Engineering Concept

Engineering as a concept is known to have been part of human practice since ancient times as fundamental and basic inventions were progressivelymade. These inventions form the basis on which hand-tool and other contrivanceshave emerged. These inventions included the lever mechanism, wheel and thepulley.

Engineering as documented by Wikipedia is expressed as having a much more recent etymology (definition), derived from the wordengineer, which itself dates back to 1325, when an engine or (literally, onewho operates an engine) originally referred to a constructor of militaryengines.
In this context, now obsolete, an engine referred to a military machine,i.e., a mechanical contraption used in wars (for example, a catapult). The wordengine itself is of even older origin, ultimately derived from the Latin wordingenium (1250). Meaning clever at inventing (an innate quality), especiallymental power, hence a clever invention.

Engineering Technology

Engineering technology was the basis for the industrial revolution which has transformed man. According to Dyson (1989): Next to thegift of life is technology, for it is the greatest of Gods gifts as it offersthe poor of the earth, a short cut to greatness and wealth, a way of gettingrich by cleverness rather than a back-breaking labour. Many engineeringproblems are as closely associated to social problems as they are to purescience.

Phases in Engineering Technological Development

The overlapping four phases of engineering and technological development are:

• Pre-scientific Revolution: The pre - history of modernengineering features ancient master builders and Renaissance engineerssuch as Leonardo da Vinci. The Acrioiucs in Greece, Roman aqueducts, theGreat Wall of China, etc. these are examples of works of ancient Civil andMilitary Engineers.
• Industrial Revolution: This period spans from 1800 - 1930. From the eighteenth century throughearly nineteenth century, the civil and mechanical engineers changed from practicalartists to scientific professionals.
• Second Industrial Revolution: In the century before World WarII, chemical, electrical, and other science-based engineering branchesdeveloped electricity, telecommunications, cars, airplanes, and massproduction.
• Information Revolution: As engineering science maturedafter the war, micro electronics, computers, and telecommunications,jointly produced information technology. Some of the very first projectswere simply based on trial and error. Imaginative and creative individualswith good technical skills would try and design and put things together.

REFERENCE

Fola Lasisi, 2010. Agricultural engineering and society - the challenges and sustainability. Paperpresented at the 1^st departmental lecture organized by thedepartment of agricultural and biosystems engineering, University of Ilorin,Ilorin, Nigeria on 1^st June, 2010.

Segun R. Bello (2007). Fundamental Principles of Agricultural Engineering Practice. Pub. Climax Printers #26/30 College Rd. Ogui New Layout,Enugu. ISBN: 978-080-015-8

Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.