Emerging technologies could become business realities

Q: What is engineering's tie to the business world?

A: Cars that communicate with each other to prevent accidents, liquid batteries, and computers that also serve as phones and TV receivers once were lab concepts and now are working prototypes or common consumer products. Everywhere you look, there are examples of how engineering builds value for businesses. Transportation is safer, many hazardous construction and manufacturing processes are mechanized or even automated, medical tests are more accurate and less invasive, and mobile computing enhances nearly every business communication and workflow.

Q: What engineering research has had the most impact on business recently?

A: Use of cloud computing for information storage and processing is a good example. Advanced materials and 3-D printing are opening up new markets for small businesses. And we now are seeing unmanned systems, typically known for defense, in civilian applications such as crop, livestock and pipeline monitoring, geographic mapping and emergency response, to name a few.

Q: What engineering trends do you see will have an impact commercially in the future?