DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

2.9
Engineers in the modern world face many challenges in continuously upgrading already existing technology.  A modern technological issue is the upgrading world of parking meters.  As anyone knows from experience that a parking space is hard to find, most likely any spot that can be found is meter parking.  The first thing that comes to mind is a pole in the ground next to the parking space which you insert quarters into.  Located behind the SAC or Union on campus, the new meters can be seen as well as how easy it is to now enter your space number and pay in one machine for the entire parking lot.  Take a short trip to Port Jefferson and you can observe these new machines working in an even broader range.  At any one of the machines in the town, it is possible to pay for and add time to any numbered parking space.
While this technology has made a big improvement over the last few years, there is still a lot that the public would like the see, as well as more of these new meters constructed in more areas.  There have currently been designs for meters which allow you to swipe your credit card after entering a space number. When time is almost up on the space, a message can appear on your phone alerting you.  You would then have the option to add time onto your parking space without leaving and returning to the parking lot.  A possible future design would be one which allows you to pay for the parking entirely on your phone using online banking through a separate app.  Although this could erase the need for traditional type parking meters, the idea is the same and if fulfills the same purpose.
Engineering is about making the lives of people easier.  Although parking may not seem like a necessarily large part of life, it is something on which we rely on a daily basis.  The constant upgrade of technology continues to facilitate daily life and allows for creative solutions to problems with existing technology, which could actually be the need to make it simpler or get rid of it completely.

 

 

 


http://unusualnewtechnology.blogspot.com/2007/09/future-of-parking-meters.html

 

2.43

In Aerospace, Materials, and Civil Engineering, a common focus would be in the materials used.  What type of material used in construction can make a difference and difference factors come into play, such as force exerted on the material, erosion, and expansion in heat.

A Mechanical, Agricultural, and Computer Engineer could work together in order to increase the efficiency of a rural community.  The efficiency of the machines could be increased, as well as having them modified and programmed for the specific crops grown in the area.  A program could show where the agricultural community could be more productive, as well as help to plan for the future and keep record of livestock.

The disposal of biological waste could be a concern for Biological and Environmental Engineers.  These areas of specialization might also study the balance in different systems and how adding a foreign substance or life force might improve or disrupt growth in this system.

Industrial, Chemical, and Electrical Engineers might collaborate in the production of circuit boards.  This production involves many areas, including the processes used, strategic placement or parts, and the overall wide scale manufacturing.  Further optimization of the overall production could continue to be researched to improve function.

A Biomedical and Nuclear Engineer might both be concerned with exposure to radioactivity.  In a hospital setting, many undergo tests and treatments which include some level of radiation.  A common concern would include determining to which extent this exposure will not further harm a patient.  Theses engineers might work together to further the advancements in imaging, such as with the invention of the MRI.

Agricultural and Aerospace Engineers are concerned with powering and keeping free from contamination.  Those in agriculture produce food, a source of fuel which people consume.  They also want to keep this free from possibly harmful chemicals which could be used either on the crops, or injected into the livestock.  In adventuring into space, determining how much fuel is needed for a flight is essential so as to arrive successfully at a destination while not carrying an extra load.  Physical concerns with onboard missions arise when they could be exposure to unknown particles in space, as well as physical limitations of humans in different pressured systems.

A common focus for Materials and Biomedical Engineers might be the use of materials which could be placed within or attached to the human body for fulfilling their intended purpose while not causing harm to the person. It is important for artificial limbs to not only move as intended, but also that they not harm the person in use of them, whether due to toxicity, lack of flexibility, or other means. 

Civil and Computer Engineers are both concerned with amounts of space.  A Civil Engineer can be limited by the amount of space available for construction, or by resource locations, such as the availability of running water for a turbine.  A Computer Engineer would be concerned with best operating system in the smallest size possible, which makes portability easier for consumers.  An example of this would be the ever shrinking size of mp3 players, yet they continue to be able to store more songs and videos.

 

These excercises helped me to further understand different branches in engineering and what each of them actually does.  It also made me think about what I actually want to do and if the major I am leaning towards right now is best for what I want to accomplish.

 

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.