I guess you didn't go to school for x years to be called "techie."
Dave
, if I had the option, projectionist would be better though.Josh
Someplace I have a document that details how you know that you are an engineer, in fact I think I sent to Gordon some time back.
This is fairly easily avoided, since a person could still say "Joe Blow - Engineering Services."
Personally, I feel that a person should have some kind of collage degree to be able to say they are an engineer. Of course, I realise there are really stupid people with degrees, but my thought has more to do with "due diligence" than ablity. If a person, who has no formal engineering background, does something that either damages expensive equipment or puts people's lives at risk, then the lawsuits will fly. And if the company that hired him goes to court, they can't just say, "Well, he knows a lot of stuff .."
et cetera, et cetera, et cetera
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In some cultures, what I do is considered normal.
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Brad, you're pretty darn Chipper yourself!!!
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In some cultures, what I do is considered normal.
In answer to the original quesion, I would preffer techie. I've never heard "techer" before. (I also prefer Trekkie over Trekker, but that's another story...)
In regards to the engineer vs. tech debate and relating that to a college degree: My college offers an A.S in Electronic Egnineering Technology. That's what I'm taking. You get that and you're considered a technician. If you go on to a university to complete your B.S.E.E. (note the absence of the word "Technoloy" in the degree title), then you're a full-fledged engineer. (At least you have the capabilities of being one; I'm not sure if there is some kind of state test in order to technically be called an engineer.) In general, I have always thought of difference between the two this way: If you design stuff, you're an engineer. If you fix stuff, your a tech. I don't really have a desire to take all the extra math and other courses for the B.S., and I like fixing things, so I would be happy to be a tech (Once I finish my degree next year). I wouldn't call myself an engineer.
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This one time, at Projection Camp, I stuck a xenon bulb....
quote:
In regards to the engineer vs. tech debate and relating that to a college degree: My college offers an A.S in Electronic Egnineering Technology. That's what I'm taking. You get that and you're considered a technician. If you go on to a university to complete your B.S.E.E. (note the absence of the word "Technoloy" in the degree title), then you're a full-fledged engineer. In general, I have always thought of difference between the two this way: If you design stuff, you're an engineer. If you fix stuff, your a tech. I don't really have a desire to take all the extra math and other courses for the B.S., and I like fixing things, so I would be happy to be a tech (Once I finish my degree next year). I wouldn't call myself an engineer.
Sounds complicated
Since it really is a long story, I'll just kinda list summaries of events.
-met someone I wish I had not met
-moved in March 2001 (moving is a hassle!)
-had a miserable summer
-autumn started out even worse
-broke things off with that co-dependent, controlling, emotional leech
-moved in November 2001 (moving is not fun)
-no more internet access 
-moved in December 2001 (moving is an icky chore)
-got rear-ended attempting to drive to work in a blizzard
-some crack-monkey broke into my house, twice 
-moved in February 2002 (moving sucks)
-have access to internet again
...and that's even got a bit of a sugar-coating on it! Any more details than those are more than I really want on a public forum, but the above should give a fair idea of what was going on!
Yes, I've questioned my sanity a few times in the past year!
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In some cultures, what I do is considered normal.
"If you design stuff, you're an engineer. If you fix stuff, your a tech. "
I tend to agree with Ken. By his definition, I imagine that most of you on this forum are a little of both.
I am the Chief(and only)Engineer at SMART. What qualifies me? I have a ASEET degree. Normally, I should not call myself am engineer based on this degree. When I graduated, in 1970, these degree holders were called Engineering Technicians. So by that definition, I am not a full fledged engineer. On the other hand, MANY years of experience designing equipment and continued self study are what really qualifies me as an engineer. Now there are days when I look at what I have designed and have some serious questions about my abilities as an engineer, but I try to keep improving.
Perhaps Engineering Technician would be a good title to apply to those who work in the booth fixing problems, coming up with design improvements to equipment, designing little tricks and fixes to make things work better, etc.
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Oscar Neundorfer
Chief Engineer
SMART Devices, Inc.
oscar@smartdev.com
Now go get yourself a gun and wait for the next crack monkey.
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A KIWI eats,roots & Leaves.
An engineer sits in an air-conditioned office in a nice white shirt and tie and puts his "wet-dreams" on paper.
A technician re-designs these wet dreams to make them work in the real world.
I am a technician.
So what about the engineer who designs a setup and then does the installation, only then realizing he made an oops in calculations and has to re-design it on the spot?
<- always keeps her hefty softball bat handy in case of intrusive bastards! 
This was rudely brought to mind today as I attended an emergency service call at one of our theatres.
As usual, I approached the guest services counter, toolbox in hand, to announce that I was there regarding a problem in Theatre # 11.
The girl behind the counter snapped her chewing gum, grabbed the walkie-talkie and announced "The.........um........er......projector fix-it guy is here."
Rick Long, projector fix-it guy........I rather like it!
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A KIWI eats,roots & Leaves.
Personally, I don't consider what people do in projection booths as engineering though certainly some design work does happen there. Perhaps it is a bit of snobbery since I have one of those BSEE degrees (University of Maryland @ College Park). There is something to the formal training/education where many qualified educators pass or fail a student along the way to a degree. To give you an idea of the difficulty...there is a 10% success rate for all engineering apllicants (any of the engineering degrees, not just electrical) just to get through to the end of their sophomore physics classes (typically it is a 3-semester course). The professor announced this to us on our first day...and by gum he was right...out of the 140+ freshman engineering students entering...there were only 14 of us in the class after 3 semesters. After passing all of that (with a C or better) you move on to your chosen field, for me it was electrical. I don't know what the drop off rate was from the Junior level on up but I'd say about 50% drop in the mirky end of sophomore to the end of your junior transition (you actually starting taking about two classes in your chosen area in the last semester of your sophomore year).
So after all of that does one get to call themselves an engineer? As John pointed out...not quite and it depends on where one is working and what one is doing. You have the degree that qualifies you to apply for a job (performance will let you keep it in the right times).
There is another level of engineer (and I don't mean the MS or PhD) but the "Practicing Engineer." This is where the government comes in to define an engineer. In order to profer themselves as an "Engineer," they must have two letters after their name...P.E and that qualification is government run. You can take the test as a general engineer or in your specific field. Why bother with this? Because public safety may be involved. On any construction, a "P.E" must sign off on the designs (electrical, mechanical...etc)...in effect that the designs are good and safe. You don't want to drive your car over a bridge that was designed by a fresh out of college engineer that "thinks it is good." In fact, one of the PE requirments is actual work within the field.
So when I do work within a booth (installing or repairing, or even designing) what do I call myself? A technician. There is no shame in it and it more accurately describes what I'm doing. I still have the degree and change into my "engineer" hat when it comes to designing stuff. If any of you have used a Sony 2000 series SDDS unit with a 2-projector changeover, you will have used one of my boards.
So I come back to where I started...what is in a title? I think the best answer has already been given...it is what others see you as and sometimes it is just the "projector fix-it-guy"...and if you like fixing projectors, who cares what they call you!
Steve
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"Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"