How do you keep informed?
How do you keep informed?
(OP)
Engineers are busy people. Some of us are challenged to find time even to skim a newspaper, whether or not we are trying to catch up on local engineering issues. But I know, newspapers are not the only source of "news".
I pick up some news of issues while working, nothing comprehensive. The kind of news I learn at the office is shallow or specific to the company or one of its projects. Then again, sometimes we simply are the news, as dense as ever.
Gatherings and meetings of professional associations organizations are usually good places to go to find a tip or two, whether in talking with another engineer or in listening to a presentation. With a family at home, I will not attend as many of those as I would like.
I am just to know where you typically find the best insights into either the local engineering issues or the national ones that have a direct impact on the local economy. Radio? TV? The local pub?
I pick up some news of issues while working, nothing comprehensive. The kind of news I learn at the office is shallow or specific to the company or one of its projects. Then again, sometimes we simply are the news, as dense as ever.
Gatherings and meetings of professional associations organizations are usually good places to go to find a tip or two, whether in talking with another engineer or in listening to a presentation. With a family at home, I will not attend as many of those as I would like.
I am just to know where you typically find the best insights into either the local engineering issues or the national ones that have a direct impact on the local economy. Radio? TV? The local pub?





RE: How do you keep informed?
Over the years I've found that control over content is my best way to stay up on info. How do I do that? I select trade magazines that specifically target my industry in areas I'd like to know more about (current stuff). So that's computer hardware, software, plastics, processes, and other design-related stuff. I take a magazine or two with me whenever I need to grab lunch or run errands--no time wasted while in line or otherwise waiting. I throw them away if I don't get to them within a month or so.
Otherwise, I look to the Internet to find what I want to find (something not possible with a time-dependent medium, such as TV). So I waste no time absorbing information I've no interest in. I often take lunch at my desk and catch up on news or articles while eating. I do the same when starting my day (but I'm self-employed, so that works out well for me).
I think the big TV networks and newspapers are in some serious trouble. Their content is simply irrelevant to me and a growing segment of the population--I can't see interest ever gaining except among those who use such media as an opportunity to tune out of their surrounding world.
Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all. And awe transcends reason.
RE: How do you keep informed?
RE: How do you keep informed?
On TV, I only watch info channels ... ie Discovery, National Geo, TLC, NOVA, etc.
Chris
SolidWorks 07 2.2/PDMWorks 07
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 02-10-07)
RE: How do you keep informed?
RE: How do you keep informed?
The news that interests me most is being passed around like a hot potato. Discerning fact from rumor requires some wisdom, but one-to-one communication is another way I am keep myself informed, whether in person or over the phone. I used to meet with engineers at a local pub to chew the fat. We would trade tips over a pint. But as for any newspaper, some tips were hotter than others, and others still were as stale as the pretzels on the bar.
RE: How do you keep informed?
corus
RE: How do you keep informed?
RE: How do you keep informed?
Theophilus- man, I can't stand tv. Even for documentaries. I'm fed up with their talking heads format.
RE: How do you keep informed?
Both were interesting though gave limited detail.
In the US I've now subscribed to popular science and popular mechanics.
If I see something real interesting I can usually find something on the web to satisfy my curiosity.
RE: How do you keep informed?
stuffy daily paper (mainly for business news)
Yahoo news for automotive financials
Professional Engineering (IMechE) for whatever the anoraks are writing about this month to justify the hike in subs
Several different trade mags
Books
Websites
SAE papers
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: How do you keep informed?
Typically I have various projects such as industrial, foreign, etc..each time, I learn something new, and I keep up with Eng-tips.
But, instead, I try to read something other than engineering (i.e in my specialty), I've read too much in my early years in the field I guess.
I make it now a necessity to find a new interesting project for the kids outside of my engineering field from the library, it is amazing how much life gets interesting when you try to get out of your trade. Have you tried to build a puppet show? story, stage and all and play it for the kids lately? try yoga? judo? priceless!!!.
It is much better to keep up with life than with just our own engineering.
All that, after you pay your dues of course.
RE: How do you keep informed?
Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all. And awe transcends reason.
RE: How do you keep informed?
Civil is one of the broadest of the engineering professions, what specifically do you do? If we know a bit more about what you do then we might be able to make some specific suggestions.
RE: How do you keep informed?
Where I live, there are evening documentaries on the public channels that offer an on-the-ground perspective of our local water infrastructure, something very important to my career. Although I have read books and seen the pictures in the magazines, the public television documentaries offer another valuable perspective on some of these works. It is striking how a public television personality can bring to mind questions about a work that engineers might not consider.
By the way, how about attending trade conferences? I have attended conferences and picked up some useful tips from them. Some of the information there is redundant, yet it helps me to have the same information presented in a variety of ways, so that it is more clearly understood. It seems to me this is a fine place to learn about an emerging industry trend.
RE: How do you keep informed?
RE: How do you keep informed?
My question was intended to get an idea of how you keep informed of *local* issues that affect your business. One thing this site does not have, to my understanding, are regional forums--not that I don't enjoy talking to engineers from all over the world.
For your information, I am a water professional, but in order to keep an open mind and get some new ideas, I wanted to open this question up to people of all fields, to try to kindly remove my blinders.
RE: How do you keep informed?
RE: How do you keep informed?
RE: How do you keep informed?
http://reddit.com/
Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all. And awe transcends reason.