Top Engineering Terms and Expressions
(What engineers say versus what they mean)

1. A number of different approaches are being tried.
(We are still guessing at this point)

2. Close project coordination. (We sat down and had coffee together)

3. An extensive report is being prepared on a fresh approach.
(We just hired three punk kids out of school)

4. Major technological breakthrough! (It works OK, but looks very hi-tech!)

5. Customer satisfaction is believed assured.
(We are so far behind schedule, that the customer will take anything)

6. Preliminary operational tests were inconclusive.
(The darn thing blew up when we threw the switch)

7. Test results were extremely gratifying! (Unbelievable, it actually worked!)

8. The entire concept will have to be abandoned.
(The only guy who understood the thing quit)

9. It is in process.
(It is so wrapped in red tape that the situation is completely hopeless)

10. We will look into it. (Forget it! We have enough problems already)

11. Please note and initial. (Let's spread the responsibility for this)

12. Give us the benefit of your thinking.
(We'll listen to what you have to say as long as it doesn't interfere with
what we have already done or with what we are going to do)

13. Give us your interpretation. (We can't wait to hear your bull)

14. See me or let's discuss. (Come to my office, I've screwed up again)

15. All new. (Parts are not interchangeable with previous design)

16. Rugged. (Don't plan to lift it without major equipment)

17. Robust! (Rugged, but more so)

18. Light weight. (Slightly lighter than rugged)

19. Years of development. (One finally worked)

20. Energy saving. (Achieved when the power switch is off)

21. No maintenance. (Impossible to fix)

22. Low maintenance. (Nearly impossible to fix)

23. Fax me the data. (I'm too lazy to write it down)

24. We are following the standard!
(That's the way we have always done it!)

25. I didn't get your e-mail. (I haven't checked my e-mail for days)


Just trying to lighten up the mood around here...

__________________
"Yes, zero does not equal one, but with the right perspective, zero does equal one. The aim of zen is to realize both truths simultaneously, in the same way we understand the truth in the saying, 'The more things change, the more they stay the same.'"

--Philip Toshio Sudo 1959-2002
(Descansa en paz mi amigo)

Report this post to a moderator

quote:

---

Originally posted by Supertech
Microsoft Corporation has placed its holders of the "Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer" designation at risk of legal action by Canada's provincial engineering registration bodies by reneging on its agreement to restrict its holders from using the title. The Canadian Council of Professional Engineers has issued a statement warning MCSE holders who follow the advice of Microsoft, could face full legal measures against them..

Many states have made such titles illegal because they mislead the public on who is really an engineer. Graduates of such training are not required to have an engineering degree or a PE (Professional engineer) license so they cannot be called engineers. This effort is in the public interest because software impacts public safety. By way of information, Ohio has rendered the MCSE title unusable unless you are an actual engineer. Nevada also has strict engineer title laws.

Following a path blazed by other certification programs that are striving to spare their certified professionals from potential legal hassles, Check Point has removed the word "Engineer" from all of its certification titles and the word "Expert" will now be used. According to a company spokesperson, this is because there are certain locations in which it is illegal to promote yourself as an engineer without a degree in engineering from an accredited university. Check Point won't be issuing replacement certificates for those who already have them, but new certificates will reflect the change.

---

Report this post to a moderator

Interesting, everyone's posts are.

Just for fun, here's some more engineering discussion.

I know a guy at my gym who happens to teach some of the yoga classes now. I heard him mention he was in the computer field once, so I approached him one day. He said his company
makes video and/or sound cards and that he was an engineer and had an engineering degree.

Also, I have and uncle who went to the Brooklyn Naval Academy and was in the Merchant Marines. He is an engineer and was in charge of the engineering department at several major hospitals.

I have two cousins who are an engineers by way of college engineering degrees. I know one was involved in the bridge building industry for awhile, not sure what the other one does.

Several years ago, I was going to a naturalistic holistic herbologist specialist.
He was known as DR even though he did not have a PHD nor a degree in medicine.

Anyways, I think the MCSE is very hard to earn and should be well respected.

I just think that there is some confusion
for people when they hear engineer and it's not in the generally known way.

I was a Medical Technologist and people used to call me a Lab Tech. I had a four year degree and the other required only a two year degree. It generally left me insulted and I was constantly having to explain to people what my title meant.

After reading all these posts, I do generally agree that Tennmann seems to be
looking down his nose rather than inquiring out of curiosity.

There's just no place in this world to be going around putting other people down for no reason, we all work hard to get our acheivments.

Go whine somewhere else, Tennman.

__________________
sunshine, sunflowers and seashells!

Report this post to a moderator

quote:

---

Originally posted by cm2gj
Your welcome. Two more exams to achieve MCSE status.

People know i take several diff degrees on my life. As in my country all study is free, i change my study profession 3 times. First i study 4 years of Audio Technician, finishing with a engineering. I made it good works with audio jobs, design and editing. AFter that i change to electronics. I make a night study complemment on the same school i take the audio stuff. 3 more years only taking electronic training and exams. after that i take Comunications / computer degree. 5 years!!! .... all this and i want my MCSE. i can say i have 3 engineer status... but i want MCSE.. why=?... because MCSE is not easy.... are only 7 exams (compared with all the exams i take on 10 years of hard exams on my degrees) and i see you need study and dedication.

is only a term... if you achieve MCSE, believe me.. i respect you.... i know you need your efforts, labs, test and all you have to take and pass all this exams... the term ENGINEER after the MCSx is very nice and a nice option from Microsoft.

Sincerely... my congratulations to all MCSE people here and all people following this letters....

---

Report this post to a moderator

quote:

---

Originally posted by Supertech
Many states have made such titles illegal because they mislead the public on who is really an engineer.

---

But not Texas!

Report this post to a moderator

My view of the subject is this:

I have a BSc in Microbiology - an equivalent to the first degree that an engineer would get in Britain (a BEng) - and I can tell you I work a damn sight harder to get myself through the IT certs that I have and that I am working on, than I ever did to get my degree.

In fact, my girlfriend is a "proper" engineer - she has a degree in Electrical engineering and Physics and works as a Development engineer for a big semiconductor manufacturer, she knows how hard I work for my IT certs and would gladly back me up on the above.

Having said this when my GF tells people shes and engineer, they think she repairs cars or washing machines - so much for the title "engineer" then.

So to say that MCSE's don't have the right to call themselves engineers because of some academic snobbery is little more than that - snobbery - its BS.

In any case, if it comes to it, I think I'd rather be called a certified systems expert than engineer anyway. It would do away with the notion that I repair a PC with a spanner and torque wrench.

Last edited by richardwhit on 01-11-03 at 11:57 AM

Report this post to a moderator

regarding universit studies and cert, I think there is a bit of hindsight.

thinking about it, it was so easy back then... 12 hours /week of class. gazillion hours of partying, socializing and all taht stuff... stuff we don't have time anymore...

to do it again, with my mindset now... hardened by work hours, no prospect of 3 months summer vacation... I am confident I can blow through any 4 year degree in 2 years if not less...

but this is where I differ, cert study is light... topics covered is light. the knowledge covered in any comp sci etc curriculum beats any unix cert, beats any programming cert, beats any network cert. (excluding a selected few). However, the whole atmosphere just so much easier than professionals making time to further their career... and depending on the professor, some classes are just too easy... I still remember getting 103% <-with extra credit *laugh* in intermediate accounting... I remmeber pass mark for one of the mid level physic class being 50 % when I think I got mid 70's (yes, I changed major more than a few time...)

I also differ with introducing oneself as engineer when one is only a MCSE. engineer in MCSE is just part of the branding, not standalone. I would raise an eyebrow if somone does that... However, since company bestow job titles such as network engineers, why isn't the states sueing them... cuz I sure as hell well, as everyone else should, introduce themselves in a professional convention, seminar meeting etc like "my name is mikop, I am a network engineer at xyz company* it is all about the context in which these common words are used. no one will confuse what a network engineer actually is, vs someone who introduce themselves as "my name is mikop, I am a software engineer at x, or I am a chip design engineer at y.

Report this post to a moderator

quote:

---

Originally posted by gr33nd4yg1rl
true lol
but to me, when i hear somebody who says they work as an engineer or they are an engineering major in college, i think of somebody who's stuyding electrical engineering, or computer engineering, etc...not an MCSE...no offense meant towards anyone or any title...

just my opinion

---

Report this post to a moderator

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mr. Linux Guy
That's funny. When I hear the word "engineer", I always think of someone who drives a train.

---

Report this post to a moderator

People like the original poster really get my blood boiling, and I have noticed that often times, the easiest way to disagree is to go straight to the absurd, prove your point, and enjoy the ride

__________________
Freak, MA, M.Ed., Net+,I-Net+, Security+, CEH, CEI, CCA, CCNA, MCP+I, MCSA, MCSE NT, MCSE 2K, MCT

iCertify dot net: Free Forum, quizzes, study guides...

FreakNotes.com: free subnetting, DHCP, Network Security study guides! Also 120-page Security+ book and 100+ page Network+ book!

InfoSecWeb.com

Report this post to a moderator