Smart structures will be able to compensate for earthquakes and winds by linking motion sensors to computers, which in turn will change the building's center of gravity. These active buildings would cost less to build than today's passive structures because they would need less material. They would also increase occupant comfort because they would compensate for changes in the outside environment fast enough to prevent the building from shaking during an earthquake or hurricane. Prototype buildings already exist in Japan, and the technology is being studied by universities in the United States. Although smart structures might require 10 more years of development before they become common, they do show a nontraditional application for embedded systems.
Consumers have everything to gain from the evolution of embedded systems.
Product designers, on the other hand, face challenges that are stiffer than ever before. The separate disciplines within science and technology are overlapping, and tomorrow's architects and civil engineers, for example, will have to know a great deal about embedded systems to do their jobs. High-technology professionals should monitor where their particular specialty is headed and then stay current to stay employable. Roger Steciak is a technical writer living in San Jose, California. He has worked in the electronics industry for 19 years in a variety of engineering and marketing positions.