Development of Computers
Ironically, computers weren't always useful to engineers. When computers first became widely available, the time it took to write a useful program, and the cost of the computer itself, made the effort uneconomical. Many engineers also believed that trusting a computer to perform a design function was risky. A small, insignificant mistake in a computer program could make an enormous difference in a final product. There was also the belief that as computers grew more powerful, they would put the engineers who programmed them out of work.
The track record over the past ten years or so has been quite different. As the level of programming experience grew, the programs got better and errors or difficulties were identified. The cost of computers has dropped dramatically. Engineers have found that computers can be a valuable tool to extend their areas of responsibility, so much so that certain types of design work, such as integrated circuits, cannot be performed without them. Today, the business of building computers specifically for engineers-a type of computer called the technical workstation-is a strong market.
Current Trends
The use of computers is having profound implications for many traditional engineering tasks. Many mechanical engineers, for example, must design a part or component that will be cut from metal or molded from plastic. In the past, this design was carried out by making drawings and then performing calculations on the various dimensions of the part. These calculations ensured that the part would hold up under use and that it would fulfill the purpose for which it was designed. When everything checked out, a final drawing was made (again, by hand), and the drawing was taken to the machinists who actually fabricated the part. Now, the design engineer draws the part on a computer screen, then loads a computer program that performs the checks automatically. If a prototype is needed, there are machines that combine computers and fabricators that can form a model from plastic. Finally, another program translates the dimensions into instructions for an automatic cutting or molding machine, and the part can go into production rapidly.
In factory construction an enormously complex set of pipes, girders, vessels, and machines are put in place. Plant design engineers can now put drawings of all the components on a computer screen and then run an "interference check" to make sure that pipes don't cross each other and that they always make the proper connections.
In microelectronic-chip design, some circuits are so complex that they can be planned out only on a computer. Many circuit engineers are experimenting with programs called "silicon compilers" that will automatically create a circuit based on general guidelines that the engineer chooses. The compiler will then arrange the components in a configuration that minimizes the amount of space necessary. All these computer programs are continually being improved, and the confidence level of the engineers who use them is rising.
In the early 1980s ABET made it a requirement for all engineering students to take at least one computer programming course. It would be wise to get additional training, especially through the use of computers in engineering courses. This is becoming easier as more schools acquire access to computing systems. There is no question that the computer will grow in importance in most aspects of engineering work in the future. Today students should prepare for it.
