The Global Wireless Education Consortium - Assignment Example

 The Global Wireless Education Consortium I completed the Global Wireless Education Consortium (GWEC) module on professional organizations. This module obviously in the technical aspects of wireless communications, but my interest piqued my real interest in because I realize that I will be working as a professional in this field for many years. I never want to grow stagnant in my knowledge. From what other professionals in other fields have told me, professional organizations are an important part of staying current. The module was very straightforward. It was not difficult to follow and was full of worthwhile information. It did not go into detail about too many organizations but gave enough to act as a springboard for further investigation on my own time. I actually visited some of the websites produced by the various organizations I learned about in order to get a feel for what they could offer me now and in the future as my career progresses. I also noticed that the types of organizations seemed to fall into several broad categories. Working through this module helped me to see that the wireless industry spreads far beyond just the technical aspects of the job. There were plenty of associations that were there to help engineers and technicians, but just as many that advocate for specific groups of users or professionals, engage in technical and non-technical training and lobby legislative bodies on behalf of the wireless industry and community. The first broad category that emerged is the professional groups that are designed to add to the technical and professional knowledge of people doing the designing and engineering of wireless products and systems. The Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) are two such organizations. The IEE is a professional body of 140,000 primarily located in Europe. The IEE is divided into 20 societies or councils that oversee professional development opportunities for engineers. They have their own publishing organization that produces regular training materials for members. The IEEE is a more global organization with 350,000 members worldwide. The IEEE works to provide educational opportunities for engineers as well as working through member organizations to establish global standards and uniformity for certain wireless devices. A smooth interface is increasingly important as the nature of wireless devices continues to become more complex in their engineering and functionality. Another group that would fit into this category would be the Global Wireless Education Consortium (GWEC). This group has developed learning modules on over fifty topics relating to wireless communications. The modules are less technical than the publications created by the IEE and the IEEE, but they are still valuable for students and new professionals. The broad nature of the modules ensures that there is something present on the consortium’s website for all wireless communication professionals. The second category of professional organizations that seemed to form was advocacy groups for the wireless industry as a whole or for specific populations within the industry. The Wireless Communications Association International (WCA) is a non-profit organization that advocates for legislation intended to benefit the wireless industry as a whole. The WCA holds an annual conference where information is provided on pending legislation that will affect the wireless and broadband industry. In essence, the WCA is a lobbying organization that looks out for the interests of the wireless industry but not necessarily the interests of wireless consumers. Another advocacy group is the Women in Wireless Communications (WIWC). The group focuses on supporting the advancement of women working in the wireless industry. They hold meetings in conjunction with most major trade conferences. They are a networking group that seeks to address the unique challenges facing women working as engineers, managers and technicians in the wireless industry. The third and largest type of professional organization available to wireless professionals is the organizations that offer support and guidance to the business community. The Industrial Telecommunications Association (ITA) is a good example of this type of organization. The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) certifies the ITA. The ITA coordinates applications from companies for frequency assignments in the 30-900 MHz range. If a group or individual would want to obtain one of these license or to start a business utilizing one of these frequencies, the ITA would help with the license application preparation, engineering, analysis and any interference resolution issues. In short, the ITA provides services that smooth the way for new businesses to enter the wireless community. The American Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) provides services of a different sort for businesses. The AMTA holds an annual conference where new and expiring regulations regarding the wireless industry are discussed. The potential impact of these regulatory changes is explained to the business community so they can take appropriate measures to ensure continued growth within the industry. An organization that supports the business community in a similar manner is the Personal Communications Industry Association (PCIA). The PCIA has established an online community and a number of regular publications that are forward looking within the industry from a business perspective. The purpose of the PCIA is to position members within the industry to profit from new technology as it is introduced. The PCIA aims to have their members aware of pending changes in technology, not in regulations as the AMTA does, but they both look at the future landscape for the business community so good investments and decisions can be made. A final category of professional organization mentioned in the module is the industry sponsored certification and resource organization. A good example of this sort of organization is the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA). This organization was founded by 3Com, Cisco Systems, Intersil, Agere Systems, Nokia and Symbol Technologies. Sixty other companies currently support it. The purpose of this certification organization is to ensure that wireless products work together with Ethernet produces according to the 802.11 protocol established by the IEEE. These companies all have a shared interest in certifying products so that they are capable of performing as advertised. Another industry sponsored certification organization is the national Association of Radio and Telecommunications Engineers (NARTE). This is a non-profit organization that oversees the certification of engineers in areas vital to the wireless industry. The industry supports NARTE because they help ensure a standard of competency for engineers in areas such as installation of wireless systems, electrostatic discharge, electromagnetic compatibility and interface, and telecommunications. Individual companies also sponsor resources that can be used for products or operations that are specific to the manufacturer. AT&T, Bluetooth and Aligent Technologies all have education materials available for professionals that work with their products. In the case of Aligent Technologies, there are simulations and seminars available via web cast. While the scope of these professional activities is much more limited that that of international organizations, these resources can be very helpful for the engineers working with these products and companies. Learning about these professional organizations has been an enlightening activity. I understand more about the breadth of the wireless industry. My focus has always been on the technical aspects of my job. This activity has helped me to see that thousands of people work in the wireless industries that are not engineers or technicians. Seeing the number of advocacy and certification councils has helped me to see that should I wish to work in the industry beyond being a technician or engineer, there are many opportunities to branch out and continue to grow as a professional. I have no plans to move far beyond the technical aspects of my current job and studies, but I now realize there are many opportunities out there for me to explore. Read More