Engineering and Technology History Wiki

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Engineering and Technology History Wiki , abbreviated to ETHW , is an English-language wiki-based organization that has existed since the beginning of 2015 . It is essentially the successor organization to the IEEE Global History Network (IEEE GHN), which has existed since 2008. That is why the content has so far been mainly from the fields of electrical engineering and computer science .

Several U.S. engineering professional organizations have come together under the already existing joint foundation United Engineering Foundation to create a platform for preserving and disseminating the history of various engineering disciplines and related technology. The participating organizations represent construction ( ASCE ), mining and metallurgy (AIME), chemistry ( AIChE ), electrical and computer engineering ( IEEE ) and mechanical engineering (ASME). The special feature of this archive is that all members of the mentioned professional organizations can contribute and publish their own experience reports (see First-Hand Histories ).

The database contents are divided into the following areas, which can be selected on the ETHW website via Go to :

Areas

Encyclopedia

For the time being, this encyclopedia consists mainly of a collection of earlier so-called STARS and Topic articles, which were created as part of the previous IEEE GHN by the end of 2014. The term STARS was a Apronym for S ignificant T echnological A chievement R eCognition S elections (German: Selection essential for evaluating technical achievements ). Other encyclopedic articles focus on a topic such as a biography , the history of a particular technology, or the history of a professional organization unit. Since 2015, all registered participants have been able to submit technical articles in English online to the editorial team. In contrast to Wikipedia, the US editors of the participating organizers assess and improve the proposals before publication. However, there is no longer any actual formal peer review .

Examples:

  • Article by Michael Geselowitz and Ron Leder about pacemakers .
  • Article about the history of the IEEE section Germany (several authors, can be supplemented by members)

Oral histories

This area contains the recordings of more than 500 transcripts of interviews with important personalities of the various fields. The oldest interviews date from the 1960s.

Example:

First-hand histories

This area gives professionals such as inventors , scientists and engineers the opportunity to present their professional memories, experiences and insights themselves. A text can only be changed by the original author and thus remains an authentic, personal, historical source. Groups that worked together in one subject area can also write joint first-hand histories.

Examples:

Landmarks / Milestones

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) was the first US engineering organization to compile a list of historical milestones in civil engineering under the title Landmarks .

The IEEE later started its own program for awarding milestones . Today, the corresponding collection includes over a hundred confirmed milestones honoring electrical engineering and computer science devices, works, and patents that have brought breakthrough technical achievements to mankind.

IEEE milestones can be proposed by any IEEE member. Applications are submitted and funded by an IEEE organizational unit. The prerequisite is that the events were at least 25 years ago. As recommended by the IEEE History Commission, the approval of the IEEE Board of Directors is required. A memorial service will then be held on the spot for the milestone.

Examples of milestones:

The complete list of IEEE milestones is updated by IEEE and can be viewed.

Archives

A selection of freely accessible books and specialist articles, audio and video recordings, biographies and writings on the history of specialist organizations such as the IEEE can be viewed in this online archive.

Example:

Education

This area contains educational materials for social studies teachers . The aim is to show the role of technology in human history to a wider audience.

Example:

regulate

Authors must be registered as members of the mentioned professional organizations in order to be able to write articles or comments. Depending on the area, the authorization to write articles is regulated differently.

All content is publicly available online.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Engineering and Technology History Wiki = Section about ETHW . Accessed March 23, 2015 .
  2. ↑ ETHW encyclopedia. Accessed March 23, 2015 .
  3. ↑ Michael Geselowitz, Ron Leder: Pacemaker. Retrieved March 13, 2015 .
  4. ^ History of the IEEE section Germany. Accessed March 23, 2015 .
  5. ↑ List of all oral histories. Accessed March 23, 2015 .
  6. ↑ Oral History: Ralph M. Showers. Retrieved March 25, 2015 .
  7. ^ Armin H. Frei: First-Hand: The First Quartz Wrist Watch. Retrieved March 25, 2015 .
  8. ↑ Peter J. Wild: First-Hand: Liquid Crystal Display Evolution - Swiss Contributions. Retrieved March 25, 2015 .
  9. ↑ Milestones: Marconi's Early Wireless Experiments, 1895. Accessed March 25, 2015 (English).
  10. ↑ Milestones: Discovery of Superconductivity, 1911. Retrieved March 25, 2015 (English).
  11. ↑ Milestones: Star of Laufenburg Interconnection, 1958. Accessed March 25, 2015 .
  12. ↑ List with descriptions of all IEEE milestones.
  13. ↑ Archives: Papers of Carl Hering. Retrieved March 25, 2015 .
  14. ↑ training. Accessed March 23, 2015 .
  15. ^ Education: Skyscrapers - Buildings that Touch the Sky. Retrieved March 25, 2015 .