Today’s modern world would not be what it is if it weren’t for engineers. You have no idea how almost everything that you enjoy today is possible through the works of engineers. Your smartphone? Thank an engineer for that! Air-conditioning? Definitely an engineer’s invention! Earthquake detectors? An engineer’s work! Lights? Thomas Edison made it possible! And he’s an engineer. Your life is convenient, practical, and safe because of engineering contributions to the modern world.
To highlight just how important engineering is, we will enlist the eight most important contributions of engineers to the modern world. Read on, learn, and be inspired.
#1 Protection and Wise Use of Natural Resources
Engineers have been front and center in ensuring the protection and wise use of natural resources. Experts in the natural resources engineering field work hard to ensure the sustainability of our planet. Just this year, a big engineering firm joined nations in ensuring advanced coastal restoration and resilience. Such movement ensures the protection of critical habitats, communities, economies, and food sources. This movement happens all over the world through the perseverance of passionate engineers that are big on applying science and mathematics to every possible problem in the protection and sustainability of natural resources.
#2 Production of Faster, Safer, Quieter, and Greener Aircraft
Today’s aircraft are faster, safer, quieter, and greener because of engineers. Engineers work day and night to make the aircraft industry better for all. Just this month, the Aircraft of the Future was unveiled by easyJet. It was designed by young engineers who envisioned a plane that can travel across Europe through the use of a sustainable energy source. Two winning designs were revealed. One winning design has solar-powered wings and reusable cups made from processed banana leaves. While the other winning design relied on pressurized hydrogen and fuel-cell stacks for power. The future is very bright because engineers will never run out of solutions.
#3 Production of Advanced Smartphones
Your smartphone is getting smarter and smarter by the day. Today’s smartphones have bigger screens, higher resolutions, faster processors, bigger memories, and improved refresh rates. This is due to all the work that engineers have been contributing. Expert engineers predict that the smartphones of the future will be foldable, modular, and allow for ambient computing. Smart glasses are expected to go big to allow for advanced mixed reality user experience. Google, Facebook, and Apple engineers are all working on it.
#4 Production of Advanced Tools for National Defense and Safety
Engineers help in maintaining world peace and safety. Top engineering firms like Bendtech Defence work night and day to provide sustainable and advanced tools for effective national defense. War became a thing of the past because engineers made it possible for nations to effectively monitor and guard their territories without the need for violence. Engineers are now even developing drones that can send supplies and provide military support even when greatly distant. Engineering allows citizens of advanced nations to always feel fully secure and protected at all times.
#5 Invention of Advanced Diagnostic Medical Scanners
Medical experts work hand in hand with engineers to create optimum ease in diagnosing patients. This great collaboration has been going on for years. This collaboration is one of the main reasons why humans of today have longer lifespans and altogether better health. Diseases can be detected and cured earlier due to the help of advanced medical engineering.
A good example is a collaboration between engineer Tom Brown and Dr. Ian Donald that led to the invention of ultrasound. Through ultrasound, expecting parents can now easily monitor and assess the health of their unborn babies. Because of the powerful collaboration between the field of medicine and engineering, more children and women survive today compared to decades ago. This contribution is simply priceless.
#6 Production of Biologically Compatible Artificial Limbs
Engineers make the impossible possible. Amputees now have clear chances of walking again through the use of advanced artificial limbs that are biologically compatible. In this arena, three powerful forces are at play — the amputees’ willpower, medical surgeons, and engineers. This field is so advanced because engineers have now successfully designed a robot arm that can lift dumbbells. Even a blind woman was able to have artificial vision through a brain implant that was made possible through visual prosthesis. Engineers know no bounds when it comes to helping humanity.
#7 Advancement of Vehicular Safety
Smart vehicles are set to rule the world in the coming years. Engineers go all out in ensuring the safety of AI-driven vehicles. So much so that it’s safe to predict that in the years to come, it will be possible for cars to understand their drivers. This goes beyond today’s assistance technology. This engineering advancement is pretty special because it will allow cars to detect even the cognitive and emotional states of drivers. This makes it possible for a car to intelligently prevent its driver from doing anything dangerous if it senses that its driver is not in a good condition. This technology will utilize advanced cameras that can track blink rates and eye movements. Such data can easily show if a person is drunk, drowsy, or distracted.
#8 Advancement of Green Technologies and Fossil Fuel Alternatives
Engineers work closely with scientists to provide sustainable and alternative sources of renewable energy. Just this month, Australian engineers patented a thermal block that can easily store renewable energy. Engineers are now also working on easily turning dams in hydropower plants that can easily provide green energy. The world will always be in good hands as long as engineers are around.
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