[sdiy] Horowitz/Hill

[Grant Richter]

> I don't have an engineering degree, but was trained as a technician. It was
> a two year course. The first 1/4 of the course was almost entirely math,
> peppered with real-world electronics problem-solving examples, and some DC
> circuit theory. We did some simple circuit building to enhance our grasp of
> the DC circuit theory.

There are a lot of EEs who do not enjoy electronics. It's just job, and they
don't want to think about it outside of work hours. Many of them don't like
to touch actual circuitry and consider a soldering iron beneath them (plus
the have no skill).

I have met a lot of technicians who are genuine enthusiasts and have self
educated themselves to a broader level than the engineers that direct them.
I have many times seen an engineers fat pulled out of the fire by a good
technician (including me of course).

The business worlds segregation of electronics personnel into engineers and
technicians is mainly one of financial accountability and has little to do
with actual skill or knowledge. That is, if the project is BADLY screwed up,
they fire the engineer and keep the techs.

My hat's off to all the underappreciated techs who really keep the wheels
turning.