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Iron Ring

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Re: Iron Ring

#151

Post by flashmedium »

adamgravitis wrote: post #36
windsurfer wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think having the ring is one thing, but earning it is another.

It's actually not about having "earned" it; it's not meant to be a token of having completed the degree, or having been stupendously good at some technical piece of work. It's meant as a reminder to the obligation you have to society not to cut corners on safety, and that your responsibilities to your employer do not outweigh those you have to Canadians generally.

and an engineer needs a ring to remind him of the above?

Re: Iron Ring

#153

Post by krs »

There is an American equivalent to the iron ring, but the organization behind it expressly prohibits membership to CS and Software Engineering graduates last time I checked.

Screw them. I got one on my own. I had a custom jewelist take the cladding off a simple band of white gold. I wear it for the same reason mentioned by others: to remind me of my obligations to my profession, my customers and clients, and to the public at large.

Re: Iron Ring

#154

Post by napoleond »

proland wrote: post #144
napoleond wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Illegal" is probably the wrong word to use here, since the iron ring is not governed by any municipal, provincial, or federal law. I have a B.Sc. EE and yet work mostly in web/mobile software. I don't consider or present myself as a "practicing engineer" but I still wear the ring as a reminder of the obligation I have towards anything I create for other people to use. I probably wouldn't give it to my girlfriend to…

Actually it is the right word. The ring is a registered symbol of the Corporation of the Seven Wardens, and wearing or displaying one without their permission (via having been obligated) or attempting to sell one is illegal in exactly the same way that using any other entity's trademark without their permission is illegal. That said, if you've been obligated and are working in a technical field, but don't really cons…

Touché--I mistook your use of the term "illegal" to mean "criminal" but obviously overlooked the civil implications.

Re: Iron Ring

#155

Post by robertharper »

alex_c wrote: post #13

Random trivia: the "iron version" picture is of my own ring, uploaded a few years back when I was messing around with my friend's new camera. Pleasant surprise not only to see this on HN, but to see that the picture is still there after all this time :) As far as I know my year (2005) was one of the last years that U of T still offered an actual iron version, as opposed to stainless steel (most other schools no longe…

I had the option of iron when replacing my lost ring through the Toronto chapter a few years ago. Original from Waterloo in 2002 was steel.

Re: Iron Ring

#157

Post by HeyLaughingBoy »

nrivadeneira wrote: post #118
HeyLaughingBoy wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

cars, bridges, building structure Those three things right there commonly have embedded software monitoring or controlling them. As far as levers and bolts go, a lot of them have sensors monitored by software for stress. I really don't think most people, even software developers, realize how pervasive software is in their lives.

"As far as levers and bolts go, a lot of them have sensors monitored by software for stress." That's in the far minority of situations. As part of my ME curriculum, I've worked with these types of sensors. It's very rare you'll find them monitoring bolts and levers. It's true that software is extremely pervasive, however I believe you're overestimating the critical nature of it in most applications. Cars, bridges, bu…

You can't take a static view of the situation. More and more mechanical linkages are moving to microcontrollers, software and actuators.

The point is that software is an ever-increasing percentage of the most common items around us and as a result, its impact on our lives grows every day.

mechanical failure will most often be the more serious issue When the software is so tightly interlinked with the sensors and mechanisms that they are otherwise useless, you can no longer make that statement.

Re: Iron Ring

#158

Post by larrydag »

gknoy wrote: post #121
larrydag wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a licensed Professional Engineer I worry about the state of engineering in the US. I feel the word "engineer" is diluted to mean any job that requires technical know-how. Yet there are important ethical considerations if one practices as an engineer. I wish the true engineering professions could have the "Engineer" title differentiated from these other technical professions but it looks like it won't happen anytim…

For those of us who are not Engineers, can you elaborate (or point us to more info) on the Important Ethical Considerations? I've always struggled to explain why programming is not engineering.

Good question. The Engineering profession holds certain code of ethics for the public at large. For instance when you step into a high-rise building, board a cruise ship, or travel across highways they are required to have rigorous testing and design protocol to ensure public safety. I believe NSPE says it best http://www.nspe.org/Ethics/CodeofEthics/index.html

Re: Iron Ring

#159

Post by joyeuse6701 »

UCLA '12, stainless was our only option if I recall. Even amongst my engineering buddies, few actually knew of the ritual/ring and that they could obtain one! I have to say I like mine =)

Re: Iron Ring

#160

Post by watersoul »

Anderkent wrote: post #146
kruhft wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess it could be cut off if I really needed to :) But other than that, no it doesn't come off. You tend to gain weight as you get older, even on your fingers.

Shouldn't you get it adjusted then? I'd be afraid of losing the finger if it gets too tight.

We can usually get new ones for about 15$. I don't think the adjustment costs less. There is also the option of not wearing it, as wearing rings that keeps touching a mouse is annoying sometimes.
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