In their excitement to develop new technologies, scientists sometimes overlook how their inventions will work with each other. Usually, that job falls into the laps of harmonisation and standardisation organisations and technical industry forums. Think of the internet and all its dotcoms; think of the mobile content downloads; think of VOIP and IPTV — all these technologies took years of R&D to develop before they were finally taken into world forums, debated, discussed, refined and finally adopted globally.

The internet, for example, would not have been possible without the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) IPv4 standard. Our 3G networks are a result of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a collaboration between groups of telecommunications associations. And the new darling of the ICT industry, WiMAX, depends upon the WiMAX Forum for its future.

What is infinitely more interesting, however, is the way all these different technologies and systems have begun to converge upon one another. Mobile networks, the internet and TV stations must now all find ways of communicating with and transmitting content between each other. The separate industry forums and groups that operate within these sectors must therefore collaborate to ensure that their technologies work together.

This issue of S&Q examines how this collaboration process works, especially within the context of Malaysia. Contents include:

• Information (In)security: The ISO 27000 information security management system.
• A Crowded Web: The Internet is running out of addresses. Here comes IPv6.
• Digital Dawn: Say ‘Hello’ to a new era of digital terrestrial broadcasting.
• Software Testing Boom: How the MSTB intends to ride on the growing software testing market.
• Collaborative Convergence: How the ISC G is helping Malaysia stay ahead of the convergence imperative.
• Legal Software Examination: How metrologists may validate software to protect consumers.
• South East Asia’s first WiMAX Testing Lab: SIRIM QAS International takes the lead in WiMAX testing services.

Click here to download a PDF copy of SIRIM’s Standards and Quality News, Vol. 19, 2010: “Convergence”.

About Marcus Gomez

Marcus Gomez & Partners provides world-class technical and business copywriting solutions to help global SMBs and multinationals enhance their sales, market share and corporate visibility in the international marketplace. Based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the boutique communications agency counts some of the biggest brands in the world as its customers, including Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Cisco Systems and TÜV SÜD. It also serves major government agencies such as the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), SIRIM Berhad, Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), InvestPerak and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.