The Development of Engineering - Research Paper Example

Development of Engineering Introduction Engineering is mostly termed to be a science. The field of engineering cannot be considered a science since science involves the discovery of natural things found in the environment. Engineering revolves around a contrasting aspect that is to create the artificial. It would not be wrong to term engineers as the makers of a civilization. The inception of engineering dates back to as early as the Egyptian and Roman era as the remarkable structures and inventions of those times could not have been possible without the involvement of engineering. The field of engineering has witnessed constant development and improvement. It is due to this reason that the current era has achieved many landmarks for e.g. solar engines, nano technology etc. The development of engineering has witnessed some productive inventions while some have proven to be harmful for mankind for example; weapons of mass destruction. Engineers have a social responsibility to create with the motive of the progress of the field of engineering rather than to cause harm to mankind. 1.1 Research Methodology The research approach that seemed most suitable for the analysis of such a broad topic was of a deductive approach. Important developments in the field of engineering have been researched that led to the conclusion that engineering has contributed remarkably towards the progress of the current civilization. All the developments have been included in the report in a chronological approach to provide a more structured format to the report. 2. Development of Engineering The development in the field of engineering has made life convenient for the modern man. It is due to these developments that geographical barriers have been removed and travelling times have been reduced exponentially etc. Some of the milestones in the development of engineering have been discussed below: 2.1 Two Wheeled Vehicle 2.1.1 Details Karl Drais invented the first two wheeled vehicle in 1817 that was human-powered. It did not have any pedals in it like the modern form of bicycle known to man. The rider had to power the vehicle with his feet. This invention came to be known as ‘Draisine’ in English and ‘draisienne’ in French. Draisine proved to be one of the best utilizations of the earlier invention of the wheel. Draisine started being used in place of horses since they were very attractive and handy. Both wheels were in perfect alignment with each other to facilitate faster pace. The front wheel of the two-wheeler was attached with the handlebar to induce the steering effect. English Info (2010) mentioned that several manufacturers in England and France started producing these vehicles to earn profits from the invention. It was made of wood with padded cushions for the seat, similar to the modern form of bicycles. This invention faced some criticism regarding its usage; the riders preferred to use the vehicle on smooth pavements instead of rough roads that caused problems for the pedestrians. English Info (2010) also stated that some laws were even regulated for the prohibition of the usage of these vehicles due to the disturbance caused by them on the pavements. Another aspect that added to its lesser usage was the fact that it had to be made according to the height of the rider. This requirement was necessary since the rider’s feet had to touch the ground to make it move. The following picture shows a draisine and the way a rider sat on the vehicle: Figure 1: Image of a Draisine (English Info 2010) 2.1.2 Progress Due to This Invention This marked the beginning of the inventions in the area of personal transport. The eventual development of two wheeled vehicles resulted in the insertion of pedals by different researchers to induce greater degree of control to the rider. The introduction of pedals also inhibited the need to customize the size of the vehicle for the individual. 2.2 Four stroke engine 2.2.1 Details Engine has to be one of the most revolutionary inventions of the past centuries since it is the basis of mostly all means of transportation. The four stroke engine was first invented by a German engineer, Nikolaus Otto in 1876. It is due to this reason that the four stroke principle has been named Otto cycle. As the name suggests, the invention was based on 4 strokes namely; intake, compression, power and exhaust. Each one of these functions translate into a full stroke of the piston. Hardenberg (1999) explained the process: Intake During this function, the piston of the engine moves in the downward direction to get a fresh charge of the fuelling matter. The fuelling matter might be a fuel and air mixture. Compression This stroke involves the rising of the piston to produce the compression effect of the fuelling matter. Power The spark plug gets ignited in this cycle thereby igniting the compressed fuel. The ignition of the fuel expands it and thus moves the piston in the downward direction. Exhaust When the power stroke is at the bottom of its cycle, a valve is opened. The valve is meant to give way to the exhausted fuel to be pushed out of the cylinder. Figure 2: Different strokes and cycles of a four stroke engine (HowAutoWorks Inc. 2008) 2.2.2 Progress Due to This Invention The four stroke engine gave way to internal engine technology to be later used in automobiles, construction machinery, generators, aircrafts etc. Hardenberg (1999) stated that it replaced the external combustion engines that tend to burn the fuel out the engine to create steam. Such steam engines are used in trains and boats but they could not be used in automobiles since they are bigger in size and also consume more fuel. 2.3 Telephone 2.3.1 Background An article on About.com: Inventors (2010) provided the information that telegraph was invented 30 years before the invention of the telephone and is considered to be the first form of long distance communication. It used wires to transmit the electric message that translated into a written message at the other end of the communication. But this invention was quickly overshadowed by the invention of telephone and telegraph has now become obsolete. Telegraph did not cause revolutionary advancement in the field of communication. Therefore the invention of telephone has more importance in the history of engineering. 2.3.2 Details Elisha Gray and Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876. Another article at About.com: Inventors (2010) contributed valuable information in the research and pointed out that they both devised the revolutionary invention independently and then began the race for the acknowledgement rights of the invention. Alexander Graham Bell patented his invention at the offices before Elisha Gray. Elisha Gray initiated a law suit against Graham Bell for the acknowledgement rights over the invention but Graham Bell won the case. Graham Bell tried to improvise the dot and dash Morse code technology of telegraph by sending multiple messages rather than single message of send or receive. National Academy of Engineers (2010) quoted Graham Bell’s words when he described his invention as an electrical machine that could reproduce the voice and tone of the speaker at some other long distant location. He identified many possibilities of the plotting of the wires that could carry the telephonic signal from one location to other; underground, overhead etc. 2.3.3 Progress Due to This Invention This invention caused revolutionary changes in the field of communication. Brown (1994) described the progress of telephones and stated that communication extended from local area communication to regional communication i.e. major cities started connecting with each other in 1900s. This led to communication between the continents. National Academy of Engineers, (2010) also provided the information that phones became mobile with their integration in automobiles in 1940s. 2.4 Cathode Ray Tube The invention of TV has great significance in the life of individuals; not only because they provide entertainment but also because they are a big source of information and news. The invention of TV is said to have taken place in 1940s but its basic technology dates back to as early as 1890s. 2.4.1 Details The first cathode ray tube was invented by a German scientist whose name was Karl Ferdinand Braun. He invented this technology in 1897 that later proved to be the basis of modern televisions. He introduced that concept of installing a cathode ray tube with a fluorescent screen. He named this device as the cathode ray tube oscilloscope. The fluorescent screen was able to send out a ray of light when contact took place with a beam of electrons. It was the first cold cathode tube technology. The tube was built with a mica screen inside the tube along with a fluorescent painted screen. The following image shows the respective invention: Fig 3: Karl’s Cathode Ray Tube (The Cathode Ray Tube Site, n.d.) 2.4.2 Progress Due to This Invention He contributed greatly to the field of television and radio. An article about the invention of cathode ray tube on About.com: Inventors (2010) explained that his invention was the basis of the first television receiver that contained a kinescope (cathode ray tube). Kinescope was invented by Vladimir Kosma Zworykin. Cathode ray tube technology flourished and formed the basis of television in the whole of the past century. It is only since the last decade that the cathode ray tube technology is being replaced with LCD and LED technologies. 2.5 Intel 4004 The invention of computers has great significance in our lives. It is due to this invention that the current times can be termed as the technological era. The invention of computer dates back to the mid twentieth century but they could not be used as a personal possession in the house since they were very big in size. The invention of microchip processor gave a boost to the personal computer industry. 2.5.1 Details Intel released the first microprocessor chip in the history of computers that marked a landmark in the field of engineering. Gilder (1990) explained that it was the first 4 bit central processing unit (CPU) that constituted a whole CPU on a chip. It was released in 1971 and the main inventors behind this invention were Federico Faggin and Ted Hoff of Intel. This invention allowed a higher number of transistors and was capable of processing commands at a faster rate than the earlier inventions. Gilder (1990) pointed out that it consisted of 2300 MOS transistors and had as good of a computing power as the first electronic computer, ENIAC. Intel (2010) gave some interesting facts about the invention of Intel 4004 and stated that the microprocessor chip was the size of a small fingernail while ENIAC could fill up a whole room. 2.5.2 Progress Due to This Invention This was only the beginning of the advancement of the field of computers. The following years witnessed improvement in computer technology in terms of its storage capacity, performance, throughput, reliability and maintainability. The emergence of nano technology reduced the size of computers and thus laptops came into existence. 3. Conclusion The field of engineering has witnessed great development over the past centuries. All areas of engineering have been improved with the passage of time. Four stroke engines gave a strong foundation to the area of automobile engineering. It started being used in automobiles, tractors, construction machinery etc. The two-wheeled vehicle contributed towards the field of personal transport. The idea of the two-wheeled vehicle improvised and eventually took the shape of the modern bicycle. Telephone is considered to be the invention that broke the geographical barriers through communication from one end of the world to the other. The modern world cannot be imagined without the invention of telephone that has been transformed to various other forms now. Cathode ray tube is also considered to be a milestone in the development of engineering since it gave way to the further revolutionary inventions of TV, computer monitors etc. Finally, the creation of the first microprocessor chip is another landmark in the history of engineering as it was the first complete CPU available for sale in the market. The advent of computers gave a structured mechanism to all field of life like business, education, medicine etc. Just like the acquirement of knowledge can never be considered complete, engineering cannot be considered perfect or completed at any point. The future will bear development of new and enhancements of the existing inventions. References About.com: Inventors 2010, History of Inventors, viewed 7 Nov 2010, Brown, T 1994, Historical first patents: the first United States patent for many everyday things, University of Michigan: Scarecrow Press. English Info, 2010, Karl Drais, viewed 7 Nov 2010, Gilder, G 1990, Microcosm: the quantum revolution in economics and technology. ISBN 9780671705923. Groeger, M 2008, "Ted" Hoffs first microprocessor, viewed 7 Nov 2010, Hardenberg, HO 1999, The Middle Ages of the Internal combustion Engine, Society of Automotive Engineers HowAutoWorks Inc. 2008, Engine types and their operation, viewed 6 Nov 2010, Intel 2010, The Intel 4004, viewed 6 Nov 2010, National Academy of Engineers, 2010, Great Achievements, viewed 6 Nov 2010, The Cathode Ray Tube Site, (n.d.), Cathode Ray Tube, viewed 6 Nov 2010, Read More