Last Blog-Ideas

Unfortunately, I could not find any way to embed into the blog and this was the only way i found to distribute my blog post. Please follow the link:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/15166486/blog.exe

Just double click on blog.exe and it should extract itself. Then open main.html in any web browser to view the blog.

Note click on 'explanation' to hear the commentary.

To open the html file right click (or control click for mac), choose "open with" and then select either Internet explorer, firefox, safari etc. Also note that flash player is required. get flash player

Sorry for the inconvenience  .

“I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully" - Ernest Hemingway

Listening is an important part of our communication (and thus engineering) toolset that, as I am sure many have experienced, often we or others forget to use. There are many benefits to using this tool. I had hoped to make my point with the title, but I didn’t think it was enough so I made the image above. As they say a picture says a thousand words and was hoping that an animated one would say slightly more  and therefore I could avoid writing that much.

…and yes I know that sometimes they are missing an ear. Also it loops so you might have caught it in the middle. Also, I suspect I might not have been as clear as I wanted. Alas, back to the writing.

The first thing I discovered was people really like to talk; so it makes sense that we, (or someone at least) should listen to them. Secondly a conversation is an exchange between at least two people involving two actions at the most basic level, speaking and listening. Therefore, there are ways of doing both effectively and not so effectively. So, if one person is talking and the other is only sort of listening it’s more like one and a half people are talking. Going back to the toolset analogy, while speaking might be likened to a hammer (somehow), listening is more like a shovel; it lets you dig beneath the surface to get some indication of what’s really going on, and in general know more about the person you are listening to than you knew before. My experiment with listening, involved a conversation with my next door neighbor (actually it was more like pure luck as we just ran into each other) that lasted just about the 45 minutes required and it was interesting. It also wasn’t easy.

Not reaching quick judgments (if any) and suspending one’s own thoughts on the matter being discussed requires a huge amount of self-control and I found I have to continually be aware of my instincts. The conversation covered a variety of topics of common interest but in order to practice empathetic methods of listening, I generally let him do most of the talking. I noticed that the setting of the conversation also has an impact. Since we were standing in the hall way there were distractions abound and these have the most destructive effect on conversation; a single distraction for the shortest time can smash the flow of conversation, like throwing a large boulder into a smoothly flowing river. Something I noticed about myself, a possible area of improvement, was that when genuinely and especially keen about what was being said I felt the urge to interject my own thoughts and had to fight it to hold myself back. Had I interrupted, the flow of the conversation would be broken and I would have missed a lot of information. This brings me to the main point.

Listening gives you invaluable information about the other person and about yourself. Listening empathetically, carefully, means When the other person is speaking its entirely about themselves and you ‘re entirely absorbed in what they are saying, in my opinion, in some small way you become the other person because, to truly make a connection requires a degree of sincerity and trust on both sides. Not only are you able to observe from the outside through body language, which for example, makes it clear when the other person is uncomfortable, but also are able to observe them from the inside through their thoughts. I feel that Not only was I able to learn more about my neighbor but also improve my ability to observe and reason by processing their thoughts. As engineers, form previous assignment we know what we do depends on good communication, and this depends on interaction with other people, and this in turn makes observation skills and information priceless. 

A conversation is a two way thing in two ways; you learn, they learn, you share, they share, and It is a unique and invaluable opportunity, if the other party is willing to talk and you are willing to listen well, it is a chance to step into another person’s mind and see their world.

Some things I find are needed to listen empathetically:

Curiosity

 Asking both specific and open-ended questions

Who are you listening to?-be attuned to verbal and nonverbal indications, e.g. the tone of their voice and various body language.

Act in a manner so that you add value to their points

When you disagree, instead of criticizing find alternatives or common ground.

Also, I hope it wasn’t too much trouble to read this very long blog; I was on a roll…

Blog #5

 

 The Desk Lamp 

It is usually used to illuminate a workspace. Often it can be fitted with several types of light sources, such as LED, incandescent, fluorescent and halogen bulbs. In the dorms we are not supposed to use incandescent bulbs, I guess because they can be a fire hazard.  Many people use fluorescent bulbs in their lamps, however there is a problem. The light from these can be unsuitable at times. Being too bright or not bright enough or too harsh a light, depending on the conditions. Perhaps if a single lamp could be fitted with multiple types of bulbs an automatically switch between them this user experience problem could be solved as the different bulbs have different characteristics that could be useful  under different conditions

Uncertainty,Toulmin and Modelling

A model is a simplified notion or representation of reality. This makes it very important.

Consider the concept of flight

Now consider these:

  

 

If you had to explain flight to someone who had no idea of the concept you might use a paper plane, a model plane, a diagram or show them an airliner or a bird. These would all then be models of varying complexity and accuracy for the same idea.  The concept of flight as we might naturally see it, in birds for example, is such a complex one that we cannot understand it straight away.  In order to understand it we try to emulate it. However it is far too complex to 'copy' exactly and this is why we need simplified models.

Basically, what I understand as the reason modeling is indispensably important is because:

a)      Nothing in this world is perfect or ideal

b)     Many things are immeasurably complex

As a result of this, we find that uncertainty is everywhere. In my previous blog I started with the premise that to be an engineer is to be a problem solver. This applies itself to the concept of modeling very well.

What is a problem?

In my opinion it is anything which hinders the achievement of an objective.

Now if we cannot exactly determine this ‘thing’, what it is or how it operates because of the above mentioned uncertainty, then how do we solve the problem and achieve the objective?

Interestingly enough, this is a problem in its own right.

The answer I am getting to is modeling, but to demonstrate I will use Toulmin’s model to argue this.

Toulmin's model on Prezi

Toulmin’s model for argumentation gives us a less complex, easier to understand view of what makes a convincing argument and in so doing helps to breakdown why something happens the way it does. This in turn makes it a very useful tool to solve problems through modeling.

As engineers, to deal with and solve problems we must embrace paradox and uncertainty. Modeling lets us do this by helping us to understand problems and lets us see details that we otherwise might not be able to see. It enables us to link things that may otherwise seem unrelated by providing a systematic, structured process for problem solving (this is how we can apply math to a problem; because of structure it follows certain rules). By simplifying a problem and looking only at its core components through modeling, we can ask "what would happen if?". Modeling in many cases is also easier and cheaper to do than emulating actual phenomena (if it can be done at all). In essence modeling turns a problem we do not understand into a simpler one we do understand so that we as engineers can solve problems better.

Communication in Engineering-Option #3

The Importance Of Communication in Engineering

#2 The Power of Networking and Initiative

For a start, networks are everywhere. I don't just mean people or social networks. The Power grid is a network, so are transportation systems and even the nerve cells in our brain from a very complex network. The key thing about networks is that (and this is a fairly recent discovery) they are not random, but follow a very precise structure which is increasingly being found to apply to more and more facets of our lives. This structure therefore allows information to be passed between nodes very quickly and efficiently. This makes a network a very powerful thing. 

Now information as I see it is no good without something being done with it. This is where, in the case of people, initiative comes in.

How this works:

1.       A node (person) has a goal to accomplish.

2.       The node becomes part of a network.

3.       The network provides information to the node.

4.       This information is interpreted by the node and opportunities are recognized (not all information is useful).

5.       The node acts on the information to seize the appropriate (again due to the sheer volume of information not all opportunities will be suitable) opportunity and takes the initiative.

6.       The node's actions and initiative lead to the goal being accomplished.

So without the network and valuable information initiative is nothing. And without initiative the information is basically wasted.

To illustrate: (a method I find to be increasingly indispensable after reading “The Back of the Napkin”)

This is a network. Each person is only connected to the person immediately next to them.

Person (a) wants some information that only person (e) has. Normally (a) has to go through a chain of other people and this can be long and inaccurate.

 Now if (a) networks and makes a direct link with (e) information transfer is much faster and (a) can get the required information.

However there is a side effect of the people connected to (e) also being networked  to (a) via an additional step... more information and more opportunities. 

 Additionally the people who know (a) directly, through another step, also know (e) and (f) and (d).

 Soon enough, as you can probably imagine, everybody knows everybody else. One might think now there is stagnation, but wait...

Suppose (a) forges a link to (g) in another network. The networks are linked and more information is available.

Now everybody in the first network, through various intermediates, knows everybody in the second network.

Now, by previous reasoning, imagine several such networks and several such links. This is the web of human interaction. Imagine the huge volumes of information that can be attained and the vast opportunities discovered. Now imagine being (a). If you take the initiative and seize the right ( I emphasize right) opportunities, nothing is out of reach, nothing is impossible. However if you don't forge links or even worse, do nothing with the opportunities, accomplishing goals becomes very difficult. 

  

There is a concept out there called "six degrees of separation". The idea is that to communicate with any one in the world someone only has to go through six intermediates. This seems impressive given the roughly six billion people on this planet. This has now been shown to be very possible and the way in which it happens is governed by a mathematical formula. I believe that some details can be found in a book called, Linked: The New Science of Networks (a review can be found in the library). 

This, in essence is the power of networks and initiative.

Real world example ( my experience): 

Our I-team recently went on a field trip to the research park on the south side of campus.

We were given a tour of the labs and offices of many of the startups at work there.

The technical manager of one of the startups gave a presentation and his work was of great interest to me.

An expert in his field due to several years of research, him and his team worked on and developed exciting new technology that they are now using as the basis of their new business. After his presentation , some thoughts regarding this technology occurred to me. Although he seemed to be quite a formidable and busy chap, I nevertheless nervously wrote him an email regarding the ideas that I had. I received an unexpected reply a couple of days later to my astonishment. Not only did he give his opinion on my thoughts but also asked for further details and directed me to articles that had already been published. The result of this experiment surprised me. Taking the initiative worked! A dialogue has been established with someone who I otherwise would probably have never encountered. I must add that it was possible only through the network. As a part of the I-team, I had access to our ISA who in turn knew the former head of the Research Park who arranged the visit through the current head of the research park, who introduced us to the expert. The network provided the information and by emailing him I feel I have taken the initiative and seized the opportunity. Furthermore, it was a two way exchange as I provided  him with my ideas and got his opinions in return. I have emailed him again and hopefully will be able to keep and open dialogue in the future.

Skill sets..

1. I need to develop better visualization skills. Perhaps learning to communicate by drawing alone is a good way to do this. 'The back of the Napkin' is also a good place to start. I should try to implement this whenever I am explaining something to someone. Eg. draw a map to give directions.

2. I need to communicate what is in may head more clearly, perhaps by thinking more about what i am about to say and how I am going to say it.

3.learn another language or become better at a language I know. People are more receptive when they hear familiar sounds.

All of these i guess can be done realistically by the end of semester. Except 3. that requires more time.

The Missing Basics...

As I see it, what David E. Goldberg is suggesting with the concept(s) of the missing basics is analogous to a public transport system, or indeed the buses on which we students depend to get around. Essentially the goal is to get to point B from point A, and logically the only requirement is to know how to drive the bus (assuming we are taking a bus). However, a the transport system is just that, a system, it consists of much more than just the bus drivers and it would be nothing without the support system, in our case the missing basics, of those who communicate the relevant information to the public or those who maintain vehicles or those who figure out the routes and scheduling. Therefore, while the basics of math, science etc. are essential tools in an engineer's arsenal, the missing basics are required to implement and use these tools successfully. This makes communication skills, design and visualization skills and people skills as important as knowing how to solve differential equations.

A simple example:
An engineer is assigned to bridge the gap of a river to connect two parts of a city:

1. Socrates 101-Inability to ask the right questions.
If the engineer cannot figure out what are the specific needs of those for whom the problem is being solved, they probably will not be happy with the solution. Hence the need to ask the right questions.

2. Aristotle 101- Inability to label and identify patterns.
 It is possible that many people will want many things from the solution the engineer comes up with and the engineer will receive a lot of data. Labeling and identifying patters will sort though the data and decide on a course of action.

3. Hume 101- Inability to conceptually model and develop causal chains or lists.


"Begin with the end in mind". The engineer will need to figure out what to do and when. Some actions will have prerequisites and there will be conflicts. Modeling will help to develop a process or flowchart which can be used as steps to solving the problem.

4. Descartes 101- Inability to decompose the problem in order to tackle large complex problems.
 Building a bridge or tunnel or teleportation device is a not problem. It is a set of many problems, many of which will have sub-problems that need to be solved. The task cannot be treated monolithically as there is too much to deal with. Decomposition is necessary.

5. Locke or Bacon 101- Inability to measure or query the real world, turning to theoretical formulas and not experimentation.
Without experimentation, a lot can go wrong. Formulas and theories do not account for local situations or idiosyncrasies. Experimentation allows for detail and a solution that is well suited to its problem.

6. Da Vinci 101- Inability to visualize or use visual thinking to show ideas more clearly.
 Visualization as I see it is part of decomposing the problem. An equation may not show how exactly the bridge pier will be attached to the span.

7. Newman 101- Inability to communicate and present ideas and writing to those who are not engineers or even other engineers.

The project is probably funded by some people who are not engineers. They won't pay for it if they don't understand what is going on and what they are paying for.

I have tried to demonstrate a case where each of the missing basics is essential to being not just an engineer, but an effective, efficient engineer who is dynamic and adaptable enough to handle a new and ever-changing world of problems. As I see it that is why the missing basics would be so unavoidably crucial to a  modern engineer.