This journal article talks about the general complexity of shapes, especially those used in computer systems such as CAD. I thought it very much pertained to the last class, as well as the past classes, as it talked about the different ways to view complexity, wheter it be the degree of polynomials or the number of compnents, self intersections, and so on. This researcher is trying to reduce that complexity, to make it more simple for engineers to design with programming, such as CAD. Because when I first saw CAD, and could tell by the diffcutly in using it, that it was one really complex program that very few people but engineers use. Possibly making it simpler and easier to use but still having the oppurtunity to be very complex is probably an application for this research.

In class, I found that I actually understood the way a wing works, with the high pressure. I always knew it had something to do with more of something than on the top, but actually seeing the diagrams and explaining it to me was a great way to relate the physics I know with the function of a wing. I also thought it was cool having the little airplanes, as I felt it gave us a fun way to get our brains going to start thinking about how the plane works. I thought Sara’s question on the conchord was very thought provoking as well, as it was a double-eged sword of an interesting fact and creative question. And at the end, just looking at all the different designs of airplanes and how they work is a great way of connecting the things that we learned to their actual implementations.

site 2
This site is an example code of a game of tic tac toe using C++. I found this interesting as to see some of the stuff that actually goes behind the games that people play daily, and to look at all the different elements it takes to make such a simple game, and imagine what it must take for a huge game like Halo or World of Warcraft.

site 3
This is an interview of a software designer responsible for programming the software behind the mars Phoenix lander. Here he talks about all the different elements of the programming, including some things we have discussed in class, such as verification, and automation.

site 4
This is a new programming language for web developers called Django, in which is meant to speed up the process of coding by not having to repeat very little code. It is designed for people under intense pressure to meet deadlines. I thought this applied to our discussion on how codes are born, as perfectly shown here.

site 5
This last post is kind of another teaching site, but since it is Google, the biggest web company ever, I could not leave it out. It is Google code university, a perfect way to teach yourself web developing tools, all open source, all the time. How could it not be awesome, its Google!

I found this article using Engneering Village, and it jumped out at me due to the fact that it directly applied to a question I asked in class for discussion. I had asked myself and the class “If engineers do failure tests, why isn’t everything work perfectly and not break?”. This article mainly disscusses a process called Failure Modes and Effects Analysis, a failure check method intended to make sure something works from the bottom up, meaning starting at its parts. This article discusses how using this process, in addition to other realibility methods, a reliable product can be achieved. I feel that this process does work, but due to the current economy, many companies choose to bypass this, which is why we get the faulty products.

Tuesday’s class, in my opnion, was the most interesting and interactive so far. I find myself more drawn in and open for discussion as myself and others ask questions, whether they’re right on subject, or all the way out in left field. For instant, the discussion of how cruise control works very much applied to what your were talking about, yet was something we all have had prior knowledge with. I think it also good to sometimes stray into the more left-field discussions, such as the unreality of Iron Man. I thought that was a very funny and interesting discussion to hear from a engineer’s point of view. I also found the discussion on relativeity to be realatively interesting, especailly since I am studying physics in my lab. Overall, I believe the discussion will keep getting better as we become more comfortable and well versed in engineering.

In class, we discussed the basic workings of engineering, such as the basic conceptual workings of a car, and how an engineer would start planning and building something they’re trying to make. I found this interesting, as I often find myself considering how the things around me function, and how their built. But in class, after learning about the CAD modeling software and actually seeing the diffculties and problems the engineer must consider before even starting to build or design, it gives me a new insight on to actually how hard it is. Sure, most of the stuff has been built or done before, but there is still many things to consider to get that perfect design you need for your boss.