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Summary engineers in a changing world: past, present, future (version 2016) USE-Base
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Engineers in a changing world: past, present, futureIntroduction
Engineers have never operated in a vacuum, many have worked on societal problems, for great
business opportunities or for just plain fun. Some promising technologies have succeeded, while
others have failed. Inventions often have unintended and unwanted consequences.
When you search for a solution to present day societal/business challenges, you need a good
problem diagnosis. Next you need to identify the options for change and consider possible unwanted
consequences. Than you need to consider the options for change today (how realistic).
There are two historical models of integrating USE considerations in the innovation process:
- Technocratic approach: centred on experts. Multidisciplinary expert teams use the scientific
method to identify relevant USE issues and to make better, more objective choices on behalf
of Users, Society and Enterprise. Often preferred to shield the technological work from
external government, manager or user influences.
- Participative approach: USE stakeholders bring in USE considerations. Representatives from
user groups, environmental groups, business and local politicians participate directly in
technological decision making, or worked closely with engineers in the design process.
Age of promise (1815-1914)
Started when Napoleon lost the Battle of Waterloo. There was relative peace and optimism (the
great societal challenges that faced humanity would be solved).in 1851 the Great Exhibition of the
Works of Industry of All Nations was held in London. Its goal was to showcase ground breaking
technological achievements and design. It symbolized the promise of technology for society: peace
and progress in the form of prosperity, health, liberty and happiness for all.
Other promises:
- Entrepreneurs: new business opportunities
- Users:
- Engineers: new profession
Chevalier said that technology would get Europe out of its permanent state of poverty, class conflict,
warfare and dependence on the forces of nature.
The state (national governments, parliaments and civil servants) specified the promise to a national
promise. Governments created their own engineering departments, which created the need for a
new profession civil engineering. The state engineering departments are called ‘Public Works’,
they worked to give society basic mobility and communications infrastructure. The infrastructure had
several policies for creating the nation’s infrastructure:
- State built it on its own.
- Engage private companies to build crucial infrastructure. The ‘minimal’ approach to
government, which states that the state only executed projects that were urgent and
absolutely necessary.
It was also a time of urbanization and globalization. There were different infrastructure
organizations:
- The international commissions for navigation on the rhine (1815)
- The Danube commission (1856)
- International telecommunications union (1865)
They strove to make transnational infrastructure universally accessible.
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