The emerging technologies. Are these really engineering?

To the public at large, electrical engineering is one of those terms which means all things to all men. The older generation would probably readily associate it with power generation, distribution, electric lighting and motors. The younger generation would also, and possibly more closely associate it with electronics, such as satellite TV, mobile phones and computers. Electrical engineering embraces all of these, and thus both associations are equally valid. Recognition that communication systems, both data and voice, are integral parts of electrical engineering widens considerably the scope of the profession, and as communications technology expands, so the profession will expand with it. The technology expansion in these areas is nothing short of breathtaking and a whole new subject area is needed to deal with these emerging technologies. Several universities have risen to the challenge and developed courses to service this need, including Media Technology, Multimedia Technology, and Music Technology. These courses, both in content and the type of students they attract, have, however, moved a long way from the traditional view of what constitutes engineering, and many traditionalists argue that these are not engineering courses at all, and the graduates from them certainly not eligible for professional engineer recognition. The authors briefly discuss what the requirements are for professional recognition