Mechatronics: Vocabulary is important

Mechatronics is a word that I have used frequently in this column, but one that not many outside of the immediately affected industry are familiar with. That has got to change, and there are signs that it is.

Vocabulary is important. Our brains process nouns differently than other words. If we don't have a noun to assign to a concept, it must not be too important. Think about proper names. If I say Paris Hilton, there are many things that probably come to your mind. Alternatively, if she didn't have a name or if I couldn't remember it, I could begin to write a paragraph describing her; "that skinny blond girl that acts in bizarre ways and always stands looking over her shoulder....." You get the idea.

Similarly we could refer to mechatronics by reciting its definition: "The synergistic application of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, controls engineering and computer science to produce useful products." And then when we wanted to refer to a practititioner of the discipline we could say; " an individual technician with skills in electrical, mechanical, controls and compter technology". Not a good idea. We need to make the term "mechatronics" part of the everyday vernacular.

It is beginning to happen. Schools are beginning to use the term in their educational programs. We are seeing degrees being offered in mechatronics. The National Science Foundation and the Department of Labor are making grants to further the science and technology of mechatronics. At PackExpo, people were wearing Packaging World's I Love Mechatronics buttons all over the show floor.

The general public needs to come to recognize this term so that parents are willing to have their children consider this as a career field and so that all of us directly or tangentially involved in the related technologies can be ever reminded to crawl out of our silos and collaborate with one another.

The next step is to come up with some terms for practictioners of mechatronics like we have with the terms 'mechanic' and 'electrician'. My survey of several Western languages has confirmed that none of them have a single term for this. Any suggestions?

Even NBC channel 25 reporter Nikki Burdine sported a Packaging World I Love Mechatronics pin as she reported on events at PackExpo 08.

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Comments Hello, i am glad to read the whole content of this blog and am very excited and happy to say that the webmaster has done a very good job here to put all the information content and information at one place. Posted by: hoodia gordonii on January 25, 2009 FYI, The baking industry which is still half art and half science already has a name for such an individual, that person is known as a "Mechelec". Posted by: Stan Walulek on March 31, 2009 how about mechatrician? Posted by: Joanna Menham on July 17, 2009 Post a comment (If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.) Name: Email Address: URL: Remember personal info? Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style) Type the word 'packaging' (required):