9781422275153

Chapter 1

WHAT DO ENTERTAINMENT ENGINEERS DO? WHAT IS ENGINEERING? “Engineering combines the fields of science and maths to solve real world problems that improve the world around us,” according to the College of Engineering at the University of Maine. There are more than forty engineering specialties—frommechanical and industrial engineering to civil, electronics, and environmental engineering. Engineers play a role in nearly every area of our lives. When you drive on the highway, take an elevator, or fly on an airplane, you can thank an engineer. When you play video games, use your smartphone, or post on social media, you can thank engineers. And when you drink clean water, get an X-ray, and sit in your warm home as you watch a snowstorm outside, you can thank an engineer. That’s just the tip of the iceberg of how you can thank engineers. Engineers can also be considered inventors, scientists, designers, builders, and visionaries (those who are expert at planning for and predicting future developments). They are troubleshooters and problem-solvers, and some are creative geniuses. There are not many careers where you can take an idea on a piece of paper and turn it into a new pacemaker that saves lives, a system that

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