It is suggested we introduce canon for our podcast, so as to keep track of “reality” for those multiverses in which our errors aren’t really errors at all, thus helping us maintain retroactive continuity (retcon) across our episodes. 🙂
We’re always looking for new guests to discuss their adventures in engineering, so if you’d like to join us (or you want to suggest a colleague), you can fire off an email to admin -=+ at +=- theengineeringcommons.com.
“Product Development” was the topic of our next episode, which featured guest Dave Young.
We published our episode about “Engineering Pranks” on April Fool’s Day.
An interview with Carmen will appear in an upcoming issue of Circuit Cellar.
“Storytelling” was the subject of our conversation with Craig Sampson.
Our next episode featured Kai Zhuang, talking about how engineers frequently feel they are perceived as nothing more than a “Brain on a Stick.”
We welcomed Clay Coons back to the podcast in mid-May to talk about “Engines.”
Todd Nelson regaled us with stories of the analog semiconductor industry in an episode titled “Analog Footsteps.”
We discussed essential elements of engineering in our next episode, “What Engineers Do.”
Due to having a guest bow out at the last minute, we produced a very off-the-cuff episode that we called “Miscellany.”
Jeff recounts (once more) the central plot to Fredrick Pohl’s short story from 1954, “The Midas Plague,” in which the rich consume less, while the poor are forced to consume the glut of goods and services produced by robots.
One variation on the todo list, the 1-3-5 rule, suggests writing down one big task, three medium-sized tasks, and five little tasks to accomplish during the day.
Another scheme for improving todo lists is the Auto Focus system, created by Mark Forster.
A book titled “The Progress Principle” contends that managers should ensure their employees achieve steady forward progress in meaningful work. Jeff has reviewed the book elsewhere.
One of the best-known productivity systems is the Getting Things Done (GTD) method, outlined in a book of the same name that was authored by David Allen (and not Paul Allen as stated in the podcast).
The five steps of the GTD method are:
Capture everything on your mind.
Clarify the meaning of each task.
Organize your efforts.
Reflect on your progress and process.
Engage in getting tasks completed.
An extensive review of the GTD method can be found in Episodes 95, 96, and 97 of the Back to Work podcast by Merlin Mann and Dan Benjamin.
At one point Jeff used the Franklin Planner system for staying organized at work.
Kanban is a method for controlling inventory flow within a production facility.
Personal Kanban is a means for completing one’s tasks without getting too overloaded.
A whiteboard is often used to implement Personal Kanban.
Carmen references the Pragmatic podcast episodes titled “Maximum Erasability” (23 and 23a) that discuss whiteboard use. (You can also listen to our prior interview with fellow podcaster John Chidgey, who produces the Pragmatic podcast.)
Adam uses an Excel file for tracking tasks, and prints out a copy of the spreadsheet to carry with him when he is away from his desk.
Windows users can use Notepad to track activities, generating timestamps by pressing the F5 key.
Thanks to Dennis Hamilton for use of the photo titled “Productivity: Wrapping up the First Stage of a Special Project.” Podcast theme music by Paul Stevenson.
We talk with electrical engineer Chris Gammell in this episode, discussing design tradeoffs, parametric part searches, and the manner in which design work is being altered by component manufacturers.
Adam finds that he doesn’t have much choice in choosing between mechanical, electrical, and software components; bridges pretty much have to be constructed of steel and concrete.
Jeff inquires about the possibility of Contextual Electronics handing out digital badges, but Chris is pretty emphatic that badging will not be part of his future efforts.
Adam notes that certifications beyond an engineering degree and a professional engineering license are needed for certain areas of civil engineering.
Chris suggests that newcomers to the electronics field should check out the community portion of parts.io.
Our guest suggests that ageism might make for an interesting topic of discussion in a future episode.
Adam, Brian, Carmen and Jeff discuss highlights and back stories from episodes of The Engineering Commons podcast that were released in 2014.
