1. GET130 Intro to Engineering Technology Fall 2015
1: Introductory Concepts
GET130 Intro to Engineering Technology
Fall 2015

2. What is a technologist?
“a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems”1
Responsible for providing material things necessary for human subsistence and comfort
1. thefreedictionary.com

3. What is technology?
Science
Math
Engineering
Processes
Technology

4. Why do we care about technology?
It improves the quality of our lives
Ex:
in 1900, ½ of the US population lived & worked on farms providing food for all
today, ~3% feeds the entire US plus a large part of other Earth population!
How can this be???

5. Other examples Automobile Homes Entertainment Learning
efficiency, safety, front-wheel drive
Homes
larger, central air, dishwashers, washer & dryers
cooking… stoves vs. microwaves
Entertainment
audio… phonographs vs. MP3 player
movies… film vs. HD digital
TVs… : $530 vs. 2010: $250
Learning
libraries/books vs. Internet

6. Fast forward to 2040…
“I remember smartphones, I used to use them before I got my commlink implant”
“yes we had traffic lights, back before autonomous 80 mph transporterpods when humans actually drove cars”
“our kitchen is so much roomier now that we got rid of the fridge and microwave, thanks to self-preserving mealpaks that instacook when you open them”
“people used to actually wear eyeglasses before amorphous smart contact lenses”
“cancer? That went the way of polio with the advent of cancer-killing nanobot injections”

7. History… …of engineering & technology
pyramids of early civilizations used much science & math
math: algebra & trigonometry
physics: lever & inclined planes
astrology: alignment with sun
and teamwork! – use of many people and beasts of burden
this established the need for engineering & technology for humankind

8. Modern Engineering began in the 1700s, developed into 5 branches…
Civil: builder of our infrastructure
buildings, roads, bridges, airports, utility systems
Mechanical: machine tooling & manufacturing
motors, generators, engines, fluid-power systems
Mining/Metallurgical: mineral extraction
coal, oil, gas; also materials technology
Chemical: convert raw materials into useful commodities
food processing, drugs, nuclear energy
Electrical: production & distribution of electrical energy
electronics (1904), ICs (1950s), computers, communications, machine control

9. Today’s Engineering Fields
the original 5 have evolved into >30 fields!
some new areas:
See more at:
Aerospace
Electromechanical
Materials
Agriculture
Engineering science
Nuclear
Architectural
Environmental
Petroleum
Biomedical
Industrial
Systems
Computer
Marine
Welding

10. Why so many fields? increasing population and need for specialization
increasing complexity of technology with growing knowledge base
need for both research for future knowledge (engineers) and application of current technology to existing problems (engineering technologist)

11. Engineering Grand Challenges
for the 21st century…
taken from
Make solar energy economical
Provide energy from fusion
Develop carbon sequestration methods
Manage the nitrogen cycle
Provide access to clean water
Restore and improve urban infrastructure
Advance health informatics
Engineer better medicines
Reverse-engineer the brain
Prevent nuclear terror
Secure cyberspace
Enhance virtual reality
Advance personalized learning
Engineer the tools of scientific discovery

12. The Industrial Team US industries are divided into 2 broad groups:
manufacturing – goods producing
“blue collar”
support of product-to-consumer processes
service – service providing
“white collar”
maintain computer equipment and comm. systems
technologists must work as part of a team
with scientists, engineers, technicians and skilled workers
as well as business side – accountants, managers
to provide customer satisfaction

13. Role of Technologist
difference between technician, technologist, and engineer is amount of formal education
technician is generally 2 years (A.S.)
technologist is generally 4 (B.S.)
engineer is also 4 but more aggressive
and can go on the Master’s, PhD, etc.

14. Technologist Duties primary technologist responsibility:
interface between scientist/engineer level and technician/skilled worker level
act as communicators between management/engineering and skilled laborers
need good listening, speaking, writing, and interpretation skills!
be the implementers who interpret management’s ideas and make them happen
allows engineers/scientists to do what they do best
perform calibration and testing procedures
to insure proper equipment operation

15. Your Career Decision
where do you see yourself after graduating with an E.T. degree and how do you fit into an organization?
organization chart (org chart, next slide)
career outlook – 3 important considerations:
employment availability
job satisfaction
earnings potential

16. Industrial Team – Org. Chart