What gets left behind by the cutting edge?

Collaboration and the importance of engineering (not science) to devise practical technologies as solutions to human needs are the two themes running through this lecture.

I was engaged by the broadcast and at first thought it was a non-controversial, commonsense approach to the enormous complexity of some of the technologies that lie – often unseen, still less understood – behind the most mundane of daily life in northern Europe or North America.

On reflection - and whilst enjoying the telling - I was not so sold on the arguments. Yes, the combinations of diverse know-hows have produced extraordinarily advanced products and processes, the economics of some of these are mind-boggling, and engineering inventiveness is indeed boundless.

Two views of technology: iPods advertised on Minneapolis public transport [Image: Mulad under CC-BY licence]

But, is advanced technology (the speaker's emphasis so far) the only place to be I wonder? Does the drive to cutting edge competitiveness produce certain kinds of technology… and exclude others?

I am beginning to realise that the speaker has a particular concern about the state of British engineering; on one hand a lack of competitiveness on the part of the industry and on the other a lack of respect (or understanding) in the public at large (recall lecture one).

He is using the lectures as a rallying call on both fronts. This is a commendable approach.

However, I am looking forward to hearing about a broader approach to engineering than a focus on the cutting edge only.

As well as the feats of civil engineering to be found in airport terminals, or the wonders of GPS for motorists, I would also like to hear about the engineering challenges of environmentally-friendly, affordable housing, or the technologies needed for a sound and affordable public transport system, or how engineering can contribute to a global movement to ‘make poverty history’.

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