Practical artists and craftsmen were the first to engineer. They relied on trial and error as their method of progressing. However, many of the ingenious inventions we take for granted were created by tinkering and inspiration. Engineers have made it possible for future generations to use the turn-of-the-century farm equipment that encouraged agricultural expansion, as well as electricity, elevators, and heating systems.
The word “engineer”Originated in the 11th century. It means “The”. Translated from Latin it means “ingenuous one.”Engineers of today are living up to that title, creating high-tech products in areas such as energy, medical diagnostics, and biotechnology.
Every day, technology advances further. Implantable, mechanically engineered, nanoglands are being developed at the Methodist Hospital Research Institute in Houston. They closely mimic the body’s healing processes and could lead to personalized treatment of many illnesses worldwide.
These technological advancements are what have made it possible to call the future “The Internet of Things.” “humanitarian engineering”This makes it possible to provide affordable technology for those less fortunate in the world. Engineering students at the University of Illinois provide adjustable prosthetic arms for people who don’t have access to healthcare. Dartmouth College students build wind turbines in remote areas of Tanzania.
ASME, IEEE and Engineers Without Borders USA launched Engineering for Change (E4C), a project that aims at building a community of engineers and technologists, social science, non-governmental organizations, community advocates, and social scientists who are passionately interested in improving quality of living. E4CE4C?www.engineeringforchange.org) seeks to enable this growing community to design, apply and share appropriate and sustainable technical solutions to achieve transformational results for humanitarian and global development challenges.
The right projects can make a huge impact. Simple latrine can help prevent diarrhea, which is the second leading cause of infant death. A system of irrigation could allow farmers to produce surplus crops that can be sold. A pedal-powered generator that charges cell phones can be used to allow villagers to monitor the price of their products before they go to market. Engineers make the world a better place, one project at once, in these and other ways.
