Spectral lines: Concerned engineers
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SpNBortanam ^ JULY «ι»-- ••• • ••••••••• VOLUME 20 • NUMBER 7 spectral lines Concerned engineers In its scope of interests and emotional concerns, a whole pro- fession can sometimes take on the characteristics uf mi iii- uividuai. individuals spend their free time pursuing activities in which they feel most comfortable and competent and in which they have an emotional investment. One person may deem it a challenge to help a neighbor select the color of a new car or the brand of a phonal computer. Another may reject such eaiks as trivial :*i favor of more eosmfc concerns. Like- wise, the members of a profession, in aggregate, tend to define the scope of interests of the profession at large. In this regard, those who took part in the Mediterranean Electrotechnological Conference in Athens in May un- doubtedly felt some pride in the electrical-engineering profes- sion. Some 400 engineers, from countries that embrace a wide range of both economic development and political ideology, participated in the conference. And they did so, even in disa- greement, in a statesmanlike way. A case in point was a con- ference forum on technology transfer. Forum panelists and attendees represented both highly developed countries—such as the United States and West Germany—and lesser devel- oped nations like Spain, Kenya, and Libya. At the heart of the issue was a recognition that technology transfer from the haves to the have-nots is a two-edged sword. On the one hand are the advantages to be gained by "leader" countries trans- ferring their know-how to lesser-developed countries, who would in turn reap obvious benefits. On the other, inhibiting factors stem from the need to provide for national security and* m the cz^z d. ï.n^î-"v:iîsl mdnufuvtài»ers, to pioiccl ii&uc secrets. Though they approached the issue from opposite points of view, speakers on behalf of both leader and follower countries generally agreed that technology protectionism can be counterproductive. Engineers—particularly elec- trical engineers—were confirmed as agents who can abet the transfer of technology, for better or worse, and technology transfer was seeft ss a tool, if properly used, for economic development. The participants hardly suggested that tech- nology transfer is straightforward; its implementation is fraught with questions of "what's in it for me" for both transmitter and recipient, and these must be dealt with realis- tically and equitably. Nevertheless, participants approached even these matters with a rare degree of statesmanship and objectivity. At meeting's end, as conference attendees packed up to return to their respective homelands, several wondered if any other profession can affect the standard of living in both developed and developing countries to the same extent that electrical engineering does. They also questioned whether any other profession could boast the growing cadre of practi- tioners who are personally concerned with the ultimate effects of their labors, as opposed to those professionals who merely add to the pool of technology—basic though that is—that can then be applied or misapplied by others. Looking back Twelve months does not seem an adequate period in which to celebrate a whole century's worth of progress in electrotech- iiuiugy. iucicioic, aiuiuugn uic ICDE S UIUUCU v^iuv*uuai year does not begin until 1984, Spectrum plans to get a head start. We shall publish, from time to time during the balance of 1983, articles on the origins of our profession. The first, "Oliver Hesvi^ide! genius a?d curmudgeon," appears in this issue [p. 63]. And . .. Booking ahead Readers of Spectrum are hardly shy when it comes to speak- ing up about the content and format of the magazine. One of the things you've asked for is more complete and timely coverage of technological topics covered in the lay press- newspapers, television, and newsweekly magazines. In response, the August Spectrum will carry a new department called "Continuum." "Continuum" will usually relate to an event or an issue currently in the news. The subject of the first one is "Star Wars," and it will deal with the subject of laser weapons. Also, beginning with the issue in hand, we have significant- ly expanded the "Tools & Toys" section. It is now organized by technical category—computers, communications, power/ energy, and the like. In each category important new publica- tions, courses, conferences, and design aids of use to engineers on the job are described. In addition, games, hob- bies, and historical exhibits may be included. In this issue, too, is a new department, "Spin-offs," in which unusual or unanticipated applications of electrotech- nclogy are described. We'd like your feedback concerning this new format. Donald Christiansen IEEE spectrum JULY 1983 29
Transcript of Spectral lines: Concerned engineers
S p N B o r t a n a m ^ JULY « ι » - - • • • • ••••••••• V O L U M E 20 • NUMBER 7
s p e c t r a l l i n e s
Concerned engineers In its scope of interests and emotional concerns, a whole profession can sometimes take on the characteristics u f mi iii-uividuai. individuals spend their free time pursuing activities in which they feel most comfortable and competent and in which they have an emotional investment. One person may deem it a challenge to help a neighbor select the color of a new car or the brand of a p h o n a l computer. Another may reject such eaiks as trivial :*i favor of more eosmfc concerns. Likewise, the members o f a profession, in aggregate, tend to define the scope of interests of the profession at large.
In this regard, those who took part in the Mediterranean Electrotechnological Conference in Athens in May undoubtedly felt some pride in the electrical-engineering profession. Some 400 engineers, from countries that embrace a wide range of both economic development and political ideology, participated in the conference. And they did so, even in disagreement, in a statesmanlike way. A case in point was a conference forum on technology transfer. Forum panelists and attendees represented both highly developed countries—such as the United States and West Germany—and lesser developed nations like Spain, Kenya, and Libya. At the heart of the issue was a recognition that technology transfer from the haves to the have-nots is a two-edged sword. On the one hand are the advantages to be gained by "leader" countries transferring their know-how to lesser-developed countries, who would in turn reap obvious benefits. On the other, inhibiting
factors stem from the need to provide for national security and* m the cz^z d. ï.n^î-"v:iîsl mdnufuvtài»ers, to pioiccl ii&uc secrets. Though they approached the issue from opposite points of view, speakers on behalf of both leader and follower countries generally agreed that technology protectionism can be counterproductive. Engineers—particularly electrical engineers—were confirmed as agents who can abet the transfer of technology, for better or worse, and technology transfer was seeft ss a tool, if properly used, for economic development. The participants hardly suggested that technology transfer is straightforward; its implementation is fraught with questions of "what's in it for me" for both transmitter and recipient, and these must be dealt with realistically and equitably. Nevertheless, participants approached even these matters with a rare degree of statesmanship and objectivity.
At meeting's end, as conference attendees packed up to return to their respective homelands, several wondered if any other profession can affect the standard of living in both developed and developing countries to the same extent that electrical engineering does. They also questioned whether any other profession could boast the growing cadre of practitioners who are personally concerned with the ultimate effects of their labors, as opposed to those professionals who merely add to the pool of technology—basic though that is—that can then be applied or misapplied by others.
Looking back Twelve months does not seem an adequate period in which to celebrate a whole century's worth of progress in electrotech-iiuiugy. iucicioic, aiuiuugn uic I C D E S U I U U C U v iuv*uuai year does not begin until 1984, Spectrum plans to get a head
start. We shall publish, from time to time during the balance of 1983, articles on the origins of our profession. The first, "Oliver Hesvi^ide! genius a?d curmudgeon," appears in this issue [p. 63].
And . . . Booking ahead Readers of Spectrum are hardly shy when it comes to speaking up about the content and format of the magazine. One of the things you've asked for is more complete and timely coverage of technological topics covered in the lay p r e s s -newspapers, television, and newsweekly magazines. In response, the August Spectrum will carry a new department called "Continuum." "Continuum" will usually relate to an event or an issue currently in the news. The subject of the first one is "Star Wars," and it will deal with the subject of laser weapons.
Also, beginning with the issue in hand, we have significant
ly expanded the "Tools & Toys" section. It is now organized by technical category—computers, communications, power/ energy, and the like. In each category important new publications, courses, conferences, and design aids of use to engineers on the job are described. In addition, games, hobbies, and historical exhibits may be included.
In this issue, too, is a new department, "Spin-offs," in which unusual or unanticipated applications of electrotech-nclogy are described.
We'd like your feedback concerning this new format. Donald Christiansen
IEEE spectrum JULY 1983 29
