In his article "Tales of Technology and Ethics", Ken Maschke tackles the question of is it ethical for a young engineer to use computer software to complete calculations that he cannot do by hand. This is somewhat an extension of the question from before of whether it is best to teach fundamental knowledge to young engineers or to teach them the software. Ken discusses two main types of computer aid spreadsheet formation and the use of commercially available software and concludes that yes it is ethical for the engineer to use these tools to complete his job though he does offer a few observations of the necessity of good engineering judgment.
He discusses the topic of standardized spreadsheet formation to begin with and how some older engineers lacked confidence in these spreadsheets because they believed it could lead to repetitive bad calculations if a mistake was made in the formula. I had the experience during one of my internships of finding an error in one of our companies standardized spreadsheets. I had just taken a class that taught the theory behind what I was working on and though the error was minor, it had been used probably hundreds or thousands of times inaccurately. While spreadsheets can be a good tool, it is the engineers ethical responsibility to ensure that the formulas employed to complete the assigned task are accurate and complete.
Second he mentions about using some finite element analysis program to model a building and how the young engineers were taught the theory and inputs but never actually completed the calculations by hand. Also their supervisors allowed them to use the software because they didn't have time to complete the hand calculations themselves. He discusses how it is important to understand the assumptions being made by yourself and the software program as well as the importance of using good engineering judgment. Maschke recommends that teams should be comprised of a variety of age groups and experience levels for optimum performance and use of software and engineering judgment.
After all the engineer is ethically responsible for the spreadsheets that he makes and the software developer for ensuring that the software produces the appropriate results. Mistakes can be made just as easily by hand as they can be by computer. Do you feel safe allowing your fate to rest in a computer's calculations?
I think it is important to know how to do these calculations and know the theory behind them before one learns how to use the computer. Computers do make mistakes and often do not take into account factors which might be unique to one situation. Im impressed that you caught the mistake at your internship! They probably loved you for that!
ReplyDeleteI think computers prove on a daily basis that we can trust them with our safety. If the computer in my car that handles my traction control weren't reliable I would be dead by now. I have great respect for the engineers that have developed such reliable technologies.
ReplyDeleteIt is undoubtedly necessary to use computer programs for engineering analysis. In today's world, time is money, and the fastest way to find a workable solution is the right one. Most engineers forget the nuances involved with hand calculations of complex equations from school; computer programs must be used. However, the engineer who knows how to think and use good judgment will succeed over one who knows only number and equations. Knowing what the numbers from a computer program mean is vital.
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