5 Mobile Apps for Engineers

5 Mobile Apps for Engineers 5 Mobile Apps for Engineers 5 Mobile Apps for EngineersConsider this scenario You are in the field and you need to obtain the mechanical properties for a given geometric section. If you had a laptop, you would boot it, launch a program, and get the results in a couple of minutes. Instead, you take out your internetfhiges mobiltelefon and launch an app. The app takes between oneand two seconds to launch and has the specific options you need to quickly complete this task. You just saved a few minutes to solve a simple problem with just the tap of a finger.The computing power, ease-of-use, and convenience of unmatched portability are the key reasons why thousands of smartphone users download apps on their phones daily. A mobile app is in a broader sense a software program, but its more dedicated and task-oriented than an intensive app for a computer, says Mike Barone, senior design engineer for Hamilton Sundstrand, a division of UTC.Apps are specific and fit in perfectly with the tasks engineers do daily, says Barone. There are several apps available for electrical and civil engineers, but there arent as many for mechanical engineers. According to Barone, The demand is there but its unrecognized yet.Mechanical Engineering Apps on iPhoneCounting only the two major platforms in the mobile space today, iOS and Android, there are more than 500,000 apps available unterstellung days, says David Homes, director of technology at IPROBLUE Tech, which develops mobile engineering solutions. This is a market that pretty much just started in July 2008, when Apple launched the App Store and made it an accessible platform for developers to self-publish there.There are, however, fewer mechanical-engineering-related apps on the market and the ones that are currently available offer formulas, calculations, or basic reference information. The following are five examples of engineering apps for the iPhoneA part of MultiEducators iPhone Formulator Line, thi s app contains over 300 mechanical engineering formulas.Mechanical Engineer A part of MultiEducators iPhone Formulator Line, the app contains over 300 mechanical engineering formulas. There are over 300 additional conversion formulas in the program as well as 70 area formulas. Major areas covered in the program include bearings, belts, boilers, brakes, clutches, elevators, gears, vernderbar power, heat transfer, internal combustion, kinetic energy, metalworking, plates, plumbs, power plants, refrigeration, shafts springs, and vehicle drive.AutoCAD WS has a number of features previously found only in AutoCADs desktop design software.AutoCAD WS Autodesks web and mobile app lets you view, edit, and share DWG drawings through a web browser or mobile device. AutoCAD WS has a number of features previously found only in AutoCADs desktop design software.Cross Sections Calc IPROBLUE Techs parametric section and member calculator computes 21 geometric and mechanical properties for 23 commonly used sections used in beam and column design as well as general mechanics of materials.Mech Ref. This app is a reference for all things mechanical. Currently the app offers drill and tap sizes, fastener clearance holes, sheet metal gauge tables, and math and physics reference.Mechanics Basics This app contains a large selection of mechanics laws, equations, tables, and reference material that engineers may find useful during their work.Most apps range from free, free but ad-supported, and paid, anywhere from $.99 to $19.99, informs Homes. I particularly have never paid more than $9.99 for an app. But then again this is a matter of what functionality they provide and whether or not you are willing to pay for it.The Future of Engineering AppsBy 2015, the mobile app market is expected to be worth $25 1000000000000 dollars (up from $6.8 billion in 2010), according to a report by TechCrunch. With the new tablets on the market, the rate of new mobile application is expected to increase b ig time during 2011, says Homes.Barone hopes to see more mechanical-engineering-focused apps in the coming years. There are several potential apps for mechanical engineers Its almost every chapter of every engineering book that we study. Each chapter goes through the theory, derivation, and derived formula. Engineers understand the theory and want the formula and derivation, he says. Pressure vessel design could be a good fit for a mobile app with a series of sub apps for specific types of vessels, adds Barone.A robust notification system for updates is critical for all engineering apps. Its extremely important that auto update info for critical issues that could affect the results of these apps should have a robust notification system to the user. We dont want to be designing a space vehicle and get the wrong structure because of a flaw in an app, highlights Barone.Eventually, the future of mechanical engineering apps rests in the hands of the users as it will depend on how motivat ed they are to use the apps, says Barone. The younger engineers having these tools will be more productive and will enjoy their jobs more. I believe a happier workforce is a more productive workforce. Apps are an enabler to make productivity and fun to be synergistic.The future of mechanical engineering apps rests in the hands of the users as it will depend on how motivated they are to use the apps.Mike Barone, senior design engineer, Hamilton Sundstrand, a division of UTC.

If you use social media like this, you may be a psychopath

If you use social media like this, you may be a psychopathIf you use social media like this, you may be a psychopathAnother day, another study that may indicate whether you are a psychopath or not. According to one research, it could come down to the way you use social media.Victoria University psychology Professor Marc Wilson found that people with psychopathic tendencies tend to spend more time on social networks. Specifically, they tend to deutsche post dhl more highly edited selfies in an attempt to network and get more ambitious and coveted roles. (Note to self stop posting selfies where you look good.)Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreWilson told NewstalkZB, Cause it provides a platform for self-aggrandizement, they tend to post more selfies and they tend to take more time editing those photos that present them in a way that makes them look as good as possible.A 2016 study t hat looked at61 senior professionals in the US found that 21% hadclinically significant levels ofpsychopathictraits. The forensic psychologist that ran the study said psychopaths tend to move up the corporate ladder swiftly because hiring managers tend to focus more on skills over personality traits.Forpsychopaths, it corporate success is a game and they dont mind if they violate morals. It is about getting where they want in the company and having dominance over others, he told The Telegraph.Wilson noted thatThere are a number of case studies and Enron, the energy company in the US, which was categorized before its decline by psychopathic behavior. In addition to perfected selfies they probably use other social platforms like LinkedIn to make themselves look especially single so they can continue to dominate their careers.He added that they may actually job hop around a lot as so not to be detected or they get the boot but often it comes in the form of golden handcuffs.Our reputati ons are the things that gain us entry to opportunities, and we continue to enjoy those opportunities until our reputations are sullied, and in the case of the corporate psychopath, that means moving on to another organization.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

The Easy Secret to Making Yourself Better at Anything

The Easy Secret to Making Yourself Better at AnythingThe Easy Secret to Making Yourself Better at AnythingSeptember is Professional Development Month at The Muse Check in all month for ways to boost your skills, get ahead at work, and be the best professional you can possibly be.Im a big believer in self-reflection, and Im all about finding ways to make things (including myself) better whenever possible. The reality is, none of us are perfect. Whether its for work or personal development, theres always opportunity for growth. And the question for most people isnt if they can do something to improve, but how.Both research and trial and error suggest that one of the best ways to make something more effective is to measure it. So, why elendlage apply this to your own life? A simple tactic that Ive recently adopted is creating my own personal feedback system.How it WorksAt the end of the day, week, meeting, event, you-name-it, rate how you think it went on a scale of one to 10. If it was nt a 10, ask yourself What would have made it a 10?Thats it.Putting a number on an intangible experience suddenly makes what was amazing or not so amazing about it a lot more clear. When you acknowledge that things didnt go perfectly, you accept the fact that theres room for improvement, and more importantly, what that improvement might look like. Its an insanely easy way to gain clarity, and the approach shines a bright light on exactly what you can do differently next time. In ActionThink back to your last team discussion. If youd score your wertzuwachs an eight out of 10, what could have made it a 10? Talking a tiny bit less and listening more to the great ideas being shared? Or maybe not being afraid to speak up when you had a really great idea? Keep that in mind next time.If youre new at sales, perhaps your most recent pitch was a six. So what would a solid 10 look like? Starting off a little less aggressively in the beginning and instead asking more questions to get a better s ense of your customers needs? You can bet thatll happen in your next pitch. Perhaps you met a few interesting people at that networking event last week- good but not great, a seven. What would have made your time more worthwhile? Making your way around the room more instead of spending so much time with that one person you already knew? There you go.This doesnt only apply to professional improvement- take a moment to zoom out and think back to the last year. Taken as a whole, how does it stack up, and how could it have been better? A five or an eight, youll know what made it so. Whether its spending more time with family or setting personal goals earlier, adjusting your priorities for the year ahead is so much easier.cOn the flip side, if any experience did deserve a perfect 10 (be honest), then youve got all the more reason to pat yourself on the back. You did your best, and it couldnt have gone any better- congratulations Consistently ranking my own performance on this scale has b een the most effective and powerful way Ive found to fine-tune any areas of improvement. Best of all, rating yourself and facing imperfections is much less intimidating than having someone else (read your boss) do it for you. As long as you know what getting better looks like and make an active effort towards it, youll be golden.Photo of personal growth courtesy of Shutterstock.