Flying Buttresses, Entropy, and O-rings: The World of an EngineerFrom Teflon to Velcro, from bandwidths to base pairs, the artifacts of engineering and technology reflect the broad scope--and frustrating limitations--of our imagination. Best-selling author James Adams takes readers on an enlightening tour of this exciting world, demystifying such endeavors as design, research, and manufacturing. |
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - name99 - LibraryThingA not especially inspiring collection of essays on engineering. Not recomended. Read full review
Contents
A Brief History of Technology | 5 |
Design and Invention | 78 |
Development Test and Failure | 150 |
Manufacturing and Assembly | 177 |
Money and Business | 204 |
Regulation | 221 |
The Challenge for the Future | 239 |
Sources and Suggested Readings | 249 |
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ability acceleration activities airplane Allen-Bradley allow amount application approach approximately automobile become behavior better billion built capability century Chapter chemical companies complex components cost CT scanning detailed devices early economic electrical electronics energy engi engineering entropy environment example experience factors failure force function Galileo spacecraft genetic engineering hardware heat heat engine Hero of Alexandria Hewlett-Packard human increased Industrial Revolution industry instance integrated circuits interaction interest invention inventors involved Jet Propulsion Laboratory laboratories large number machine manufacturing and assembly materials mathematicians mathematics mechanical metal modern neering nuclear operations organizations patent percent physical plants problems quantities relationships Reproduced by permission result scientific scientists simple society solving sophisticated spacecraft steam structure technical technological determinism temperature testing theory things understanding United wire X-ray