At 01:17 PM 10/14/2004 -0400, you wrote: > > >You can easily get an EE or software degree > > from a prestigious institution without ever having programmed > > a microcontroller at all, and usually without ever having soldered. > >I don't doubt there are software degree programs that don't include embedded >work or involve circuit design. > >But I find it hard to believe that an accredited EE degree would not involve >making at least one project involving an embedded processor and soldering up >a prototype. It would be a sad comment on education if true. > >Win Wiencke >Image Logic Corporation Four years of hard work is just not enough to do much hands-on beyond labs and still get a solid footing in the fundamentals. The fundamentals will last a lifetime, much of the hands-on stuff is ephemeral beyond just the feel-good factor. If you have a talent for technician-type work, it's easy, if not, it's not very teachable. The professors, most of them, if they are world-class, do not spend much time doing practical stuff. They do cutting-edge research and write papers describing their work to their peers. The research may be of a mind-numbingly theoretical nature. Grad students are probably the ones doing any soldering that is required. Same with their connections with industry. The professors' talents are usually elsewhere (often their talents and heart are REALLY not in teaching undergrads either- it's just a duty that comes with the fun parts of the job). Would it surprise you if a good litigation lawyer wasn't very efficient at registering a mortgage? Or if a endocrinologist had to consult a book before attempting to deliver a baby? Best regards, Spehro Pefhany --"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward" speff@interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com _______________________________________________ http://www.piclist.com View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist