Held: Friday, 7 February 2014

Back to Outline 08 - Engineering (2). On to Outline 10 - Food (1).

Summary

We conclude our initial explorations of engineering perspectives on technology.

Related Pages

• Questions on readings: Petroski, 14-17
• Questions on readings: Petroski, 8-13
• Questions on readings: Petroski, 1-7
• EBoard (Source) (HTML) (PDF)

Overview

• Petroski - Main Points.
• Petroski - What is Engineering?
• David Pye - Designs Conflict.
• Petroski - Lens.
• Petroski - Blinders.

Administrivia

• The next set of readings is now available.
  • Jackson and Krebes for Monday.
  • Chaudhry et al. for Wednesday.
• Note takers (send me five main points):
  • New goals: Five important things to remember from the class.
  • Today: LG and PG
  • Future: TBD.
• We'll add a few more belated introductions.
• Extra credit:
  • Basketball Saturday
  • Others?

What concepts do you think Petroski most wants his readers to remember?

• I'll have you write it out. Then we'll discuss your answers. I'll record on the EBoard.
• Some possibilities (from a few years ago) ...
  • Things wear out.
  • Engineering is a natural human endeavor.
  • We can treat engineering as a form of the scientific method.
  • Structures are often used in ways that their designers cannot predict.

What has Petroski taught you about engineering?

• Basic concept: We have some desired design goals and try to build something to meet those goals.
• After a success, we will push a design further and further.

What issues does Petroski seem to have missed in his analyses?

• I'll have you write it out. Then we'll discuss your answers. I'll record on the EBoard.

David Pye

The requirements for design conflict and cannot be reconciled. All designs for devices are in some degrees failures....

The Petroski Lens

• What questions does Petroski suggest that we should ask about technologies