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2019 Webinar Poll: Who Attends Element14 Webinars? Please Vote (28% of Goal)

I do a lot of little stuff around the element14 community. I'm probably most known for running the RoadTest program, but I work with vendors and our other staff writers and some freelancers to help them produce content that our members would like to read. I also manage our Webinar problem (although lately I have gotten a lot of help from other members of the element14 team.) Much of my responsibility is to work with our webinar presenters to offer webinars that the community cares about. It's a bit of a challenge sometimes especially when someone wants to offer a webinar and I have to determine the level of interest. That's why I am running this poll. I'd like to learn more about the engineers who attend element14 webinars. I know the community is an evolving entity so it would help me to understand you better.

 

The poll has only one question: What type of engineer attends element14 webinars. I encourage you to participate in this poll. It will help me a lot. If I can get 150 to participate, I think that would be a lot of help. Thanks.

 

Randall Scasny

element14 Webinar Host

 

PS I have included below a selection for Non-engineer Maker. I think many of our makers are engineers even though some of them may not hold a engineering roll professionally. I think they represent of the spirit of a Michael Faraday who learned a lot by experimenting and playing around in his garage!

  • I am a jack of all trades. But software engineering closer match.

  • I would prefer to use some other descriptor than Engineer. In Canada those that hold the title have spent five or more years in University. Some take offense to the title being used without the educational background. My formal college diploma credits me with the designation Electronics Engineering Technologist.

     

    I find the moniker Specialist fits better. Networking Specialist, Operational Support Specialist, IT Security Specialist...... If you know what a Network is, then you would have some idea of the skill set required. Throw the attribute Senior in front of Specialist and you should be getting more experience.

     

    I enjoy webinars. Like others, I multitask if they are live. The environment permits knowledge flow that might peak my interest, suggesting I invest more cycles. If nothing else I can still accomplish something. I would avoid multitasking in front of a presenter. Doesn't seem appropriate.

    Sean

  • Although my Masters Degree and Job title say Software Engineer, I do consider myself a bit of a hybrid, in that I rose from the Technician rank (I suppose Assembler could be added) and after a few degrees and job changes I've covered quite a few different job roles.  I even went to the Dark Side and tried me hand at Supervising, but decided it was easier to herd cats and that I still enjoy getting me mits dirty.

     

    I enjoy listening to Webinars mainly and will watch if very interesting, but only if I can increase the speed to around 2x of the original speed.  I like to hear other folks experiences and what they bring to the table.  Podcasts are another medium I like to listen to which make my daily hour long walk go by much quicker.

  • in reply to Fred27

      I am also a professional software developer with an electronics background and with some biology background  (at school) as well! But I believe the software engineer mentioned here refers to one working in Embedded rather than a non-electronics or non-embedded software engineer.

  • I have to attend an occasional webinar at work (non-element14 webinars). Although some of the element14 webinars could be considered relevant to my work, generally webinar productivity is not high enough to divert time to them while at work. I would attend more of them if they occurred when I have nothing else booked, but element14 webinars almost happen at the same time as work or something else I already have booked, most notably sports. I have to make do with watching recordings of webinars instead.

  • I guess I’d be considered a “maker engineer” since I’ve retired, but I’m interested in all sorts of technology.  And I’ve worked long enough that I’ve had many engineering and management roles in hardware, software, and test both in product development and R&D.

  • Webinars are a great way of being able to ask that question, the one you have trouble articulating on a subject, the one Google never gives the answer for even though you know it is buried in some articles, but which, when answered allows you to progress with speed.

     

    I find them a nice way to just get an insight into some areas. My only trouble is, even with an email prompt, I usually manage to miss the start and have to watch that bit via the recording.

     

    To answer the question, by background is multi-disciplined (RF, Electronics, Embedded design, some mechanical and lots of electrical). But after work I switch to 'maker' engineer mode and it is probably with that hat on that I watch the great Element 14 Webinars.

     

    Rod

  • I do like the webinars, but I do find that I have a tendency to start daydreaming and do other tings while watching them - which is obviously not a good idea. I also tend to fall asleep but I think that is something to do with age. I fall asleep in front of the TV as well. And outside when sitting in the sun, and in cars, or buses or ….

     

    Dubbie

  • I'd need to tick several boxes:

     

    I do software (embedded on micros), FPGA, hardware ( analogue and digital power from uW to 150kW), some research, some production engineering, some mechanical engineering and a few other things as well.

     

    I very rarely bother with Webinars, mainly because I can read much faster than anyone can speak and I find that the webinar experience is only, maybe, 10% of that of actually going to a lecture - so I do go to conferences/seminars etc.

     

     

    MK

  • I'm glad to see software engineer on the poll. I'm never quite sure what to put for "Job Role" in my profile - brought to my attention again as you've asked for it to be updated for the Dream Sensorboard. I'm a professional software developer with an electronics background - so I'm sort of stuck between "Home / Personal / Hobbyist / Maker" and "Other". Neither seems to quite fit.