Social Context of Design

Wentworth Institute of Technology

ELEC 163 Electronic Design I

Prof. Tim JohnsonChapter 4, Sections 2 & 3

“Fundamentals of Engineering Design”

By Barry Hyman

What Does an Engineer Do?

Designs some stuff. Collects a paycheck. Has a family. Coaches baseball. Retires one day. Reads Dilbert comics.

What do they really do? In today’s society, the engineer is integral to progress. If we are only oiling the wheels of progress, maintaining

the status quo, you are a technician. If you are thinking about how to make a better wheel,

you’re an engineer. The difference between the engineer and the scientist is

we apply the knowledge of the theoretical uncovered by the scientist.

How much stuff do I have to learn? Here at Wentworth, you’ve four more years of some really

technical material which will make you quite useful. You’ve several more years of math left. Besides math

courses, many courses employ their own specialized formulas and applications that you have to learn to understand what it is you are doing.

Then once you begin your career; you learn everything about it, figure ½ year to 2 years until you are really useful.

Yeah, but does being an Engineer make a difference?

To answer this let’s look at some engineers who have made a difference:EdisonBellThe Wright brothersGeorge Westinghouse

These men have changed the world and the way we live our lives.

How does Engineering compare to… A doctor?

Has a Hippocratic Oath. Is involved with health

issues. Spends years studying. The State gives them a

medical license if they can pass their board exam.

Can belong to a medical society.

Can add MD to their name.

A Professional Engineer Upholds a code of Ethics. Is involved with design

issues. Spends years studying. The State gives them an

engineers license if they can pass the EIT exam.

Can belong to an engineering society.

Can add PE to their name.

How does Engineering compare to… A lawyer?

Upholds a code of ethics. Is involved with legal

issues. Spends years studying. The State gives them a

license to practice law if they can pass the bar exam.

Can belong to a legal society.

Can add Esq. to their name.

A Professional Engineer Upholds a code of ethics. Is involved with design

issues. Spends years studying. The State gives them an

engineers license if they can pass the EIT exam.

Can belong to an engineering society.

Can add PE to their name.

And the differences are…

Doctors Can work on charity casesOpen clinics in poor neighborhoods.Have an effective input into public policy.

Lawyers Can do work pro bono.Open legal offices in poor neighborhoods.Espouse arguments regarding public policy.

Engineers, on the other hand… Since there is not seen the same compelling social need on

the part of the indigent for design services, Engineers will work in other ways to have an effect:

Spend years working on an idea on their own time. Design ways and means to make life better for all people. If the truth be known, the data needed to decide public policy

was collected on a system designed by an engineer. Volunteer on projects whose goals include implementing

technology.

An Engineer has an obligation to… Stay current in their field. Be aware of new developments. The effects and possible applications of new ideas. Share their knowledge. Serve on civic committees that can benefit from

their specialized knowledge. Look for ways to apply their knowledge in new

avenues.

What is your motivation to be an Engineer?

I like to figure out how things work. I’m intrigued by the computer. I’m pretty good at math. I know an engineer and they seemed…. I have some ideas that might make a difference. I’d like to try working on something to make life

easier or better for people.

A project to make a difference…

In 2001, we had a blind person, Phil Oliver, visit the school and describe a need.

What was his need?

The blind, he said, do rather well with their canes and like having their hands free while mobile.

The problem was overhangs, street signs, tree limbs, truck mirrors, and other misc. obstacles.

If you’ve visited recently my homepage, you might have clicked on a solution this class worked on last year which the professor will now demonstrate.

The WIT Sensor, Model II

We tested the device

The Design Solution sought is…

Electronically, the device works fine but the power supply would be difficult if not impossible for the blind to change the batteries.

The class will now hold a brainstorming session to solve this problem.

Please get out your journals…we’re starting a new project.

Your Assignment Research batteries and rechargeable power

supplies. Investigate possible ways that a vision impair

person would be able to operate a portable devise and not find it burdensome to change the batteries.

Locate a source supplier and obtain prices. Submit your information in memo form. You

have this week to complete this task.