The Great Engineering Downgrade

Nasa Slide rule Calculator Moon landing Mathematics Apollo Education Skills

Engineering Tech Science Math

4 days ago 3,255 views 0 shares

The Great Engineering Downgrade

engineering-memes, nasa-memes, slide-rule-memes, calculator-memes, technology-memes | ScienceHumor.io

The engineering devolution is real! In 1969, engineers were calculating rocket trajectories to the moon using nothing but slide rules—actual analog computing devices requiring genuine mathematical skill. Meanwhile, modern engineers are double-checking that 2+2=4 on their fancy calculators during exams.

This hits different when you realize the Apollo guidance computer had less processing power than a modern kitchen toaster. Those NASA nerds were doing orbital mechanics BY HAND with logarithmic scales while we're out here with supercomputers in our pockets getting basic arithmetic wrong.

The slide rule engineer's confidence vs. the calculator-dependent engineer's uncertainty is the perfect metaphor for how technology sometimes makes us dumber even as it gets smarter. The ultimate "we don't make 'em like we used to" of STEM fields!

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