Engineers and professionals in the IT industry work to make products and systems more efficient in order to increase productivity. They are the people who design innovative new products, connect computers to increase communication, and develop software that is faster and more efficient than ever.
Engineers and IT specialists earn between $75,000 and $150,000 or more on average, and they enjoy excellent career prospects and a growing industry. They usually also earn great job and retirement benefits, and many are self-employed. Here is a brief at look at some of the top degrees within the fields of IT and engineering.
Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical engineers develop products for the healthcare industry. This includes products such as prosthetics or life-saving devices such as pacemakers and artificial organs. One recent product developed by biomedical engineers is the MammaPrint, a test developed to check patients' genes to determine her risk for breast cancer. The company that developed the test, Agendia, estimates that it will help approximately 60,000 American women avoid chemotherapy each year because of early detection, according to the January 2008 issue of Discover magazine.
Computer Science
Computer scientists engineer programs that help companies conduct business, connect internal computers for better communication, troubleshoot and repair computer problems, and help advance computer technologies. According to the January 2008 issue of Popular Science magazine, computer scientist Jonathan Schaeffer announced that a program he developed had solved the game of checkers, meaning the program was unbeatable. According to the magazine, it would take researchers an estimated 100 more years to develop a program that could solve chess.
Information Systems
Information systems specialists make sure companies' computers can communicate internally. These specialists save employees valuable time by developing computer software that makes work easier and information sharing programs that make research and communication less time-consuming. This increases productivity and profit for companies, and that's what makes IS specialists extremely valuable.
IT and Networking IT and networking degrees cover a wide range of computer and engineering fields. People with IT and networking degrees work as software developers, computer scientists, systems specialists, Web designers, IT support specialists, and more. They also help develop new Internet technologies. In recent news, IT and networking specialists have developed a new long-range wireless technology called WiMax that will use a 2.5 gigahertz radio spectrum to transmit an Internet signal that users can connect to anywhere, anytime, even on the go. Sprint and Clearwire will offer the first networks in 2008. Users can subscribe to a WiMax account, but logging in will be the only aspect that resembles more traditional hotspots and wired Internet accounts. WiMax users will be able to connect while in the car, on a train, and almost anywhere in the country. For more information, pick up the January 2008 issue of Popular Science magazine..
Engineering
Engineers design, create and implement new products that increase productivity, save lives and making having fun, well, more fun. For example, in recent news, engineers have designed new snowboard bindings that make adjustments easier and quicker for snowboarders. Gone are the days of hard plastic snowboard bindings that take many finger-freezing minutes to adjust. Burton engineers have developed a thick footpad that holds the rider's stance with only two very adjustable bolts. According to Popular Science, riders can rotate each foot up to 12 degrees inward or 27 degrees outward with just a quick loosening of the two bolts. The binding is also situated on a sliding mount that makes adjusting the stance even easier.
Software Development Software developers create computer programs for work and play. For work, developers create software that makes jobs easier and quicker. They write programs that keep records, make computations, and conduct research. For play, developers create software like computer games, virtual reality programs and more. In recent news, software developers have created a virtual therapy tool that helps doctors heal war veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. The virtual-reality simulations combined with drug therapy helps veterans separate the virtual game from actual trauma and stress. The tool, developed by Emory University Professor Michael Davis with the help of developers, will be used for veterans of the Iraq War.
Technology Management
Technology managers oversee the activities of computers as well as other computer scientists. As managers, they assume many leadership responsibilities and must be good communicators as well as good computer scientists. They often specialize in another area of IT and engineering as well.
