The future is very promising. It will be interesting to see how the list of incredible inventions changes as the years unfold. It is precisely this type of query that fuels engineering minds and draws them back to the engineering design process again and again. Science fiction, a well loved-genre based on future technological advances and major social or environmental changes, feels different for an engineer. To the average person, it seems outlandish and impossible. But an engineer probably sits through a science fiction movie wondering how such things can be created. If you told a caveman 7,000 years ago that someday he would fly through the air in a metal contraption and watch someone land a spaceship on the moon, he would have grunted dubiously. Impossible things are now possible.

Question

Here are some of the most astonishing things being considered for the future at this moment:

Transhumanism (small, sophisticated devices implanted in humans to fight disease, enhance the senses, and provide communication)
Human settlements on Mars
Lunar colonies
Mining operations in space
Is it possible that at some point before the 22nd century humans will no longer be the dominant species on the planet? Perhaps much of the daily running of world affairs will be handled exclusively by ultrafast, ultra-intelligent machines, robots, and virtual entities. Could our human innovation someday make our own existence obsolete?

Knowledge Check
By answering these questions, you can test your understanding of new information and uncover any gaps in your knowledge. Reviewing the feedback will help you focus your studying before taking the graded unit quiz.

Considering a career in either engineering or computer science, Ximena wonders how to break down and prioritize the factors that should go into her decision to choose a college major. She has always been curious, fascinated by how objects are put together, and a talented mathematician. What should be one of the MOST important considerations she might add to her pro and con list in deciding her college major?

She should consult trusted friends on which field they think is right for her; they know her study habits, strong points, and personality.

Ximena should spend some time familiarizing herself with the histories of the two fields in order to get a better idea of their future potential.

She should evaluate her desire to create: does she want to build the world around her or add her talent to a base of knowledge?

Ximena should carefully weigh the amount of time she wants to spend in labs and on group projects versus direct study.

Answer 1

The most important consideration Ximena might add to her pro and con list in deciding her college major should be:

She should evaluate her desire to create: does she want to build the world around her or add her talent to a base of knowledge?

This consideration directly addresses her interests and aspirations. Engineering typically focuses on the creation and development of new technologies and systems, while computer science can involve both creation and analysis, but often leans more toward theoretical work and software development. Understanding her desire to create will help her align her major with her passion, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling career.