Digital is Not Always the Answer
In my basement, I still have a box of vinyl records and another of cassette tapes. Nearby are some shoeboxes full of photos, and a stack of 35mm slide carousels. Next to these is a rack with some 3-ring binders stuffed with lecture notes which I used when I stood before a class of anxious […]
Technology is Probably a Good Thing
While most of us struggle to come up with a crisp definition of technology, we somehow agree that it is a good thing. After all, what would life be like without light bulbs, refrigerators or antibiotics? Surveys tell us that twice as many Americans think that technology will make our lives better than think it […]
Selfie Tech
Although “selfies” started generating buzz last year, the first recorded instance of a “selfie”, taken by Robert Cornelius, dates back to 1839. The daguerreotype photographic process of the day was so slow that Bob was able to open the lens, run into the shot for several minutes, and then head back to replace the lens […]
Steel Yourself for This
Since the beginning of the Iron Age around 1200 BC, this amazing metal has been the catalyst for the development of the modern world. Steel is the foremost metal of the day, produced at levels twenty times that of aluminum, copper, zinc, tin and lead combined. As the United States exited WWII in 1945, we […]
Big Data Politics
If you are anything like me, you are getting pretty fed up with all the political messages that are clogging your email inbox. A lot of people would like to blame Obama for this, but then a lot of people would like to blame Obama for everything. The truth is, the Republicans were the first […]
Buzzing in the Rain
There is an old joke that says “When it rains we do as the Chinese do, we get wet.” I’m not sure where that came from, or exactly what it means, but it appears that some Chinese engineers are tired of being ridiculed and are prepared to do something about it. For some reason, […]
The Many Looks of Innovation
My first thought when I saw the “Drill Bike” was that this was something I probably would have tried when I was 14, and it would have gotten me in big trouble for burning out my Dad’s drill. Now, after 50 years of experience and formal engineering training, the thought of trying it at […]
Where Bugs Come From
Apple’s splashy launch of iOS 8 was quickly followed by an update; the version level now stands at 8.0.2 and counting. There is a list of reasons, but the short version reads “bug fixes.” In the world of computer programming, the term “bug” is a familiar, albeit unwelcome one. Human brains have “lapses”, machines have […]
Apps Creating Jobs?
If you were going to pick a career based solely on job opportunities, you might be tempted to choose “Computer Software Engineer”. Based on the latest government data, employment in this field increased almost 8 percent in 2010. There are now more software engineers than farmers in the US, and they will soon outnumber lawyers. […]
Distracted Drivers
With pot now legal in 18 states and the District of Columbia, the whole driver distraction issue may be irrelevant. Nevertheless, the National Traffic Safety Board recently tried for a nationwide ban on portable electronic devices. They were booed off the stage. We love our gadgets, and no one is going to deny us. Automakers […]
