Don Christiansen wonders about young engineers' knowledge of the history of our own profession. Consider the once ubiquitous vacuum tube. How many under-40 engineers are aware of the origins of the thermionic vacuum tube or of its importance during its halcyon years?

How do you get green consumers — and later, the majority — to embrace green technologies? By following a familiar theory regarding the diffusion of innovations.

People tend to get very complacent once they land a new job. After months (sometimes years) of searching, many people think their work is over once they step through their new employer's door. Unfortunately, sitting back at this juncture might lead to outcomes that are far less favorable than a person hoped for in a new employment situation.

In a slowing economy, where are the opportunities? The Semiconductor Industry Association’s (SIA) survey of its member companies looks at degrees, technical skills and positions the companies are having difficulty filling.

The only specific right the U.S. Constitution grants to citizens is ownership of their intellectual property (Article I, Section 8, Clause 8). But employees now working for technical companies, academic institutions and government likely signed a contract that pre-assigned their intellectual property to their employers.

The PE examination consists of 80 independent multiple choice questions and each has to be written by a registered professional engineer. If you are a registered professional engineer, you can write a question for future exams. Find out how.

Before you have retired, you should be able to answer without hesitation: “What do you do?” You might say, “I do a lot of things,” and then (assuming your questioner is interested in more than what you can do to help him or her), launch into your laundry list of new activities in retirement.

With all the concerns of rising gas prices, home foreclosures, rising health care costs, and bills, bills, bills, it is ironic that many people have not given thought to the financial security of their loved one or themselves when either one dies.

IEEE members are at the vortex of America’s global economic status in the 21st century. In order to help American business remain competitive, it is vital that IEEE members understand sustainable business operations.

As the 21st century gets underway, the U.S. engineering profession finds itself facing major challenges, including the impact globalization and offshoring of U.S. engineering jobs are having on the engineering workforce and profession.

A roundup of news and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government during May 2008.