FREE ESSAY ON COMPUTER ENGINNERING

COMPUTER ENGINNERING

A Strong Background in Computer Technology 
Will Benefit Future Engineers
Computer technology has advanced dramatically over the past ten years. Technology has
advanced from computers the size of a room that can only perform one particular task, to
personal computers (PC's) that will fit on a desk and perform multiple tasks.
Understanding computers and their programs and being able to apply that knowledge is very
important in today's workplace. Engineering is a field that requires an extensive
background in computer technology. Future engineers will benefit dramatically from having
a strong background in computer technology.
In order to understand why computers are important, we have to understand what a computer
is and what it does. A computer is a device capable of performing a series of
calculations or logical operations without human intervention. The computer is
characterized by the number and complexity of operations it can perform and by its
ability to process, store, and retrieve data ("Computers" 1). 
The development of computers began in the 19th century by British mathematician Charles
Babbage (Eadie 3). Babbage designed, but did not build, a mechanical digital device
capable of processing information as a modern computer does (4). In 1930 American
scientist Vannevar Bush built a mechanically operated device, called a differential
analyzer (4). It was the first general-purpose analog computer. Analog computers will be
discussed later in this paper. The first information-processing digital computer actually
built was the Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator, or Mark I computer (4). Completed
in 1944, this electromechanical device was designed by American engineer Howard Aiken
(5). In 1946 the Electronic Numerical Integrator and 
Computer, or ENIAC, was put into operation (5). Using thousands of electron tubes, it was
the first electronic digital computer. In the late 1950s transistors replaced electron
tubes in computers, allowing a reduction in the size and power consumption of computer
components (5). In the 1960s hybrid computers were tried that connected analog computers
to digital ones. Later integrated circuits were developed that allowed further reduction
in component size and increase in reliability. The introduction of a relatively easy to
use PC in 1981 began a period in the rapid growth of the computer industry. The computer
industry is still thriving today with the introduction of faster processors such as the
Pentium II and now the Pentium III, high tech printers, scanners, and of course the
Internet. 
There are two types of computers, analog and digital. An analog computer is designed to
process data in which the variable quantities vary continuously; it translates the
relationships between the variables of a problem into analogous relationships between
electrical quantities, such as current and voltage, and solves the original problem by
solving the equivalent problem, or analog, that is set up in its electrical circuits
(Eadie 9).
Because of this feature, analog computers are useful in the simulation and evaluation of
certain complex situations. Analog computers do not play a role in engineering today, but
without the introduction of analog computers PC's would not be what they are today. 
Digital computers are referred to as PC's. PC's are used everyday in the workplace, at
school, and at home. Many programs can be accessed and loaded into a digital computer.
Most technical jobs, including engineering, require experience and understanding of PC's
and the programs that are related to the field in which the PC is being used. A digital 
computer is designed to process data in numerical form; its circuits perform mathematical
operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The numbers operated
on by a digital computer are expressed in the binary system. Binary digits, which are
also known as bits, are 0 and 1, so that 0, 1, 10, 11, 100, 101, etc. correspond to 0, 1,
2, 3, 4, 5, etc. A series of eight bits, called a "byte", is the basic data unit of
computers. A digital computer can store the results of its calculations for later use,
can compare the results with other data, and on the basis of such comparisons can change
the series of operations it performs ("Computers" 2).
PC's would not be useful if it were not for the information that we enter into them.
Input to a computer can come directly from people. Human beings can directly communicate
with the computer terminals, entering instructions and data by means of keyboards or by
using a mouse and receiving the information through a printer. Entering data into a
computer can be extremely complicated for someone who is not experienced in downloading.
In engineering understanding how to download a program is not as important as knowing how
to run a program unless, of course, you are planning a career in computer engineering.
When the necessary programs are loaded into a PC it can be used for tasks such as
computer-aided design. Computer-aided design (CAD) is used frequently in engineering. CAD
is a form of automation that helps designers prepare drawings, specifications, and parts
lists for a wide variety of products. The technology is widely used in architectural,
electronics, aeronautical, naval, and automotive engineering and design. At first CAD
programs only performed less complicated automated drafting projects. Now they 
include computer simulation as an important component. Rather than having to build
"bread-board" circuit prototypes and change components to determine effects of tolerance
ranges, engineers can use computers to simulate circuit operation (Ferris 19). As
microelectronics devices have become smaller and more complex, CAD has become an
especially important technology. The introduction of CAD's have lowered costs and
shortened the design cycle in many industries.
The understanding of CAD's and similar programs are a vital component to any engineering
career. Other programs that are related to engineering are ones that help create
blueprints, estimate production costs, and simulate certain situations that will help in
production. There are many different programs that correspond to each field of
engineering. 
In today's society computers are taught starting in elementary school. Computerized
instruction continues all the way through high school. Now, many engineering degrees
require certain computer classes. Today's students are going to have an advantage over
the engineers of the past. Design and planning will become easier even though the designs
may be more complex. The advancements in technology have contributed greatly to the field
of engineering.