Inventing a Career in Electrical Engineering
Where would we be without electricity? Electrical engineers help keep the lights on today and continue to work in an exciting and changing field of innovation that Thomas Edison sparked near the turn of the twentieth century.
Electrical Engineering Origins
Electrical engineering owes a great debt of service to Thomas Edison. Edison's remarkable invention of a safe, sustainable, working light bulb has affected virtually the entire world. Despite popular opinion, Edison did not invent the light bulb. Instead, he improved upon earlier designs to increase the burning time and make the light bulb more useful for homes and businesses. Then he formed the Edison Electric Light Company to create system to generate and distribute electricity for the light bulbs.A Dynamic Individual
Making a safe, lasting light bulb involved a number of other inventions. He had to develop a parallel circuit and a durable light bulb, which included finding the right filament. He improved the dynamo���a generator that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. He developed the underground conductor network, devices for maintaining constant voltage, safety fuses and insulating materials, and light sockets with on-off switches.What's the Buzz?
Today, lighting and electrical systems affect almost every facet of our lives. Electrical engineering is crucial to communications systems, machinery controls, and wiring in buildings to name a few and not to mention lighting systems. A career in electrical engineering can involve designing, testing, developing or supervising the manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment.Online Education Degree Lights up Your Career
If you're already busy in a career, an online education degree gives you an easy way to earn an electrical engineering degree that fits with you schedule. With an electrical engineering degree, you could find a career in a variety of industries from the Federal government to the telecommunications industry. An electrical engineering degree can bring out your inner inventor and allow you to be a crucial part of keeping on the world's lights.Sources:
- http://bls.gov/oco/ocos031.htm
- http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bledison.htm
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Edison
About the Author
James Tolles is the Managing Editor for HQ Publications. He helped write and edit the successful application for Sparks, NV that earned the city honors as a 2004 All-America City Finalist-a title held by only 30 cities in the nation. He is also a freelance writer. He attended a four year liberal arts college and holds two B.A. degrees, one in Creative Writing and the other in History.
