IEEE — “Advancing Technology for Humanity”

The IEEE has just unveiled a new tagline: “Advancing Technology for Humanity.”

When I first read it, I thought, “Well, that’s a bit much. All of technology? I thought the IEEE was only about electrical and electronic engineering.”

But it made me stop and realize how pervasive electronics is in all our technologies.

Think how thoroughly the World Wide Web has invaded all our lives.

Think of how many of the recent Winter Olympics events have been decided by hundredths of a second — decisions made possible by electronic timing.

My son trained in mechanical engineering at USC, but had to learn about electrical signal integrity issues to do his first job.

The recent highly publicized if relatively infrequent failures of Toyota acceleration systems have reminded us of how integral electronics are to the safe operation of our automobiles.

Medical technology? Highly electronic. MRI, CT scans, electronic record keeping, pacemakers, laparoscopic laser surgery....

Pharmaceutical and biochemical research? Electronic instruments such as nanotiter arrays make it possible to do billions of experiments in a very short time.

And it boggled my mind to learn that people are now using inkjet printer technology to build 3D replacement bladders from human cells — and that the bladders are being used in seven people already.

So, yeah, Advancing Technology (in General) for Humanity. Not too much after all!

I feel privileged to be a part of it.