Signal processing also comes into play in areas such as voice recognition for computers. Electrical engineers also work in biomedical, or bioengineering, applications, as described earlier. Electrical engineers work with medical personnel to design and develop devices used in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. Other examples include pacemakers, cardiac monitors and controllable prosthetic devices. The generation, transmission and distribution of electric power is perhaps the most traditional aspect of electrical engineering.
Electrical engineers work closely with mechanical engineers in the production of electrical power.
They also oversee the distribution of power through electrical networks and must insure reliable supplies of electricity to our communities. With modern society's dependence on electricity, interruptions in the flow of electricity can be catastrophic. Many of today's power-related challenges revolve around reliability and cost of delivery. Electrical engineers also work with materials engineers to incorporate superconductivity and other technology in more efficient power transmission. It is organized into 37 technical divisions, which indicates the breadth of the field of electrical engineering.