The Noble Profession
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http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/poconoarmchairreview
I'd guess, though, that we can control our own ethics. I believe it is ...
T in Az
Unfortunately I have to agree with MLED, Engineering a solution to the problems ...
How noble is your profession?
Pocono Armchair Review
12/8/2010 11:22 PM EST
Over 30 years ago, I read a book by Victor Papanek. It was called Design for the Real World. In it, the author made the case for responsible engineering. That is, he advocated the kind of engineering that exists to benefit all stakeholders, not just shareholders.
One example of this kind of engineering is the clever use of inexpensive materials to create nonelectric refrigeration for underdeveloped regions (Papanek described a unit powered by a bicycle pump). An example of electronics engineering for the public good would be the creation of ecologically benign communications and computing devices, rather than the toxic, throw-away devices we have now. Another example would be the creation of reliable, low-cost, medical testing equipment.
These are the kind of applications that make engineering the Noble Profession. In other words, they enrich humanity in general, rather than enrich only one portion of the population at the expense of another, or waste resources on throw-away gimmicks.
Right now, the Noble Profession of engineering is being humiliated and bastardized, through the use of throw-away employees, who all too often are working on throw-away products. The waste is accumulating at too high a rate, on every level, in terms of personnel, materials and energy.
What I wish we could see is a resurgence of public spiritedness. How wonderful it would be if the masses and masses of thrown-away, older engineers could volunteer to use their enormous skills to produce the kinds of designs and products that they wanted to produce all along. Devices to help the poor and the sick. Products that can lift humanity to heights it has never seen before.
I propose that laid-off and unemployed engineers work pro bono, for the good of the public, on at least one project that they think could benefit humanity, and not just the bottom line. It would have to be achievable, low-cost and useful, with little or no toxic footprint.
How about a way to extract electricity for laptop computers from the excess heat from stoves or furnaces? Or maybe a way to adapt image recognition devices for use by the blind? Might there be a way to put Amber Alert electronics into children's apparel?
Some of you might have learned, in your engineering economics class, that profits are the best measure of utility and usefulness. I had that class, too. That class was wrong. Profits are a means to an end, not an end in itself. The end is human fulfillment. If there are other means to that same end, then they are just as valid as the profit motive. And, whenever the profit motive stands in the way of human achievement, then it needs to be put aside.
Naturally, I am not saying that working to benefit oneself is wrong. We have to eat. I'm just saying that there is more to life than that. Maybe showing it, during a time when we have the time, can make the point to others, and spotlight the terrible waste that is now ravaging the Noble Profession.
So, what kind of engineering are you doing? What kind of engineer are you? How noble is your profession?
One example of this kind of engineering is the clever use of inexpensive materials to create nonelectric refrigeration for underdeveloped regions (Papanek described a unit powered by a bicycle pump). An example of electronics engineering for the public good would be the creation of ecologically benign communications and computing devices, rather than the toxic, throw-away devices we have now. Another example would be the creation of reliable, low-cost, medical testing equipment.
These are the kind of applications that make engineering the Noble Profession. In other words, they enrich humanity in general, rather than enrich only one portion of the population at the expense of another, or waste resources on throw-away gimmicks.
Right now, the Noble Profession of engineering is being humiliated and bastardized, through the use of throw-away employees, who all too often are working on throw-away products. The waste is accumulating at too high a rate, on every level, in terms of personnel, materials and energy.
What I wish we could see is a resurgence of public spiritedness. How wonderful it would be if the masses and masses of thrown-away, older engineers could volunteer to use their enormous skills to produce the kinds of designs and products that they wanted to produce all along. Devices to help the poor and the sick. Products that can lift humanity to heights it has never seen before.
I propose that laid-off and unemployed engineers work pro bono, for the good of the public, on at least one project that they think could benefit humanity, and not just the bottom line. It would have to be achievable, low-cost and useful, with little or no toxic footprint.
How about a way to extract electricity for laptop computers from the excess heat from stoves or furnaces? Or maybe a way to adapt image recognition devices for use by the blind? Might there be a way to put Amber Alert electronics into children's apparel?
Some of you might have learned, in your engineering economics class, that profits are the best measure of utility and usefulness. I had that class, too. That class was wrong. Profits are a means to an end, not an end in itself. The end is human fulfillment. If there are other means to that same end, then they are just as valid as the profit motive. And, whenever the profit motive stands in the way of human achievement, then it needs to be put aside.
Naturally, I am not saying that working to benefit oneself is wrong. We have to eat. I'm just saying that there is more to life than that. Maybe showing it, during a time when we have the time, can make the point to others, and spotlight the terrible waste that is now ravaging the Noble Profession.
So, what kind of engineering are you doing? What kind of engineer are you? How noble is your profession?
Rich Krajewski is an electronics engineer, editor, and amateur-radio operator WB2CRD.
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qerqwe
12/9/2010 7:26 PM EST
This is AGEIST.
When was the last time YOU were laid off? Work for FREE? You must be kidding. I agree we have the capacity to do good. Let's look at the workplace.
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http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/poconoarmchairreview
12/10/2010 2:41 AM EST
It is a radical idea that I've been struggling to name. How about we call it, volunteering? Not for everybody, it's true. Sometimes circumstances don't allow it. When they do, then, what a powerful thing it is.
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Anderson888
12/13/2010 5:12 AM EST
I'm agree your idea very much. If the engineers all unite, that would be a very powerful things.
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http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/poconoarmchairreview
12/13/2010 5:52 AM EST
Thank you. I don't know if I'm necessarily advocating a union of engineers. What I'm proposing can be done individually or in unison with others. And of course there are already several engineering societies in existence. On the other hand, while these societies provide many technical services to the profession, they tend to be very narrow in their scope, and are self-limiting when it comes to social issues.
But your idea of a unification of engineers, for what I presume is the good of both the profession and the public, is an excellent one.
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daleste
12/9/2010 9:21 PM EST
Ok Rich, I'm game. How do we connect to get started?
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http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/poconoarmchairreview
12/10/2010 2:57 AM EST
How about right here? It would be nice if we could put up a database of resumes that we could all draw upon. In other words, it could be a reservoir of experience, not a reservoir of applicants.
Maybe just the message boards would be sufficient to get started.
This could be a lot of fun. I remember, back in college, I had to design an alarm clock for the deaf as a class assignment. Well, naturally, that had been done quite well already, but it was still an interesting exercise to investigate the need, look at the existing solutions, and then try to come up with something that would improve the solutions in some way, or go beyond them. What I did, after reinventing the vibrating bed alarm clock for the millionth time, was to try to go one further, and attempt to convert sound energy into touch sensations for a more global solution, that is, overcoming the deafness by using the sense of touch to communicate sound. That was around 1975. Since, then, likely a lot of people have come up with the same idea. I know MIT worked on it in 2009. However, coming up with the idea isn't the same as getting it to work. I hope MIT succeeds.
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iniewski
12/10/2010 11:27 AM EST
Rich: I don't think this is realistic. Unemployed working for free??? Last time I was unemployed I did many things like writing a book and hiking the mountains but still spend most time looking for a new job. I did some volunteering to keep myself busy but it all ended the moment I landed a job, which like most high tech jobs, demanded high level of time commitment. For the idea to work you need employed people to work for free. Every company to follow Google to allow employees to use 10% of their time on whatever they feel like it? Kris
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http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/poconoarmchairreview
12/10/2010 2:31 PM EST
When I was unemployed, I used volunteering to help me network, and to keep my skills sharp. It looks good on a resume, and is recommendable for just that reason, but it also is a Noble thing to do. Many engineers enter the profession for noble reasons. This is another way for them to express that.
Again, it's not for everybody. A lot of people won't have the resources to do this. They'll have to get a job--any job--to stay afloat, even if it's not in engineering (and I'll bet there are a lot of engineers in that boat). Some, however, will remain in engineering and can take the time while they are looking for a new job (or while they are retired) to do something "pro bono publico," for the good of the public.
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daleste
12/10/2010 11:54 AM EST
I am spending most of my time on the job search, but I miss engineering enough that I would like to spend some time on a project.
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http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/poconoarmchairreview
12/10/2010 2:34 PM EST
That's a great idea, and just what I had in mind when I wrote the article. The initiative you take would highlight your value as an engineer, and keep your skills sharp. It could also turn into a favorable advertising mechanism for your abilities. But, hopefully, there will be room to primarily benefit others in this, even in the middle of our own misfortune, if circumstances allow.
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parity
12/10/2010 3:14 PM EST
For older, unemployed engineers to work pro bono because some shareholders voted them "off the island" does not address the Noble Profession's current problem. Knitting sweaters for the poor would get our engineers off the street while filling the pro bono idea. No, the Noble Profession really needs to take this time to look into the mirror and either accept the status quo and knit Noble sweaters, or use their justifiable discomfort to stand up for reforms which will restore institutional respect for our profession. Currently we have the status "high tech migrant workers" (my construction) and exempt by law to be legally mandated to work 50 and 60 hours per week without overtime. What is Noble about that?
What if engineers were to request overtime? Although uncompensated OT was the original bargain, it was also implicit that OT was an occasional but necessary occurrence. All bargains are re-negotiable if both sides agree.
What if engineers en mass declined to sign the pro forma assignment of inventions as a condition for employment. What could happen? Suddenly engineers become the owners of their inventions which could reasonably be licensed back to their employers. If the employer later decides to lay him off, his IP leaves with him. That might generate a bit more management respect for engineers. Of course if an engineer decides to leave on his own, he would take his IP with him as well. Yes, yes, there are provisions for shop licenses on the books, but those could be waved if both sides agree. But why should management agree now? By lifting US engineering patents and IP and moving them to China, they have cut our throats (and jobs) with our own knife.
The above is engineering heresy, but playing nice is not working. How is the Noble Profession going to get respect? Knit a sweater or work to re-jigger the rules of the game? If the above suggestions are imperfect, make new ones. Without change, nothing changes.
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http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/poconoarmchairreview
12/10/2010 4:09 PM EST
I understand your frustration. Remember, though, that doing something like designing an alert system that tells parents when a young autistic has wandered away from home, is not doing anything to support companies that abuse employees if the design is done on a pro bono basis. It's helping to prevent a death from exposure or drowning. It's the same as calling 911 if you were to see a neighbor collapse on the sidewalk. That is, it is an act of charity and compassion, which is part of nobility. You wouldn't say dialing 911 is the same as knitting sweaters, would you?
This kind of effort could very well generate interest from the media. That may, in turn, generate awareness of some of the inequities and possible solutions that you mentioned. And it doesn't have to be an unreasonably grand effort. It can be small, and still make a huge difference.
I'll compare how different professions handle the problems you mentioned in a future Noble Profession blog.
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JTTTT
12/11/2010 9:53 PM EST
Last time I checked, communism did not work.
Great ... so who pays for my materials and equipment for design? Who pays for prototypes, testing, etc.? Who arranges for distribution, etc?
It a great idea but perhaps not set in reality.
Maybe those who have made billions off of engineers could hire unemployed engineers to work on altruistic projects?
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http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/poconoarmchairreview
12/13/2010 4:44 AM EST
The organization "Doctors Without Borders" comes to mind. They probably aren't communist, but they do a lot of good. EE's can, too.
I think just creating a design on paper and publishing that would be a good first step.
Good ideas often create reality. They can come to fruition by a chain-reaction of events, set in motion by nothing more than the spark of an idea.
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Frank Eory
12/14/2010 3:08 PM EST
Rich, have you not heard of Engineers Without Borders? Many universities have student chapters and many large metro areas have professional chapters. They (pros & students) often work on projects together.
If you're interested:
www.ewb.org
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http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/poconoarmchairreview
12/20/2010 8:02 AM EST
They sound like a great organization, but they seem to focus on civil engineering projects. I was thinking of something closer to EE, and something that could be done either alone or as part of a group, for the mutual benefit of the volunteer and society.
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Tombo
12/13/2010 10:03 AM EST
I really find myself against this. So called 'Noble work' at a pro-bono price has absolutely no value to society and ends up being expected.
I would ask that before you sign up for a 'Noble' project, you read 'Atlas Shrugged' to see what could happen in a society where you are 'expected' to use your talents.
Now if you want to work on something because you think it's cool as a hobby - that's a whole other kettle of fish. If others can use it, you have the right to do with it what you see fit.
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Tombo
12/13/2010 11:14 AM EST
Before comments on me being too cynical or negative arise, if you really want to volunteer time - Engineers Without Borders (http://www.ewb-international.org/) will probably suit your needs.
Or a soup kitchen.
Or a homeless shelter.
Not all problems in the world are technical ones.
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http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/poconoarmchairreview
12/20/2010 7:57 AM EST
Hopefully, I'll be able to address that in an upcoming blog, tentatively called, "What is Noble?"
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Duane Benson
12/13/2010 12:07 PM EST
Look into the open source community. Open source (OS) software has been with us for quite a while and OS hardware is becoming a popular movement as well.
How does that fit into Richard's commentary? Most of the people doing these OS projects are doing so without thought of compensation. They hack and experiment and build and present the results to the broader community. They are keeping their skills sharp and helping to advance the state of the art. State of the art isn't just faster, smaller, bigger. It's also easier, less expensive and more accessible.
I don't know that it would be possible to count the number of volunteer OS software developers. Because of the OS movement, there is a powerful operating system suitable for use by the educated consumer (almost ready to the uneducated, but not quite) and very suitable for server applications. There is a complete office software suite, many image design and manipulation applications and a host of others. That makes computing more accessible for anyone around the world that doesn't have the money to pay for commercial packages.
Open source hardware, while different in that physical parts still have to be purchased, is also contributing. It has created educational tools and has given products that can be the foundation of powerful embedded systems. This makes the benefits of advanced electronics more accessible to anyone without the means or funding to develop it on their own.
Opensource started as an individual engineer movement, but is now also gaining support from the corporate world. Companies like Texas Instruments, Adafruit, Sparkfun and DIY Drones all contribute to the open source movement while running their businesses.
So, Richard, I would say that your idea is very sound. And, I'd also say that it is already well underway.
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http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/poconoarmchairreview
12/20/2010 7:54 AM EST
Well underway, but also worth repeating.
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bcarso
12/14/2010 1:43 PM EST
There is an organization of which a dear couple's son, Dan Ramey, is a member, called Engineers Without Borders. They recently engineered and built a footbridge in Kenya that has helped the local villagers immensely. A google search will turn up the story, as of course I can't post a link here directly.
I would agree with the comments about the difficulty of supporting such efforts however. If you have been laid off these days, what is the likelihood that you can operate off of severance and savings at all, let alone fund the facilities and materials and so forth of some project? In the case of Engineers Without Borders, most of the folks have day jobs.
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bcarso
12/14/2010 1:55 PM EST
Also, although it can be a stretch for some activities---I'm reminded of a guy at TRW whose job was to test the rupture point of monkeys' eardrums, adjunct to determining similar parameters in humans, defense-related work of course---surely a lot of the "for-profit" engineering we all do is indeed benefiting many, including the poor and "down-trodden".
It is a prevalent assumption that determining the motivation of behavior is tantamount to establishing its moral value. But some of the most heinous acts have been done in the name of benevolence and "altruism".
Although my own ethical, metaphysical, and epistemological views have changed much over the years, I remind that Rand's advocacy of "selfishness", so often seized upon by those who did less than a close reading as prima facie evidence of her "fascist" tendencies and general badness, is only the bare suggestion of her ethics. The paramount idea is being guided by Reason. Now, that pregnant word means many things to many people of course.
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http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/poconoarmchairreview
3/27/2011 4:00 PM EDT
Concerning Rand, remember that, in her novel Atlas Shrugged, the character Ragnar Danneskjöld pirated relief ships, under the pretense of reason. According to Rand, charity would be against reason, because it supposedly supports parasites. However, since anyone of us is subject to misfortune at any time, a system that turns its back on the unfortunate is not only ignoble, but will motivate the still-capable to work to destroy that system from within. The reason is, that it is illogical to support a system that will eventually turn on you, once you become too ill or too weak to support yourself. That means, charity is reasonable, while lack of charity is not.
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bcarso
12/14/2010 7:11 PM EST
PS: sorry I missed the earlier mention of Engineers Without Borders by Frank.
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T in Az
3/27/2011 5:19 PM EDT
Unfortunately I have to agree with MLED, Engineering a solution to the problems of the world can be and are being done now, the problem is how do you stop corruption, greed, corporate domination, and lack of comprehension of what a better world is.
Rich,
Engineers do have the power of knowledge, but they do not have control of that power. If you engineered a solution to all of societies problems, you would end up in a (short) lifetime of mental hell from the all the forces that profit from the destruction of a better world.
Why can we not feed the hungry, heal the sick, house the homeless, and not pollute? It is not from a lack of tech.
Welcome to Mr. Toads wild ride
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http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/poconoarmchairreview
3/27/2011 7:25 PM EDT
I'd guess, though, that we can control our own ethics. I believe it is advantageous to our offspring for us to cultivate the noble side of our nature, and of our profession's nature.
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