Navigating the Future of Circuits: Choosing an Engineering Path

[blacksmith]

Hi, I'm planning to become an engineer and so far have narrowed my choices down to mechanical, electrical, or computer engineering. I do personal projects on my own time mostly involving circuits, but lately I have been troubled by the news of light replacing electricity in circuits(though I think its a great idea). My question is am I wasting my time by learning about circuits and how to put them together and how they work when photonics could possibly render much of what I'm learning obsolete in the future or is putting my time into this still a good investment? Thanks guys!

 

[Vanadium 50]

If your strategy is to learn something in college, and then apply that for your entire career without learning new things, you will be in trouble. Independent of your choice of field.

 

[AlephZero]

In any technical field, most of the specifics of what you learn in college will be obsolete techinology within a few years. The most important thing you need to learn is how to keep on learring for the rest of your working life.

 

[blacksmith]

Thanks guys Ill just continue my projects and take any new developments in the future with a smile and a mind willing to learn.

 

[Matrix0]

I understand your concern about the future of circuits and the potential impact of photonics. However, I want to assure you that your interest in circuits and your knowledge of how they work are still valuable skills to have in the engineering field.

Firstly, it is important to note that photonics is still a developing technology and it may take some time before it completely replaces electricity in circuits. This means that there will still be a demand for engineers who are knowledgeable about traditional circuits and can design and maintain them. Additionally, photonics may not completely replace electricity in all applications, as there may be certain situations where traditional circuits are still more efficient and cost-effective.

Furthermore, even if photonics does become the dominant technology in circuits, your understanding of circuits and how they work will still be applicable. The principles and concepts behind circuit design and operation will still be relevant and can be applied to photonics circuits as well. In fact, your knowledge of circuits may give you an advantage in understanding and working with photonics technology.

In conclusion, I believe that your interest in circuits and your investment in learning about them is still a valuable pursuit. The engineering field is constantly evolving and it is important to have a strong foundation in the fundamentals, which includes understanding circuits. So, I encourage you to continue exploring and learning about circuits, while also keeping an eye on the developments in photonics. Who knows, you may even find a way to combine both technologies in your future engineering endeavors. Best of luck in your engineering path!