Last updated 2006-12-31
I hold a four-year BEng and an MEng (Electronic Engineering) degree and a three-year BCom (business) degree from the University of Pretoria.
My engineering studies focussed mainly on electromagnetics, with a variety of control systems, signal processing and digital systems thrown in. My Master's dissertation was on a cryptography policy for a distributed utility metering system, as a contribution to work being done on a unified system for Europe. In the business studies, I specialised in Aviation Management, with the emphasis on ergonomics, decision-making and safety management. I was part of the first group to tackle the newly-introduced Aviation Management degree, starting in 1999. I managed to complete the degree in the minimum period of three years, the only part-time student to do so. Given my rather chequered academic past, I was rather pleased. If you're considering the same degree programme, it would probably be worth your while to drop me a line!
During 2001, I also took second-year courses in German Grammar and German Literature at the University of South Africa. I'd had occasion to practice my German to the extent that it had become fairly fluent, and I decided to take the opportunity to learn the grammar a little more rigorously. The subjects ended up being a lot of work, but I certainly achieved my objectives. Judging by the results, it seems that I've even achieved my lecturers' objectives!
From 2002 to 2003, I studied Russian, Astronomy and some Physics. Nothing serious--just a bit of fun.
As of late 2006, I've concluded that further study is imperative if I want to hold my own in my new field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). It looks like I'm going to get stuck into a full-time programme of studies, probably working on a PhD while looking at some applications of Bayes's networks.
I still have a few ideas for things I'd like to study.
First and foremost is to learn Chinese or Japanese. I've made a start and can recognise several hundred Chinese characters (or Kanji). However, I need the discipline of formal study to force me to work at it hard enough.
My second project is a more fanciful one. I want to do a thesis on the acoustic characteristics of ladies' high heeled shoes. I've done some preliminary investigations, and it turns out that the sound of an approaching high-heeled shoe can be shaped almost at will by changing the shape of the cavity between the heel and the sole. Imagine the impact of this discovery on the fashion world! The solitary individuals that want to go unnoticed, can now buy those fancy high-heeled shoes with a cavity pad, and sneak quietly down the corridor. Those that want to attract attention, can add a different insert and make sure that the entire office block knows that they are coming. Those female Machiavellians can carry two sets of inserts in their handbags, allowing them to generally warn of their approach, but also to sneak up on someone with the advantage of complete surprise. At last: A thesis that can transform an industry!
A final pet project has been in refinement for years: A theory to explain how Bill Gates has managed to become the richest man on earth by selling inferior products at high prices. Face it, he is in competition with better products that are given away for free! None of the theories of Adam Smith or other economists have explained this amazing phenomenon satisfactorily, but I think I'm getting a grip on it. It's worth at least a PhD or two.
Although it doesn't quite fit into the category of studies, I might mention that it's only a matter of time before a novel sees the light of day. I'm working on several plots. Roll over, James Bond!
I actually started writing a novel once, but abandoned it after
writing the first part. The reason was that the first part had set
such a high standard of tension and intrigue that anything else was
bound to be a complete anti-climax to the reader. The first part was:
"'I missed you, darling', she said, and fired another shot"...
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