Any Electrical Engineers here? Question inside.

[prodigy]

First off, I assume this means your work deals mainly with computer hardware? Correct me if I'm wrong. My second question is, is it required that you know any programming? If so, which languages would you recommend.

 

[Engineer]

prodigy69,

I hope I understand you on your questions:

#1: Do all (or most) Electrical Engineers specialize in computer hardware?:

No, not necessarily...Electrical Engineering is a very broad field....Anything from Power Engineering to Digital Hardware, Analog circuits...etc..

I myself (University of Kentucky BSEE - 1993) specialize in Electrical Controls and Machine Automation: I design the electrical control circuit (many industrial components together to run the machine) and write the software in a special language called "Ladder Logic" or "Ladder Programming"..

#2: What programming languages...?:

That's a little tougher for me as I program mostly in the above Ladder...C++ and any Assembly, I think, will be very helpful...I'm not sure enough to answer any more on this point, so I hope somebody else can finish this one....

Good Luck!

I hope this helped!

 

[beat mania]

You don't have to stick with computers. You could be going to Sony and make TVs if you want. But I suggest you to learn perl.

 

[prodigy]

Ok so I might be confused here. I thought that when one says the "Computer" field that there are 3 major areas, Software, Hardware and Networking. If I wanted to go into the software field, I would major in CS and obviously become some sort of programmer. I thought that one who would want to deal with more of a hardware aspect would major in EE. So, I for one, absolutely hate programming, I can't write algorithims. So does this mean I would be totally devoid of a possiblity of working in the so-called "computer" or IT field, unless I go into networking, or something like tech support?

Engineer, even though you deal with programming, is that true for most EE's, or are you a special case.

 

[Engineer]

prodigy69,

No, I don't think every EE deals in programming...But many do. Many just depend on CAD or Computer simulation to design hardware projects and leave the software to CS or SE (Software Engineers)...! Like I said, my programming is special...I didn't learn it in school...ON THE JOB! It's a special programming very close to Assembly Language....used specifically on PLC's(Programmable Logic Controllers)

You can specialize in Hardware if you like, but you'll be better off at least exposed to some additional programming...

 

[Soybomb]

I think you're thinking of computer engineering, not electrical engineers.....

 

[prodigy]

Thanks Soybomb, I guess I was confused then.

Engineer & beat mania, thanks for your information too.

 

[Mday]

prodigy69, eetimes.com has a mentoring board, and you can ask there too, read some of the posts there... http://www.eetimes.com/eezine/mentorboard/

 

[Capn]

Engineer, I work for the new york state center for automation technologies as an undergrad student, project I'm working on now has a few plc's and it's all ladder programming. I'm more on the mechanical side of things though.

 

[perry]

Do a little programming, a little soldering, and a bunch of homework Computer Engineer's at my school do a little more on the programming side. Some kernel level C crap, a bit more assembly. Etc. I don't have to take the programming classes, a bit deeper into the hardware area.

Just about everything nowadays has a computer in it. So yes, you will be working with computer hardware, though not necessarily AGP and PCI and Intel and AMD type stuff.

What languages to learn? None. They'll teach you at school. Verilog is a big hardware language that is used out in the industry right now. Not something you're gunna learn on your own.

What you can do is just start to understand the basic principles of programming. Loops and arrays and stuff. Nothin too fancy.

Of course, the ciriculum at whatever school you go to will differ from what I've done, so YMMV.