automation has advanced in many industries. More recently people must work with non-human entities, which increasingly use artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
IEC Technical Committee 18: Electrical Installations for ships and of mobile and fixed offshore units, has published a major revision of the IEC 61892 series of standards, key documents for the safety of offshore...
Laser technology is so widely used today that we forget that it can be dangerous for our health if it does not meet the strictest safety standards. IEC expertise in producing safety specifications for lasers is...
Walking down a city street, pedestrians have recently been confronted by a new phenomenon. Sailing by on sidewalks or bike lanes, commuters have adopted electric scooters as a popular mode of transportation. Offering a...
Every year IEC honours the commitment and work of a number of individuals in its community who, through their leadership and technical expertise, have contributed to making products and electrical systems safer, more...
Explosive (Ex) atmospheres – also termed hazardous areas/locations – which can be caused by flammable gases, mists or vapours or by combustible dusts, are by no means restricted to the oil, gas and petrochemical industry...
Billions of connected devices and systems make up the internet of things (IoT), and help to simplify how we communicate, work and go about daily tasks.
Every year, the IEC pays tribute to people from its organization, for their distinguished work and commitment to improving the safety, compatibility and energy efficiency of electrical products and systems, with its...
