I have a BSc (honors) degree from Rhodes University in Math, Physics and Computer Science and have worked in industry for 21 years.  I have been mostly involved in developing IT systems in areas such as Banking, Insurance, GIS, 3D Graphics, Process Control, Mining, General Industrial and Engineering.

More recently, over the last 6 years I have been moving back to my core passion, which is to understand future trends in Energy and Mobility and finding ways to be a pioneer and evangelist in area of energy efficiency and sustainable utilization.  Because I have always had a strong interest in alternative transport technologies like electric cars and associated standards and management and control systems, I became a founding member of the Advanced Energy Foundation in 2006, in 2008 I became the Chairman of the Foundation.  The Foundations primary objective is the promotion of science, technology and innovation in education, via practical challenges.  

Some of the projects I am involved in commercially are developing business cases for renewable energy, in particular PV Solar Farm, research and development of a commercial commuter electric car and the promotion of smart grid connected systems and devices.

I have an addictive fascination for leading edge technologies and technologies that challenge conventional though patterns. I have extensive experience in software development life cycles and architectures, having developed applications in fields such as process control, banking, ERP, Encryption, Telephony, healthcare and GIS.

I hope to one day be able to earn my living by developing or revolutionizing transport technologies both in the physical and virtual environments by making them faster, cleaner and safer. I often speak as a futurist to groups regarding the future trends in technology and transportation.

Winstone's specialties:
Software architecture, marketing, aviation, innovation, evolving technology, futurist, flying cars, hovercraft, VOIP, training.

Personal thoughts on innovation and creativity

South Africa is a rich country but the value can only be unlocked by innovators and entrepreneurs, in both cases this requires people not only with ideas, but they also need to be brave enough to both explore those ideas and be skilled enough to rally support for the idea from other people. 
I believe that to a large degree South Africans need to be shown that it is ok to have ideas (to build confidence in themselves) and to be better supported in taking ideas to market.  Innovation is often seeded by needs or by seeing how others have innovated, applying your own Creative skills to this, results in new solutions to new and existing challenges.  

Above all I believe that everyone can contribute, their particular cocktail of experiences makes them uniquely suited to solving challenges in their own environments, we should encourage this!

Some news on solar powered cars:

South Africa’s second solar challenge will take place from September 26 to October 6 2010.

This event will follow on from the inaugural race held in 2008, which was won by a team of Japanese engineering students from the Tokai university, near Tokyo. The team driver was Japanese racing legend Kenjiro Shinozuka – the 1997 winner of the Paris-Dakar rally.

Race organiser, the Advanced Energy Foundation (AEF), will again be at the helm of the 4 200 km-long event.

AEF chairperson Winstone Jordaan says the race will start in Pretoria, using the N1 freeway to reach Cape Town, switching to the N2 to travel to Durban, then moving on to more interesting back roads to again reach the Jacaranda city.

The race will consist of three classes, with the Olympia division reserved for the top-end teams, the Adventure division for older solar cars, and finally the technology demonstration division, where any company or person may use the event to showcase interesting automotive-related technology.

“These do not have to be solar-powered vehicles,” explains Jordaan. “It could be an existing vehicle manufacturer which wants to demonstrate a vehicle with extremely good fuel efficiency, for example.”

Jordaan says this year’s entries will include teams from the Witwatersrand University, the German School, in Johannesburg, as well as the University of Johannesburg, with several other teams lined up to also participate, including one from engineering university the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, three teams from Europe, one from Canada, as well as one each from Australia and New Zealand.

The event is recognised by the FIA (or Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) and Motorsport South Africa. The FIA is the governing body for auto racing events. Its most prominent role is in the licencing and arbitration of Formula One motor racing.

Jordaan says entry for the solar challenge closes at the end of July.

A solar car relies on solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity. This electricity is stored in batteries, which are then used to power electric motors that turn the car's wheels. As such, solar cars are not very powerful.

The winning car in 2008 was a 1,6 horsepower vehicle – compared to an average car which kicks out 120 horsepower.

The lighter the car, the faster it travels – which is evident when considering the R550 000 carbon-fibre Japanese car weighed 150 kg in total.