Transcript Social Context of Design - Wentworth Institute of Technology

Social Context of Design
Wentworth Institute of Technology
ELEC 163 Electronic Design I
Prof. Tim Johnson
Chapter 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:
 Edison
 Bell
 The
Wright brothers
 George 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 cases
 Open 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.