History of technology - A bridge between the past and the future

Abstract

his issue of IEEE Instrumentation & Measurement Magazine is dedicated to the progression of measurement technology. This topic is a part of the history of technology, and the progression of measurement technology has always been associated with technology evolution in all scientific domains. The progression of measurement technology together with the establishment of standards and units, which started a long time ago with the definition of the “foot” unit length, has catalyzed and propelled many engineering technological advances. Theoretical assumptions, which support research and development, cannot be validated without measurement. Furthermore, scientific evolution is sometimes delayed by the necessity to obtain measurement instruments and methods for many physical, chemical, and biomedical quantities. Engineers must understand the history of the technology and the progression of measurement science since they provide a good reference in searching for new solutions to technological and scientific problems. This idea does not rule out innovation; it only means that the right choices to solve many technological problems should consider past developments and the reasons that justify their evolution over time. Measurement is also an important factor in all stages of production in industry. The quality and price of manufactured products strongly depend on measurement accuracy, resolution, and reliability from research, through design, and ending with the final test phases. The choice of the right measurement methods and instrumentation, supported by a calibration network centralized at a national level, are crucial factors to develop new products with better performance and to improve the quality of existing products by lowering the associated production costs. Today, many measurement challenges arise in technologies such as nanotechnology, semiconductors, biotechnology, advanced materials, quantum computing, and advanced manufacturing. The measurement scale is now at the atomic level; new calibration methods and measurement techniques are fundamental to supporting research and development in these areas. A clear example of the efforts in this area is represented by the Advanced Measurement