Electrical Engineering Essay

1. IntroductionEngineers shake up the potential of developing forming that will be have got by hundreds, thousands, even millions of people. Since so many people argon utilize this technology, it has to be safe and it has to benefit one population without making a nonher suffer. As the points design new technology, they are the ones that make up an ethical responsibility to figure that it will not endanger lives or cause any suffering. The social occasion of the essay is to explore the specific issuances that face galvanic engineers. The primary tension in this essay will be addressing the question how outhouse an issue be an ethical cite if it does not directly endanger tender-hearted livelihood or society? This is particularly important as in contrast to other branches of design, the moral issues surrounding electric engineering do not usually affect a consumers health or lead to injury or death. A civil engineering plight could command a building collapsing or roads falling aside leading to direct death or injury, such as the LAmbiance Plaza Collapse1 in Connecticut, or the Sampoong part Store Collapse2 in Seoul.However, as discussed in Fleddermann (2000)3, the problems confront by electrical engineers are no less important, and that the engineers in this matter should be sensible of the particular ethical dilemmas of this field. The field of electrical engineering covers a wide range of technology from power times and infection lines to integrated circuits used in computers. This essay will outline, using real-life examples, leash major concerns in electrical engineering and explain how they impact the domain of a function on an inter guinea pig scale. The incumbent events to the ethical dilemmas will be evaluated using ethical analysis, and alternative solutions will be provided. The following scenarios are an clarified illustration of the ethical issues that electrical engineers have to face and opens up a unique discussion about their responsibilities in both a national and international setting. electric outlet 1 Quality of product vs. commercial conquest galvanising engineers are involved in the manufacturing of everyday household appliances. The circuitry that is designed is used in products that are sold by the manufacturer. Manufacturers can prioritise the commercial success of their product over the existing quality. This can result in a conflict of interest amongst manufacturer and engineer since the manufacturer can befinancially motivated, whereas an engineer is supposed to hold paramount the welfare of public in their pro duties (engineering code of ethics)5. An example of this is the manufacturing of the Intel microprocessor in 19944. The microprocessor had a flaw in it that cerebratet that a regularly used operation by users would give the incorrect results. The engineers knew of this problem, and determine it for future version. Despite this, Intel act merchandising the product.Th is error was found by users, and Intel decided it would plainly replace microprocessor with a good one to people who could demonstrate that they needed it. Should Intel have provided a replacement regardless? Since Intel was aware of the problem, was it unethical to withhold this information from the users? If this information had been given, and warnings had been included, does this solve the ethical problems for the follow? According to Intel, since the error was so minor it would not affect the mass of users. However the few people would have suffered from this flaw could have been rectify if Intel had offered to replace their microprocessor for free. This is what Intel did do and so according to utilitarianism principles their response was ethically sound.However, what was vile was the fact that they did not bring up this issue themselves, and that they continued manufacturing and selling the product without warnings. They did not respect the dignity of their consumers enoug h to let them be informed consumers. By applying Kantian ethics, one can determine that Intel did not respect the dignity of their customers, and was merely using them as a representation to an end. This was to maximise their profit margin by exhausting their faulty stock. in that respect are a number of alternative solutions that Intel could have taken. Intel could have continued selling their product with a warning label so that elevate customers would be aware of flaw. A bust solution would have been if Intel discontinued making this microprocessor and told their customers of the flaw straight away, whilst also religious offering a replacement chip. Issue 2 experimental nature of electrical.The technology used by engineers to design equipment is complex, and outside the discernment of a bulk of general consumers. In addition to this, the lasting effect of some of these technologies is unknown. Since electrical technology is designed on such a small scale, thither can beunk nown effects delinquent to our restrain understanding of quantum physics. This raises an interesting issue that has sparked debate. Can we use technology that we dont fully understand, but use on a daily tail end? Is it safe to use this technology considering that there may be a potential risk that we have yet to comprehend? The nature of electrical engineering can be somewhat experimental. Transmission lines are used every day to transfer energy into our homes.There are ludicrous theories6 that suggests that these transmission lines which emit low-frequency electromagnetic radiation can be slanderous to the general population. This ranges from causing headaches and muscles fatigue to an increased risk of cancer6. Is an engineer make to consider these potential risks in their design, even if there is little validation or knowledge into the lasting effects? Currently transmission lines are designed so that they are around 5-10 metres off the ground, this is both for readines s as well as to remove them from the reach of the general public, avoiding electrocution. However, not many transmission lines have shielding to reduce or obliterate the effects of electromagnetic fields, as there is no quantitative reason to suggest that shielding is necessary. If the observational theories were proven to be true, however unlikely, that would mean that the general public have been placed in a maculation of possible harm. In the unlikely case this was true, does the small probability of this beingness true outweigh the seriousness of the potential harm (cancer).An engineer should be morally responsible at all times, and so an engineer should employ some sort of resort measure. Even if there is only a tiny potential for transmission lines to have lasting negative effects, there should be methods used to combat this threat. This is applying contractualism principles. If engineers themselves believed that they could be exposed to these painful effects, and knew t hat they could do something about it, they would integrate some shielding into their transmission line design. Issue 3 sustainability and power contemporaries, impact of catchpenny(prenominal) labour Power generation and sustainability is a key concern for all people in the world. Electrical engineers are a vital part of this international machine touch with sustainability.Engineers primarily concern themselves with providing the most efficient means of power generation and distribution, but this can cause negative effects on the global community. Can a balance be achieved? Is it possible for an electrical engineer to bemorally responsible at all time? Our current primary energy source is dependent on a extra resource, coal and fossil fuels7. The utilisation of these materials results in emissions and waste that are harmful to the environment. Since an electrical engineer is only concerned with the production of energy and not of its disposal is this even an issue they should concern themselves with? Its not and up to one person to be ethically responsible. An engineer is only a small part of a network of morally free agents.An engineer can apply virtue ethics or Kantian ethics, and create awareness of environmental issues. An engineer should have a spotless nature and consider all areas of society that they can impact. If an engineer applies Kantianism, their actions would involve trying to tell their managers that they are using the Earths limited resources as a means to an end, and the environment gets negatively affected by this. If an engineer raises concern about environmental issues, then they are ethically sound. Even if the situation does not change due to the opinions of higher up people, the engineer has done all that they can be expected to. specious LabourAn example of our global effect is found in a youtube video8 where cheap child labour is used to break down move in a circuit board for further use. The toxic experience emitted from deconstructing the components are extremely hazardous and can cause lasting health consequences. Companies source labour to developing countries because it is an extremely economical alternative. This is primarily due to developing nations not having as stringent workplace health and safety requirements, and also being able to obtain workers who would work for a oft lower wage. Essentially this action will achieve the same outcome, for a lesser cost. These companies clearly priorities profit margins over social wellbeing. Is this an electrical engineers concern? An electrical engineer is part of the company that makes the decision to employ cheap labour, and so they can be in a position to wreak this decision. A number of options are available.Employ 1st world employees to serve the same job locallyThis will mean that there is a higher cost for the company. However, this will take away work from 3rd work countries. Cheap labour will no longerbe exploited, but the people of the co untry will no longer have employment, which could have serious roll-over effects on the society and economy. A remedy solution would be Employ 3rd world employees, and provide better wages and running(a) conditions. The major benefit of this is that a company can still provide work for the global community, while improving the working conditions and economies of the developing nations, rather than exploiting them. The downside is extra cost put into educating employees and providing good equipment to apply process. Both scenarios involve extra money input from companies, resulting in freeing of profits, but this is weighed against the safety of the people contracted to the company. Value of human life is held paramount here which satisfies engineering code of ethics.References1. http//www.engineering.com/Library/ArticlesPage/tabid/85/ArticleID/168/LAmbiance-Plazza.aspx 2. http//www.hazardcards.com/card.php?id=83. http//www.ele.uri.edu/courses/ele400/f12/cases.pdf4. B. Crothers, P entium woes continue, Infoworld, vol. 16, no. 48, pp. a. 118, Nov. 18, 1994.5. http//www.engineersaustralia.org.au//sites/default/files/shado/About%20Us/Overview/Governance/CodeOfEthics2000.pdf 6. http//www.mcw.edu/radiationoncology/ourdepartment/radiationbiology/Power-Lines-and-Cancer-FAQs.htm1 7. http//www.dg.history.vt.edu/ch2/impact.html8. https//www.youtube.com/ look?v=YeDw6yHQVbI