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Part of what makes technological innovation so impressive is its ability to overcome the challenges posed by nature and the elements.
In many cases, the aim of these advances is not to simply laugh in the face of Mother Nature, but to provide wider access to certain technologies or services.
Households and enterprises alike need to stay in touch with the ever-expanding technological universe in order to gain a footing in the digital revolution.
To cater to the soaring demand, the cabling industry has had to adapt, offering increasingly innovative solutions.
Under the sea
Technology has long been at the heart of satisfying man's thirst for energy, whether it be for powering industry or lighting up the home.
And that shows little sign of changing, with technology becoming all the more elaborate in a bid to bring us the power we need.
Such advancements have found their way into the cabling industry, with the last couple of years giving rise to some notable innovations
Perhaps the most recent example was carried out by industry giant Nexans, which last year was given the green light to deliver subsea cabling for the new Maritime Link Project.
The €175 million (£124.95 million) project will transport clean, renewable and reliable energy from Newfoundland to Nova Scotia in Canada.
Some 200 kV HVDC power cables will be used in the project, which will span a subsea distance of approximately 170 km.
This feat of engineering is the most significant ever to be undertaken by the company, with cables being installed at depths of up to 470 metres.
Cabling can be subjected to all sorts of problems when placed at such depths, sometimes from the most unlikely sources. Last year saw internet search giant Google suffer an unusual attack in the form of sharks taking bites out of its undersea fibre optic cables.
Experts at the time suggested the problem may have been caused by the magnetic field created by the high voltage carried in the cables, which in some cases may have replicated those created by fish.
Engineers have attempted to create shielding specifically aimed at preventing any excess electrical transmissions outside of the protective layers, but their effectiveness is largely unknown.
Of course, the Nexans project is unlikely to fall victim to shark attacks, but maintenance is nevertheless inevitable.
Routes across the Atlantic require over 50 repairs a year, with fishing trawlers, anchors and earthquakes all combining with water pressure at depth as being possible problems, and yet such systems are still a huge testament to man's ingenuity.
Back in the home
One of the most notable technological advancements to come to the mainstream market has been the ability to connect all of our devices to the internet, opening up a number of possibilities in the home and in the workplace.
With the right infrastructure in place, it is now possible for consumers to remotely control thermostats through a simple flick of their smartphone, making it easier to get a better hold of their energy use.
But comfort is by no means the only advantage of a fully automated home. Safety can also be enhanced by way of, for example, smoke or carbon monoxide monitors. A remote alarm can make it easier for users to stay ahead of any potential threat and inform emergency services if necessary.
In terms of products, the NetGear Dual Band High Powered 802.11n Weatherproof Outdoor Access Point (WND930) draws upon the need to repel the elements, allowing networks to extend their reach beyond fixed walls to offer superior connectivity to outdoor environments.
It is subsequently the ideal solution for hotels, resorts, schools and healthcare facilities, and could offer the potential for high-capacity outdoor wireless coverage for parks, playing fields and pool areas.
The dual band concurrent 802.11n outdoor access point is capable of providing as much as 500 mW of RF output power, which can then be combined with a high gain internal antenna to give coverage an even greater boost.
