The world is constantly evolving and with it (or rather as a result of it), the technology is, too. The 2010s have introduced some interesting ideas and streamlined a number of technological wonders, the smartphone, for example. Engineering, like many other professions, should definitely follow in suit – the advances should be anticipated and engineers prepared for the sake of the advancement of humankind. So, what is the engineer of 2020 going to look like?
With the technological advancements comes the need for increased expertise. A particularly educated bunch, engineers are considered the cream of the modern society, but is this going to be enough for what the 2020s have got in store for us? Well, certain changes have to be met. For example, the bachelor’s degree should be considered a pre-engineering degree, while the master’s degree would enable an engineer to become a real “professional”. The essence of the profession in question should be studied at the undergraduate studies and university education in engineering should produce experts who are able to define, as well as solve problems.
Virtual Reality
The VR has seen a lot of success in the video gaming department – by letting the users have a 360-degree view of their virtual surroundings, the virtual reality technology has increased its demand. Now, how much good would interacting with CAD models bring to the table for engineers? Engineers sit for days on end at their desks, designing virtual objects to be as accurate as their physical doppelgangers, but usually end up never seeing what they’ve designed in person, let alone understanding how the part will fit upon installation. Virtual reality will be an excellent way to interact with these objects. Once you put on the headset, you are completely immersed into an imaginary world and your sight is replaced with a virtual one – which is the point. Imagine being able to change materials of an object, its size and much more with the help of a controller.
The other aspect of virtual reality is augmented reality (AR). This technology helps us add computer simulations to the real world (think Pokémon Go). Using the AR, the engineers of the future will easily be able to see how their designs fit into the real world, without risking errors and money loss, or worse.
Educational institutions will need to understand the importance of VR and implement it into their programs – the engineer of 2020 will have to know his way around it!
Engineering Jobs of the Future
The job demand is something that is in perpetual fluctuation – although being a programmer is hugely demanded nowadays, this is a trend that might change. The case is the same with engineering and here are some top anticipated engineering jobs to expect in the 2020s:
Software engineering – The software sector is at the very top of job demands. Brands are learning to operate digitally and are developing new apps and systems.
Geotechnical engineering – Ever thought about who checks the soil quality and other factors that concern pre-building of everything from bridges to public schools? Well, a career in geotechnical engineering is not only a lucrative one, but also quite easy to get into nowadays.
Biomedical engineering – With a rise in the popularity of 3D printing and micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), the demand for biomedical engineers is expected to continue to rapidly grow.
Environmental engineering – The eco-friendly world will need eco-conscious engineers and an increasing number of environmental experts are flocking towards this profession.
The engineer of the future will need to be better educated than the modern one. They will need technological expertise, increased funding and more strict requirements in order to get into engineering. The engineer of the 2020 is going to be an all-round expert!
Diana Smith sent this in to TechBooky via dianasmith.dany@gmail.com
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