Electrical engineering: Difference between revisions
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Electrical engineering may include [[electronic engineering]]. Where a distinction is made, electrical engineering is considered to deal with the problems associated with large-scale electrical systems such as [[Electric power transmission|power transmission]] and [[motor controller|motor control]], whereas electronic engineering deals with the study of small-scale electronic systems including [[computers]] and [[integrated circuits]].<ref>{{cite web | title = What is the difference between electrical and electronic engineering? | work = FAQs - Studying Electrical Engineering | url = http://www.ieee.org/organizations/eab/faqs1.htm | accessdate = 4 February 2005 }}</ref> Alternatively, electrical engineers are usually concerned with using electricity to transmit [[electrical energy|energy]], while electronic engineers are concerned with using electricity to process information. More recently, the distinction has become blurred by the growth of [[power electronics]]. |
Electrical engineering may include [[electronic engineering]]. Where a distinction is made, electrical engineering is considered to deal with the problems associated with large-scale electrical systems such as [[Electric power transmission|power transmission]] and [[motor controller|motor control]], whereas electronic engineering deals with the study of small-scale electronic systems including [[computers]] and [[integrated circuits]].<ref>{{cite web | title = What is the difference between electrical and electronic engineering? | work = FAQs - Studying Electrical Engineering | url = http://www.ieee.org/organizations/eab/faqs1.htm | accessdate = 4 February 2005 }}</ref> Alternatively, electrical engineers are usually concerned with using electricity to transmit [[electrical energy|energy]], while electronic engineers are concerned with using electricity to process information. More recently, the distinction has become blurred by the growth of [[power electronics]]. |
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==History== |
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{{Main|History of electrical engineering}} |
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[[Image:Faraday Cochran Pickersgill.jpg|thumb|upright|The discoveries of [[Michael Faraday]] formed the foundation of electric motor technology.]] |
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[[Electricity]] has been a subject of scientific interest since at least the early 17th century. The first electrical engineer was probably [[William Gilbert (astronomer)|William Gilbert]] who designed the [[versorium]]: a device that detected the presence of statically charged objects. He was also the first to draw a clear distinction between magnetism and static electricity and is credited with establishing the term electricity.<ref>{{cite web | title = William Gilbert (1544–1603) | work = Pioneers in Electricity | url = http://www.magnet.fsu.edu/education/tutorials/pioneers/gilbert.html | accessdate = 13 May 2007 }}</ref> In 1775 [[Alessandro Volta]]'s scientific experimentations devised the [[electrophorus]], a device that produced a static electric charge, and by 1800 Volta developed the voltaic pile, a forerunner of the electric battery.<ref>Vaunt Design Group. (2005).[http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventors/volta.htm ''Inventor Alessandro Volta Biography.''] Troy MI: The Great Idea Finder. Accessed 21 March 2008.</ref> |
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However, it was not until the 19th century that research into the subject started to intensify. Notable developments in this century include the work of [[Georg Ohm]], who in 1827 quantified the relationship between the [[electric current]] and [[potential difference]] in a [[Electrical conductor|conductor]], [[Michael Faraday]], the discoverer of [[electromagnetic induction]] in 1831, and [[James Clerk Maxwell]], who in 1873 published a unified [[Maxwell's equations|theory]] of electricity and [[magnetism]] in his treatise ''Electricity and Magnetism''.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia| ency = Encyclopædia Britannica | edition = 11 | year = 1911 | article = "Ohm, Georg Simon", "Faraday, Michael" and "Maxwell, James Clerk"}}</ref> |
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From the 1830s, efforts were made to apply electricity to practical use in [[electrical telegraph|telegraphy]]. By the end of the 19th century the world had been forever changed by the rapid communication made possible by engineering development of land-line, [[Submarine communications cable|underwater]] and, eventually, wireless telegraphy. The urgent need for standardized units of measure in telegraphy work spurred the international standardization of the units [[ohm]], [[volt]], [[ampere]], [[coulomb]] and [[watt]]. Theoretical analysis of practical electrical problems, for example in describing the behavior of submarine cables, lead to development of [[Maxwell's equations]]. |
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[[Image:Thomas Edison, 1878.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Thomas Edison]] built the world's first large-scale electrical supply network.]] |
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During these years, the study of electricity was largely considered to be a subfield of [[physics]]. It was not until the late 19th century that [[university|universities]] started to offer [[academic degree|degrees]] in electrical engineering. The [[Darmstadt University of Technology]] founded the first chair and the first faculty of electrical engineering worldwide in 1882. In the same year, under Professor Charles Cross, the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] began offering the first option of Electrical Engineering within a physics department.<ref>{{cite book | author = Weber, Ernst | coauthors= [[Frederik Nebeker]] | title = The Evolution of Electrical Engineering: A Personal Perspective | publisher = IEEE Press | year = 1994 | isbn = 0-7803-1066-7 }}</ref> In 1883 [[Darmstadt University of Technology]] and [[Cornell University]] introduced the world's first courses of study in electrical engineering, and in 1885 the [[University College London]] founded the first chair of electrical engineering in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web | title = Welcome to ECE! | work = Cornell University - School of Electrical and Computer Engineering | url = http://www.ece.cornell.edu | accessdate = 29 December 2005 }}</ref> The [[University of Missouri]] subsequently established the first department of electrical engineering in the United States in 1886.<ref>{{cite book | author = Ryder, John | coauthors= [[Donald G. Fink]] | title = Engineers and Electrons | publisher = IEEE Press | year = 1984 | isbn = 0-87942-172-X }}</ref> |
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[[Image:N.Tesla.JPG|right|upright|thumb|[[Nikola Tesla]] made long-distance electrical transmission networks possible.]] |
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During this period, the work concerning electrical engineering increased dramatically. In 1882, [[Thomas Edison|Edison]] switched on the world's first large-scale electrical supply network that provided 110 volts [[direct current]] to fifty-nine customers in lower Manhattan. In 1884 [[Charles Algernon Parsons|Sir Charles Parsons]] invented the [[steam turbine]] which today generates about 80 percent of the [[electric power]] in the world using a variety of heat sources. In 1887, [[Nikola Tesla]] filed a number of patents related to a competing form of power distribution known as [[alternating current]]. In the following years a bitter rivalry between Tesla and Edison, known as the "[[War of Currents]]", took place over the preferred method of distribution. AC eventually replaced DC for generation and power distribution, enormously extending the range and improving the safety and efficiency of power distribution. |
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The efforts of the two did much to further electrical engineering—Tesla's work on [[induction motor]]s and [[polyphase system]]s influenced the field for years to come, while Edison's work on telegraphy and his development of the [[stock ticker]] proved lucrative for his company, which ultimately became [[General Electric]]. However, by the end of the 19th century, other key figures in the progress of electrical engineering were beginning to emerge.<ref>{{cite web | title = History | work = National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) | url = http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=500&itemID=18020&URL=About%20Us/History | accessdate = 19 January 2006 }} ''(published 1996 in the NFPA Journal)''</ref> |
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===Modern developments=== |
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During the [[invention of radio|development of radio]], many scientists and [[inventor]]s contributed to [[radio|radio technology]] and electronics. In his classic [[Ultra high frequency|UHF]] experiments of 1888, [[Heinrich Hertz]] transmitted (via a [[spark-gap transmitter]]) and detected [[radio waves]] using electrical equipment. In 1895, Nikola Tesla was able to detect signals from the transmissions of his New York lab at West Point (a distance of 80.4 km / 49.95 miles).<ref>Leland Anderson, "''Nikola Tesla On His Work With Alternating Currents and Their Application to Wireless Telegraphy, Telephony, and Transmission of Power''", Sun Publishing Company, LC 92-60482, ISBN 0-9632652-0-2 (''ed''. [http://www.tfcbooks.com/tesla/nt_on_ac.htm excerpts available online])</ref> In 1897, [[Karl Ferdinand Braun]] introduced the [[cathode ray tube]] as part of an [[oscilloscope]], a crucial enabling technology for [[television|electronic television]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Karl Ferdinand Braun | url = http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1909/braun-bio.html | accessdate = 10 September 2006 }}</ref> [[John Ambrose Fleming|John Fleming]] invented the first radio tube, the [[diode]], in 1904. Two years later, [[Robert von Lieben]] and [[Lee De Forest]] independently developed the amplifier tube, called the [[triode]].<ref>{{cite web | title = History of Amateur Radio | work = What is Amateur Radio? | url = http://www.amateurradio.uni-halle.de/hamradio.en.html | accessdate = 18 January 2006 }}</ref> |
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In 1895, [[Guglielmo Marconi]] furthered the art of hertzian wireless methods. Early on, he sent wireless signals over a distance of one and a half miles. In December 1901, he sent wireless waves that were not affected by the curvature of the Earth. Marconi later transmitted the wireless signals across the Atlantic between Poldhu, Cornwall, and St. John's, Newfoundland, a distance of {{convert|2100|mi|km}}.<ref>[http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1909/marconi-bio.html Marconi's biography at Nobelprize.org] retrieved 21 June 2008.</ref> |
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In 1920 [[Albert Hull]] developed the [[Cavity magnetron|magnetron]] which would eventually lead to the development of the [[microwave oven]] in 1946 by [[Percy Spencer]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Albert W. Hull (1880–1966) | work = IEEE History Center | url = http://www.ieee.org/organizations/history_center/legacies/hull.html | accessdate = 22 January 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Who Invented Microwaves? | url = http://www.gallawa.com/microtech/history.html | accessdate = 22 January 2006 }}</ref> In 1934 the British military began to make strides toward [[radar]] (which also uses the magnetron) under the direction of Dr Wimperis, culminating in the operation of the first radar station at [[Bawdsey]] in August 1936.<ref>{{cite web | title = Early Radar History | work = Peneley Radar Archives | url = http://www.penleyradararchives.org.uk/history/introduction.htm | accessdate = 22 January 2006 }}</ref> |
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[[Image:Kilby solid circuit.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Jack Kilby]]'s original [[integrated circuit]]]] |
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In 1941 [[Konrad Zuse]] presented the [[Z3 (computer)|Z3]], the world's first fully functional and programmable computer.<ref>{{cite web | title = The Z3 | url = http://irb.cs.tu-berlin.de/~zuse/Konrad_Zuse/en/Rechner_Z3.html | accessdate = 18 January 2006 }}</ref> In 1946 the [[ENIAC]] (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) of [[John Presper Eckert]] and [[John Mauchly]] followed, beginning the computing era. The arithmetic performance of these machines allowed engineers to develop completely new technologies and achieve new objectives, including the [[Apollo program|Apollo missions]] and the [[moon landing|NASA moon landing]].<ref>{{cite web | title = The ENIAC Museum Online | url = http://www.seas.upenn.edu/~museum/guys.html | accessdate = 18 January 2006 }}</ref> |
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The invention of the [[transistor]] in 1947 by [[William B. Shockley]], [[John Bardeen]] and [[Walter Brattain]] opened the door for more compact devices and led to the development of the [[integrated circuit]] in 1958 by [[Jack Kilby]] and independently in 1959 by [[Robert Noyce]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Electronics Timeline | work = Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century | url = http://www.greatachievements.org/?id=3956 | accessdate = 18 January 2006 }}</ref> Starting in 1968, [[Marcian Hoff|Ted Hoff]] and a team at [[Intel]] invented the first commercial [[microprocessor]], which presaged the [[personal computer]]. The [[Intel 4004]] was a 4-bit processor released in 1971, but in 1973 the [[Intel 8080]], an 8-bit processor, made the first personal computer, the [[Altair 8800]], possible.<ref>{{cite web | title = Computing History (1971–1975) | url = http://mbinfo.mbdesign.net/1971-75.htm | accessdate = 18 January 2006 }}</ref> |
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==Education== |
==Education== |
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The [[Office|workplaces]] of electrical engineers are just as varied as the types of work they do. Electrical engineers may be found in the pristine lab environment of a [[fabrication plant]], the offices of a [[consulting firm]] or on site at a [[mining|mine]]. During their working life, electrical engineers may find themselves supervising a wide range of individuals including [[scientist]]s, [[electrician]]s, [[computer programmers]] and other engineers. |
The [[Office|workplaces]] of electrical engineers are just as varied as the types of work they do. Electrical engineers may be found in the pristine lab environment of a [[fabrication plant]], the offices of a [[consulting firm]] or on site at a [[mining|mine]]. During their working life, electrical engineers may find themselves supervising a wide range of individuals including [[scientist]]s, [[electrician]]s, [[computer programmers]] and other engineers. |
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==Sub-disciplines== |
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Electrical engineering has many sub-disciplines, the most popular of which are listed below. Although there are electrical engineers who focus exclusively on one of these sub-disciplines, many deal with a combination of them. Sometimes certain fields, such as electronic engineering and computer engineering, are considered separate disciplines in their own right. |
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===Power=== |
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{{Main|Power engineering}} |
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[[Image:Power pole.jpg|thumb|[[Utility pole|Power pole]]]] |
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[[Power engineering]] deals with the [[electricity generation|generation]], [[electric power transmission|transmission]] and [[electricity distribution|distribution]] of [[electricity]] as well as the design of a range of related devices. These include [[transformer]]s, [[electric generator]]s, [[electric motor]]s, high voltage engineering and [[power electronics]]. In many regions of the world, governments maintain an electrical network called a [[power grid]] that connects a variety of generators together with users of their energy. Users purchase electrical energy from the grid, avoiding the costly exercise of having to generate their own. Power engineers may work on the design and maintenance of the power grid as well as the power systems that connect to it. Such systems are called ''on-grid'' power systems and may supply the grid with additional power, draw power from the grid or do both. Power engineers may also work on systems that do not connect to the grid, called ''off-grid'' power systems, which in some cases are preferable to on-grid systems. The future includes Satellite controlled power systems, with feedback in real time to prevent power surges and prevent blackouts. |
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===Control=== |
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{{Main|Control engineering}} |
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{{See|Railway signalling}} |
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[[Image:Space Shuttle Columbia launching.jpg|thumb|[[Control systems]] play a critical role in [[space flight]].]] |
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[[Control engineering]] focuses on the [[mathematical model|modeling]] of a diverse range of [[dynamic system]]s and the design of [[controller (control theory)|controllers]] that will cause these systems to behave in the desired manner. To implement such controllers electrical engineers may use [[Electronic circuit|electrical circuits]], [[digital signal processing|digital signal processors]], [[microcontroller]]s and [[Programmable logic controller|PLCs]] (Programmable Logic Controllers). [[Control engineering]] has a wide range of applications from the flight and propulsion systems of [[Airliner|commercial airliners]] to the [[cruise control]] present in many modern [[automobile]]s. It also plays an important role in [[industrial automation]]. |
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Control engineers often utilize [[feedback]] when designing [[control system]]s. For example, in an [[automobile]] with [[cruise control]] the vehicle's [[speed]] is continuously monitored and fed back to the system which adjusts the [[Internal combustion engine|motor's]] [[Power (physics)|power]] [[output]] accordingly. Where there is regular feedback, [[control theory]] can be used to determine how the system responds to such feedback. |
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===Electronics=== |
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{{Main|Electronic engineering}} |
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[[File:Componentes.JPG|thumb|right|[[Electronic components]]]] |
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[[Electronic engineering]] involves the design and testing of [[electronic circuit]]s that use the properties of [[electrical element|components]] such as [[resistor]]s, [[capacitor]]s, [[inductor]]s, [[diode]]s and [[transistor]]s to achieve a particular functionality. The [[tuned circuit]], which allows the user of a [[radio]] to [[electronic filter|filter]] out all but a single station, is just one example of such a circuit. Another example (of a pneumatic signal conditioner) is shown in the adjacent photograph. |
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Prior to the second world war, the subject was commonly known as ''radio engineering'' and basically was restricted to aspects of communications and [[radar]], [[radio|commercial radio]] and [[television|early television]]. Later, in post war years, as consumer devices began to be developed, the field grew to include modern television, audio systems, [[computer]]s and [[microprocessors]]. In the mid-to-late 1950s, the term ''radio engineering'' gradually gave way to the name ''electronic engineering''. |
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Before the invention of the [[integrated circuit]] in 1959, electronic circuits were constructed from discrete components that could be manipulated by humans. These discrete circuits consumed much space and [[electric power|power]] and were limited in speed, although they are still common in some applications. By contrast, [[integrated circuit]]s packed a large number—often millions—of tiny electrical components, mainly [[transistor]]s, into a small chip around the size of a [[coin]]. This allowed for the powerful [[computer]]s and other electronic devices we see today. |
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===Microelectronics=== |
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{{Main|Microelectronics}} |
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[[Image:80486dx2-large.jpg|thumb|[[Microprocessor]]]] |
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[[Microelectronics]] engineering deals with the design and [[microfabrication]] of very small electronic circuit components for use in an [[integrated circuit]] or sometimes for use on their own as a general electronic component. The most common microelectronic components are [[semiconductor]] [[transistors]], although all main electronic components ([[resistors]], [[capacitors]], [[inductors]]) can be created at a microscopic level. [[Nanoelectronics]] is the further [[Moore's Law|scaling]] of devices down to [[nanometer]] levels. |
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Microelectronic components are created by chemically fabricating wafers of semiconductors such as silicon (at higher frequencies, [[compound semiconductor]]s like gallium arsenide and indium phosphide) to obtain the desired transport of electronic charge and control of current. The field of microelectronics involves a significant amount of chemistry and material science and requires the electronic engineer working in the field to have a very good working knowledge of the effects of [[quantum mechanics]]. |
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===Signal processing=== |
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{{Main|Signal processing}} |
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[[Image:Bayer pattern on sensor.svg|thumb|A [[Bayer filter]] on a [[Charge-coupled device|CCD]] requires signal processing to get a red, green, and blue value at each pixel.]] |
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[[Signal processing]] deals with the analysis and manipulation of [[signal (information theory)|signals]]. Signals can be either [[analog signal|analog]], in which case the signal varies continuously according to the information, or [[digital signal|digital]], in which case the signal varies according to a series of discrete values representing the information. For analog signals, signal processing may involve the [[amplifier|amplification]] and [[Filter (signal processing)|filtering]] of audio signals for audio equipment or the [[modulation]] and [[demodulation]] of signals for [[telecommunication]]s. For digital signals, signal processing may involve the [[Data compression|compression]], [[error detection]] and [[error correction]] of digitally sampled signals. |
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Signal Processing is a very mathematically oriented and intensive area forming the core of [[digital signal processing]] and it is rapidly expanding with new applications in every field of electrical engineering such as communications, control, radar, TV/Audio/Video engineering, power electronics and bio-medical engineering as many already existing analog systems are replaced with their digital counterparts. |
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Although in the classical era, [[analog signal processing]] only provided a mathematical description of a system to be designed, which is actually implemented by the [[analog hardware]] engineers, Digital Signal Processing both provides a mathematical description of the systems to be designed and also actually implements them (either by software programming or by hardware embedding) without much dependency on hardware issues, which exponentiates the importance and success of DSP engineering. |
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The deep and strong relations between signals and the information they carry makes signal processing equivalent of information processing. Which is the reason why the field finds so many diversified applications. DSP processor ICs are found in every type of modern electronic systems and products including, [[SDTV]] | [[HDTV]] sets, radios and mobile communication devices, [[Hi-Fi]] audio equipments, [[Dolby]] [[noise reduction]] algorithms, [[GSM]] mobile phones, [[mp3]] multimedia players, camcorders and digital cameras, automobile control systems, [[noise cancelling]] headphones, digital [[spectrum analyzer]]s, intelligent missile guidance, [[radar]], [[GPS]] based cruise control systems and all kinds of [[image processing]], [[video processing]], [[audio processing]] and [[speech processing]] systems. |
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===Telecommunications=== |
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{{Main|Telecommunications engineering}} |
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[[Image:Erdfunkstelle Raisting 2a.jpg|thumb|[[Satellite dish]]es are a crucial component in the analysis of satellite information.]] |
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[[Telecommunications|Telecommunications engineering]] focuses on the [[transmission (telecommunications)|transmission]] of [[information]] across a [[channel (communications)|channel]] such as a [[coax cable]], [[optical fiber]] or [[free space optical communications|free space]]. Transmissions across free space require information to be encoded in a [[carrier wave]] in order to shift the information to a carrier frequency suitable for transmission, this is known as [[modulation]]. Popular analog modulation techniques include [[amplitude modulation]] and [[frequency modulation]]. The choice of modulation affects the cost and performance of a system and these two factors must be balanced carefully by the engineer. |
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Once the transmission characteristics of a system are determined, telecommunication engineers design the [[transmitter]]s and [[receiver (radio)|receivers]] needed for such systems. These two are sometimes combined to form a two-way communication device known as a [[transceiver]]. A key consideration in the design of transmitters is their [[power consumption]] as this is closely related to their [[signal strength]]. If the signal strength of a transmitter is insufficient the signal's information will be corrupted by [[signal noise|noise]]. |
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===Instrumentation=== |
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{{Main|Instrumentation engineering}} |
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[[Image:F-18E cockpit m02006112600499.jpg|thumb|[[Flight instruments]] provide pilots the tools to control aircraft analytically.]] |
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[[Instrumentation engineering]] deals with the design of devices to measure physical quantities such as [[pressure]], [[Volumetric flow rate|flow]] and [[temperature]]. The design of such instrumentation requires a good understanding of [[physics]] that often extends beyond [[electromagnetism|electromagnetic theory]]. For example, [[flight instruments]] measure variables such as [[wind speed]] and [[altitude]] to enable pilots the control of aircraft analytically. Similarly, [[thermocouple]]s use the [[Peltier-Seebeck effect]] to measure the temperature difference between two points. |
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Often instrumentation is not used by itself, but instead as the [[sensor]]s of larger electrical systems. For example, a thermocouple might be used to help ensure a furnace's temperature remains constant. For this reason, instrumentation engineering is often viewed as the counterpart of control engineering. |
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===Computers=== |
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{{Main|Computer engineering}} |
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[[Image:MEGWARE.CLIC.jpg|thumb|[[Supercomputer]]s are used in fields as diverse as [[computational biology]] and [[geographic information systems]].]] |
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[[Computer engineering]] deals with the design of [[computer]]s and [[computer system]]s. This may involve the design of new [[hardware]], the design of [[personal digital assistant|PDAs]] and [[supercomputers]] or the use of computers to control an [[manufacturing|industrial plant]]. Computer engineers may also work on a system's [[software]]. However, the design of complex software systems is often the domain of [[software engineering]], which is usually considered a separate discipline. [[Desktop computer]]s represent a tiny fraction of the devices a computer engineer might work on, as computer-like architectures are now found in a range of devices including [[video game console]]s and [[DVD player]]s. |
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==Related disciplines== |
==Related disciplines== |
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[[Biomedical engineering]] is another related discipline, concerned with the design of [[medical equipment]]. This includes fixed equipment such as [[ventilator]]s, [[MRI|MRI scanners]] and [[electrocardiograph|electrocardiograph monitors]] as well as mobile equipment such as [[cochlear implant]]s, [[artificial pacemaker]]s and [[artificial heart]]s. |
[[Biomedical engineering]] is another related discipline, concerned with the design of [[medical equipment]]. This includes fixed equipment such as [[ventilator]]s, [[MRI|MRI scanners]] and [[electrocardiograph|electrocardiograph monitors]] as well as mobile equipment such as [[cochlear implant]]s, [[artificial pacemaker]]s and [[artificial heart]]s. |
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==See also== |
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{{Portal|Electronics|Engineering}} |
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{{multicol}} |
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*[[Analog signal processing]] |
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*[[Computer engineering]] |
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*[[Electronic design automation]] |
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*[[Electronic engineering]] |
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*[[Electrical Technologist]] |
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*[[IEEE]] |
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*[[Institution of Engineering and Technology]] (IET) |
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*[[International Electrotechnical Commission]] (IEC) |
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*[[List of electrical engineering topics (alphabetical)|List of electrical engineering topics]] (alphabetical) |
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{{multicol-break}} |
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*[[List of electrical engineering topics]] (thematic) |
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*[[List of electrical engineers]] |
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*[[List of Russian electrical engineers]] |
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*[[Occupations in Electrical/Electronics Engineering]] |
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* [[Railway electrification system]] |
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**[[Third rail]] |
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**[[Overhead lines|Overhead contact system]] |
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*[[Timeline of electrical and electronic engineering]] |
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{{multicol-end}} |
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==Note== |
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<cite id="demographics">[[#demographics back|Note I]]</cite> - There were around 300,000 people ({{As of|2006|lc=on}}) working as electrical engineers in the US; in Australia, there were around 17,000 ({{As of|2008|lc=on}}) and in Canada, there were around 37,000 ({{As of|2007|lc=on}}), constituting about 0.2% of the labour force in each of the three countries. Australia and Canada reported that 96% and 88% of their electrical engineers respectively are male.<ref>{{cite web|title=Electrical Engineers | publisher=[[Bureau of Labor Statistics]] | url=http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm | accessdate=13 March 2009}} See also: {{cite web | title=Work Experience of the Population in 2006 | publisher=[[Bureau of Labor Statistics]] | url=http://www.bls.gov/news.release/History/work_12192007.txt | accessdate=20 June 2008 }} and {{cite web | title = Electrical and Electronics Engineers | work = Australian Careers | url = http://joboutlook.gov.au/Pages/occupation.aspx?search=alpha&tab=prospects&cluster=&code=2333| accessdate =13 March 2009}} and {{cite web | title = Electrical and Electronics Engineers|publisher =Canadian jobs service| url = http://www.jobfutures.ca/noc/2133p1.shtml| accessdate = 13 March 2009}}</ref> |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist|2}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
Revision as of 14:12, 10 January 2012
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/High-voltage_circuit-breaker%2C_white_insulators.jpg/220px-High-voltage_circuit-breaker%2C_white_insulators.jpg)
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical power supply. It now covers a range of subtopics including power, electronics, control systems, signal processing and telecommunications.
Electrical engineering may include electronic engineering. Where a distinction is made, electrical engineering is considered to deal with the problems associated with large-scale electrical systems such as power transmission and motor control, whereas electronic engineering deals with the study of small-scale electronic systems including computers and integrated circuits.[1] Alternatively, electrical engineers are usually concerned with using electricity to transmit energy, while electronic engineers are concerned with using electricity to process information. More recently, the distinction has become blurred by the growth of power electronics.
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Faraday_Cochran_Pickersgill.jpg/170px-Faraday_Cochran_Pickersgill.jpg)
Electricity has been a subject of scientific interest since at least the early 17th century. The first electrical engineer was probably William Gilbert who designed the versorium: a device that detected the presence of statically charged objects. He was also the first to draw a clear distinction between magnetism and static electricity and is credited with establishing the term electricity.[2] In 1775 Alessandro Volta's scientific experimentations devised the electrophorus, a device that produced a static electric charge, and by 1800 Volta developed the voltaic pile, a forerunner of the electric battery.[3]
However, it was not until the 19th century that research into the subject started to intensify. Notable developments in this century include the work of Georg Ohm, who in 1827 quantified the relationship between the electric current and potential difference in a conductor, Michael Faraday, the discoverer of electromagnetic induction in 1831, and James Clerk Maxwell, who in 1873 published a unified theory of electricity and magnetism in his treatise Electricity and Magnetism.[4]
From the 1830s, efforts were made to apply electricity to practical use in telegraphy. By the end of the 19th century the world had been forever changed by the rapid communication made possible by engineering development of land-line, underwater and, eventually, wireless telegraphy. The urgent need for standardized units of measure in telegraphy work spurred the international standardization of the units ohm, volt, ampere, coulomb and watt. Theoretical analysis of practical electrical problems, for example in describing the behavior of submarine cables, lead to development of Maxwell's equations.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Thomas_Edison%2C_1878.jpg/170px-Thomas_Edison%2C_1878.jpg)
During these years, the study of electricity was largely considered to be a subfield of physics. It was not until the late 19th century that universities started to offer degrees in electrical engineering. The Darmstadt University of Technology founded the first chair and the first faculty of electrical engineering worldwide in 1882. In the same year, under Professor Charles Cross, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology began offering the first option of Electrical Engineering within a physics department.[5] In 1883 Darmstadt University of Technology and Cornell University introduced the world's first courses of study in electrical engineering, and in 1885 the University College London founded the first chair of electrical engineering in the United Kingdom.[6] The University of Missouri subsequently established the first department of electrical engineering in the United States in 1886.[7]
During this period, the work concerning electrical engineering increased dramatically. In 1882, Edison switched on the world's first large-scale electrical supply network that provided 110 volts direct current to fifty-nine customers in lower Manhattan. In 1884 Sir Charles Parsons invented the steam turbine which today generates about 80 percent of the electric power in the world using a variety of heat sources. In 1887, Nikola Tesla filed a number of patents related to a competing form of power distribution known as alternating current. In the following years a bitter rivalry between Tesla and Edison, known as the "War of Currents", took place over the preferred method of distribution. AC eventually replaced DC for generation and power distribution, enormously extending the range and improving the safety and efficiency of power distribution.
The efforts of the two did much to further electrical engineering—Tesla's work on induction motors and polyphase systems influenced the field for years to come, while Edison's work on telegraphy and his development of the stock ticker proved lucrative for his company, which ultimately became General Electric. However, by the end of the 19th century, other key figures in the progress of electrical engineering were beginning to emerge.[8]
Modern developments
During the development of radio, many scientists and inventors contributed to radio technology and electronics. In his classic UHF experiments of 1888, Heinrich Hertz transmitted (via a spark-gap transmitter) and detected radio waves using electrical equipment. In 1895, Nikola Tesla was able to detect signals from the transmissions of his New York lab at West Point (a distance of 80.4 km / 49.95 miles).[9] In 1897, Karl Ferdinand Braun introduced the cathode ray tube as part of an oscilloscope, a crucial enabling technology for electronic television.[10] John Fleming invented the first radio tube, the diode, in 1904. Two years later, Robert von Lieben and Lee De Forest independently developed the amplifier tube, called the triode.[11] In 1895, Guglielmo Marconi furthered the art of hertzian wireless methods. Early on, he sent wireless signals over a distance of one and a half miles. In December 1901, he sent wireless waves that were not affected by the curvature of the Earth. Marconi later transmitted the wireless signals across the Atlantic between Poldhu, Cornwall, and St. John's, Newfoundland, a distance of 2,100 miles (3,400 km).[12] In 1920 Albert Hull developed the magnetron which would eventually lead to the development of the microwave oven in 1946 by Percy Spencer.[13][14] In 1934 the British military began to make strides toward radar (which also uses the magnetron) under the direction of Dr Wimperis, culminating in the operation of the first radar station at Bawdsey in August 1936.[15]
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In 1941 Konrad Zuse presented the Z3, the world's first fully functional and programmable computer.[16] In 1946 the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) of John Presper Eckert and John Mauchly followed, beginning the computing era. The arithmetic performance of these machines allowed engineers to develop completely new technologies and achieve new objectives, including the Apollo missions and the NASA moon landing.[17]
The invention of the transistor in 1947 by William B. Shockley, John Bardeen and Walter Brattain opened the door for more compact devices and led to the development of the integrated circuit in 1958 by Jack Kilby and independently in 1959 by Robert Noyce.[18] Starting in 1968, Ted Hoff and a team at Intel invented the first commercial microprocessor, which presaged the personal computer. The Intel 4004 was a 4-bit processor released in 1971, but in 1973 the Intel 8080, an 8-bit processor, made the first personal computer, the Altair 8800, possible.[19]
Education
Electrical engineers typically possess an academic degree with a major in electrical engineering. The length of study for such a degree is usually four or five years and the completed degree may be designated as a Bachelor of Engineering, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Technology or Bachelor of Applied Science depending upon the university. The degree generally includes units covering physics, mathematics, computer science, project management and specific topics in electrical engineering. Initially such topics cover most, if not all, of the sub-disciplines of electrical engineering. Students then choose to specialize in one or more sub-disciplines towards the end of the degree. In many institutions electronic engineering is included as part of an electrical award, sometimes explicitly (such as a [Bachelor of Engineering] (Electrical and Electronic), in others electrical and electronic engineering are considered sufficiently broad and complex to be considered separately.[20]
Some electrical engineers choose to pursue a postgraduate degree such as a Master of Engineering/Master of Science (M.Eng./M.Sc.), a Master of Engineering Management, a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Engineering, an Engineering Doctorate (Eng.D.), or an Engineer's degree. The Master and Engineer's degree may consist of either research, coursework or a mixture of the two. The Doctor of Philosophy and Engineering Doctorate degrees consist of a significant research component and are often viewed as the entry point to academia. In the United Kingdom and various other European countries, the Master of Engineering is often considered an undergraduate degree of slightly longer duration than the Bachelor of Engineering.[21]
Practicing engineers
In most countries, a Bachelor's degree in engineering represents the first step towards professional certification and the degree program itself is certified by a professional body. After completing a certified degree program the engineer must satisfy a range of requirements (including work experience requirements) before being certified. Once certified the engineer is designated the title of Professional Engineer (in the United States, Canada and South Africa ), Chartered Engineer or Incorporated Engineer (in India, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Zimbabwe), Chartered Professional Engineer (in Australia and New Zealand) or European Engineer (in much of the European Union).
The advantages of certification vary depending upon location. For example, in the United States and Canada "only a licensed engineer may seal engineering work for public and private clients".[22] This requirement is enforced by state and provincial legislation such as Quebec's Engineers Act.[23] In other countries, no such legislation exists. Practically all certifying bodies maintain a code of ethics that they expect all members to abide by or risk expulsion.[24] In this way these organizations play an important role in maintaining ethical standards for the profession. Even in jurisdictions where certification has little or no legal bearing on work, engineers are subject to contract law. In cases where an engineer's work fails he or she may be subject to the tort of negligence and, in extreme cases, the charge of criminal negligence. An engineer's work must also comply with numerous other rules and regulations such as building codes and legislation pertaining to environmental law.
Professional bodies of note for electrical engineers include the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). The IEEE claims to produce 30% of the world's literature in electrical engineering, has over 360,000 members worldwide and holds over 3,000 conferences annually.[25] The IET publishes 21 journals, has a worldwide membership of over 150,000, and claims to be the largest professional engineering society in Europe.[26][27] Obsolescence of technical skills is a serious concern for electrical engineers. Membership and participation in technical societies, regular reviews of periodicals in the field and a habit of continued learning are therefore essential to maintaining proficiency.MIET(Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology is recognised in Europe as Electrical and computer (technology) engineer [28]
In Australia, Canada and the United States electrical engineers make up around 0.25% of the labor force (see note). Outside of Europe and North America, engineering graduates per-capita, and hence probably electrical engineering graduates also, are most numerous in Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea.[29]
Tools and work
From the Global Positioning System to electric power generation, electrical engineers have contributed to the development of a wide range of technologies. They design, develop, test and supervise the deployment of electrical systems and electronic devices. For example, they may work on the design of telecommunication systems, the operation of electric power stations, the lighting and wiring of buildings, the design of household appliances or the electrical control of industrial machinery.[30]
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Fundamental to the discipline are the sciences of physics and mathematics as these help to obtain both a qualitative and quantitative description of how such systems will work. Today most engineering work involves the use of computers and it is commonplace to use computer-aided design programs when designing electrical systems. Nevertheless, the ability to sketch ideas is still invaluable for quickly communicating with others.
Although most electrical engineers will understand basic circuit theory (that is the interactions of elements such as resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors and inductors in a circuit), the theories employed by engineers generally depend upon the work they do. For example, quantum mechanics and solid state physics might be relevant to an engineer working on VLSI (the design of integrated circuits), but are largely irrelevant to engineers working with macroscopic electrical systems. Even circuit theory may not be relevant to a person designing telecommunication systems that use off-the-shelf components. Perhaps the most important technical skills for electrical engineers are reflected in university programs, which emphasize strong numerical skills, computer literacy and the ability to understand the technical language and concepts that relate to electrical engineering.
For many engineers, technical work accounts for only a fraction of the work they do. A lot of time may also be spent on tasks such as discussing proposals with clients, preparing budgets and determining project schedules.[31] Many senior engineers manage a team of technicians or other engineers and for this reason project management skills are important. Most engineering projects involve some form of documentation and strong written communication skills are therefore very important.
The workplaces of electrical engineers are just as varied as the types of work they do. Electrical engineers may be found in the pristine lab environment of a fabrication plant, the offices of a consulting firm or on site at a mine. During their working life, electrical engineers may find themselves supervising a wide range of individuals including scientists, electricians, computer programmers and other engineers.
Sub-disciplines
Electrical engineering has many sub-disciplines, the most popular of which are listed below. Although there are electrical engineers who focus exclusively on one of these sub-disciplines, many deal with a combination of them. Sometimes certain fields, such as electronic engineering and computer engineering, are considered separate disciplines in their own right.
Power
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Power_pole.jpg/220px-Power_pole.jpg)
Power engineering deals with the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity as well as the design of a range of related devices. These include transformers, electric generators, electric motors, high voltage engineering and power electronics. In many regions of the world, governments maintain an electrical network called a power grid that connects a variety of generators together with users of their energy. Users purchase electrical energy from the grid, avoiding the costly exercise of having to generate their own. Power engineers may work on the design and maintenance of the power grid as well as the power systems that connect to it. Such systems are called on-grid power systems and may supply the grid with additional power, draw power from the grid or do both. Power engineers may also work on systems that do not connect to the grid, called off-grid power systems, which in some cases are preferable to on-grid systems. The future includes Satellite controlled power systems, with feedback in real time to prevent power surges and prevent blackouts.
Control
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Control engineering focuses on the modeling of a diverse range of dynamic systems and the design of controllers that will cause these systems to behave in the desired manner. To implement such controllers electrical engineers may use electrical circuits, digital signal processors, microcontrollers and PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers). Control engineering has a wide range of applications from the flight and propulsion systems of commercial airliners to the cruise control present in many modern automobiles. It also plays an important role in industrial automation.
Control engineers often utilize feedback when designing control systems. For example, in an automobile with cruise control the vehicle's speed is continuously monitored and fed back to the system which adjusts the motor's power output accordingly. Where there is regular feedback, control theory can be used to determine how the system responds to such feedback.
Electronics
Electronic engineering involves the design and testing of electronic circuits that use the properties of components such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes and transistors to achieve a particular functionality. The tuned circuit, which allows the user of a radio to filter out all but a single station, is just one example of such a circuit. Another example (of a pneumatic signal conditioner) is shown in the adjacent photograph.
Prior to the second world war, the subject was commonly known as radio engineering and basically was restricted to aspects of communications and radar, commercial radio and early television. Later, in post war years, as consumer devices began to be developed, the field grew to include modern television, audio systems, computers and microprocessors. In the mid-to-late 1950s, the term radio engineering gradually gave way to the name electronic engineering.
Before the invention of the integrated circuit in 1959, electronic circuits were constructed from discrete components that could be manipulated by humans. These discrete circuits consumed much space and power and were limited in speed, although they are still common in some applications. By contrast, integrated circuits packed a large number—often millions—of tiny electrical components, mainly transistors, into a small chip around the size of a coin. This allowed for the powerful computers and other electronic devices we see today.
Microelectronics
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Microelectronics engineering deals with the design and microfabrication of very small electronic circuit components for use in an integrated circuit or sometimes for use on their own as a general electronic component. The most common microelectronic components are semiconductor transistors, although all main electronic components (resistors, capacitors, inductors) can be created at a microscopic level. Nanoelectronics is the further scaling of devices down to nanometer levels.
Microelectronic components are created by chemically fabricating wafers of semiconductors such as silicon (at higher frequencies, compound semiconductors like gallium arsenide and indium phosphide) to obtain the desired transport of electronic charge and control of current. The field of microelectronics involves a significant amount of chemistry and material science and requires the electronic engineer working in the field to have a very good working knowledge of the effects of quantum mechanics.
Signal processing
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Signal processing deals with the analysis and manipulation of signals. Signals can be either analog, in which case the signal varies continuously according to the information, or digital, in which case the signal varies according to a series of discrete values representing the information. For analog signals, signal processing may involve the amplification and filtering of audio signals for audio equipment or the modulation and demodulation of signals for telecommunications. For digital signals, signal processing may involve the compression, error detection and error correction of digitally sampled signals.
Signal Processing is a very mathematically oriented and intensive area forming the core of digital signal processing and it is rapidly expanding with new applications in every field of electrical engineering such as communications, control, radar, TV/Audio/Video engineering, power electronics and bio-medical engineering as many already existing analog systems are replaced with their digital counterparts.
Although in the classical era, analog signal processing only provided a mathematical description of a system to be designed, which is actually implemented by the analog hardware engineers, Digital Signal Processing both provides a mathematical description of the systems to be designed and also actually implements them (either by software programming or by hardware embedding) without much dependency on hardware issues, which exponentiates the importance and success of DSP engineering.
The deep and strong relations between signals and the information they carry makes signal processing equivalent of information processing. Which is the reason why the field finds so many diversified applications. DSP processor ICs are found in every type of modern electronic systems and products including, SDTV | HDTV sets, radios and mobile communication devices, Hi-Fi audio equipments, Dolby noise reduction algorithms, GSM mobile phones, mp3 multimedia players, camcorders and digital cameras, automobile control systems, noise cancelling headphones, digital spectrum analyzers, intelligent missile guidance, radar, GPS based cruise control systems and all kinds of image processing, video processing, audio processing and speech processing systems.
Telecommunications
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Telecommunications engineering focuses on the transmission of information across a channel such as a coax cable, optical fiber or free space. Transmissions across free space require information to be encoded in a carrier wave in order to shift the information to a carrier frequency suitable for transmission, this is known as modulation. Popular analog modulation techniques include amplitude modulation and frequency modulation. The choice of modulation affects the cost and performance of a system and these two factors must be balanced carefully by the engineer.
Once the transmission characteristics of a system are determined, telecommunication engineers design the transmitters and receivers needed for such systems. These two are sometimes combined to form a two-way communication device known as a transceiver. A key consideration in the design of transmitters is their power consumption as this is closely related to their signal strength. If the signal strength of a transmitter is insufficient the signal's information will be corrupted by noise.
Instrumentation
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Instrumentation engineering deals with the design of devices to measure physical quantities such as pressure, flow and temperature. The design of such instrumentation requires a good understanding of physics that often extends beyond electromagnetic theory. For example, flight instruments measure variables such as wind speed and altitude to enable pilots the control of aircraft analytically. Similarly, thermocouples use the Peltier-Seebeck effect to measure the temperature difference between two points.
Often instrumentation is not used by itself, but instead as the sensors of larger electrical systems. For example, a thermocouple might be used to help ensure a furnace's temperature remains constant. For this reason, instrumentation engineering is often viewed as the counterpart of control engineering.
Computers
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/MEGWARE.CLIC.jpg/220px-MEGWARE.CLIC.jpg)
Computer engineering deals with the design of computers and computer systems. This may involve the design of new hardware, the design of PDAs and supercomputers or the use of computers to control an industrial plant. Computer engineers may also work on a system's software. However, the design of complex software systems is often the domain of software engineering, which is usually considered a separate discipline. Desktop computers represent a tiny fraction of the devices a computer engineer might work on, as computer-like architectures are now found in a range of devices including video game consoles and DVD players.
Related disciplines
Mechatronics is an engineering discipline which deals with the convergence of electrical and mechanical systems. Such combined systems are known as electromechanical systems and have widespread adoption. Examples include automated manufacturing systems, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems and various subsystems of aircraft and automobiles.
The term mechatronics is typically used to refer to macroscopic systems but futurists have predicted the emergence of very small electromechanical devices. Already such small devices, known as Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), are used in automobiles to tell airbags when to deploy, in digital projectors to create sharper images and in inkjet printers to create nozzles for high definition printing. In the future it is hoped the devices will help build tiny implantable medical devices and improve optical communication.[32]
Biomedical engineering is another related discipline, concerned with the design of medical equipment. This includes fixed equipment such as ventilators, MRI scanners and electrocardiograph monitors as well as mobile equipment such as cochlear implants, artificial pacemakers and artificial hearts.
See also
- Analog signal processing
- Computer engineering
- Electronic design automation
- Electronic engineering
- Electrical Technologist
- IEEE
- Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
- International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
- List of electrical engineering topics (alphabetical)
- List of electrical engineering topics (thematic)
- List of electrical engineers
- List of Russian electrical engineers
- Occupations in Electrical/Electronics Engineering
- Railway electrification system
- Timeline of electrical and electronic engineering
Note
Note I - There were around 300,000 people (as of 2006[update]) working as electrical engineers in the US; in Australia, there were around 17,000 (as of 2008[update]) and in Canada, there were around 37,000 (as of 2007[update]), constituting about 0.2% of the labour force in each of the three countries. Australia and Canada reported that 96% and 88% of their electrical engineers respectively are male.[33]
References
- ^ "What is the difference between electrical and electronic engineering?". FAQs - Studying Electrical Engineering. Retrieved 4 February 2005.
- ^ "William Gilbert (1544–1603)". Pioneers in Electricity. Retrieved 13 May 2007.
- ^ Vaunt Design Group. (2005).Inventor Alessandro Volta Biography. Troy MI: The Great Idea Finder. Accessed 21 March 2008.
- ^ ""Ohm, Georg Simon", "Faraday, Michael" and "Maxwell, James Clerk"". (11 ed.). 1911.
{{cite encyclopedia}}
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{{cite book}}
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- ^ Ryder, John (1984). Engineers and Electrons. IEEE Press. ISBN 0-87942-172-X.
{{cite book}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ "History". National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Retrieved 19 January 2006. (published 1996 in the NFPA Journal)
- ^ Leland Anderson, "Nikola Tesla On His Work With Alternating Currents and Their Application to Wireless Telegraphy, Telephony, and Transmission of Power", Sun Publishing Company, LC 92-60482, ISBN 0-9632652-0-2 (ed. excerpts available online)
- ^ "Karl Ferdinand Braun". Retrieved 10 September 2006.
- ^ "History of Amateur Radio". What is Amateur Radio?. Retrieved 18 January 2006.
- ^ Marconi's biography at Nobelprize.org retrieved 21 June 2008.
- ^ "Albert W. Hull (1880–1966)". IEEE History Center. Retrieved 22 January 2006.
- ^ "Who Invented Microwaves?". Retrieved 22 January 2006.
- ^ "Early Radar History". Peneley Radar Archives. Retrieved 22 January 2006.
- ^ "The Z3". Retrieved 18 January 2006.
- ^ "The ENIAC Museum Online". Retrieved 18 January 2006.
- ^ "Electronics Timeline". Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century. Retrieved 18 January 2006.
- ^ "Computing History (1971–1975)". Retrieved 18 January 2006.
- ^ "Electrical and Electronic Engineering". Retrieved 8 December 2011.
- ^ Various including graduate degree requirements at MIT, study guide at UWA[dead link], the curriculum at Queen's[dead link] and unit tables at Aberdeen
- ^ "Why Should You Get Licensed?". National Society of Professional Engineers. Archived from the original on June 4, 2005. Retrieved 11 July 2005.
- ^ "Engineers Act". Quebec Statutes and Regulations (CanLII). Retrieved 24 July 2005.[dead link]
- ^ "Codes of Ethics and Conduct". Online Ethics Center. Retrieved 24 July 2005.
- ^ "About the IEEE". IEEE. Retrieved 11 July 2005.
- ^ "About the IET". The IET. Retrieved 11 July 2005.
- ^ "Journal and Magazines". The IET. Retrieved 11 July 2005.
- ^ "Electrical and Electronics Engineers, except Computer". Occupational Outlook Handbook. Archived from the original on July 13, 2005. Retrieved 16 July 2005..
{{cite web}}
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(help) (see here regarding copyright) - ^ "Science and Engineering Indicators 2004, Appendix 2-33" (PDF). National Science Foundation. 2004.
- ^ "Electrical and Electronics Engineers, except Computer". Occupational Outlook Handbook. Archived from the original on 13 July 2005. Retrieved 16 July 2005. (see Internet Archive)
- ^ Trevelyan, James; (2005). What Do Engineers Really Do?. University of Western Australia. (seminar with slides)
- ^ "MEMS the world!". IntelliSense Software Corporation. Archived from the original on March 17, 2005. Retrieved 17 July 2005.
- ^ "Electrical Engineers". Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 13 March 2009. See also: "Work Experience of the Population in 2006". Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 20 June 2008. and "Electrical and Electronics Engineers". Australian Careers. Retrieved 13 March 2009. and "Electrical and Electronics Engineers". Canadian jobs service. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
External links
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- IEEE Global History Network A wiki-based site with many resources about the history of IEEE, its members, their professions and electrical and informational technologies and sciences.
- International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
- MIT OpenCourseWare In-depth look at Electrical Engineering with online courses featuring video lectures.