Engineering approach

based on the article published in Mechanical Engineering, Vol 129

Many would perceive a systematic, analysis involving mathematics and solution described with diagrams and developed is an Engineering approach and it remains true even in the 21st century and surprisingly in IT industry too.

Two prominent scientists of 20th century, Thomas Edison, inventor of perfect filament and holder of 1100 patents in the US who painstakingly thorough in his designs (his search for filaments was a world famed occasion) and very adoptive and methodical (He once remarked,  “My principle business consists of giving commercial value to the brilliant, but misdirected, ideas of others”), and Nikola Tesla, designer of guided missiles and hydropower generators and holder of more than 700 patents who was eccentric and regarded as “mad scientist” less methodical and less concerned with details show us two different approaches.

Engineers saw the problem and went after the solutions (in the desired path), however the impact and potential concerns barely mattered. Alfred Nobel didn’t worry about the harms of a Dynamite so was Enrico Fermi, left at the hands of the policy makers. Some felt and were deeply concerned about their inventions later, especially Nobel.

Many compare Google’s current technology revolution to that, where it is only focused on the problem solving but not the consequences.
Lt Lapenotiere, the commander of HM schooner Pickle managed to reach London from Falmouth quay on 4th November 1805 took only 36 hours to travel 271 miles changing horses 21 times for the prospect of 500 GBP for reporting the British Victory at the battle of Trafalgar and the death of Nelson. It is often reminded in communication, how fortunate we are now to plan a trip with friends over Instant Messengers (IM) or have video conference of new strategy for companies with regional mangers.

We mostly take the technology for granted, nonetheless, it was dreamed versioned and sought after the technical minded people who sometimes sacrificed their lives in the search.

Where we mainly fail, is in identifying the problems around us and devoting time to discover the solutions to them. Either we do not see them or be ignorant of them.

However, mostly what we as a solution will not be the real solution. The introduction of new one-way traffic systems in the Colombo and suburbs is a typical example.  In addition, sometimes the solutions tend to create more problems. Invention of Atomic Fusion led to Nuclear Cold war, and Google is reminding us to watch our back.

History shows, single-handed revolution is no longer viable or sensitive, but a sustainable engineering approach with great devotion is needed. Thus, we shall be on the front to make the changes we expect by taking the responsibility with a great deal of personal balance.

Let us remember Dwight David Eisenhower’s words, “The United States never lost a soldier or a foot of ground in my administration. We kept the peace. People asked how it happened—by God, it didn’t just happen, I’ll tell you that.” And Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s words, “Be the change you expect”; in fact both set the examples.