Careers and Certification in the Automotive Industry.

Careers in the Automotive Industry:

Some of the high-tech systems on automobiles today that were unheard of 30 years ago are stability and traction control systems, adaptive cruise control and variable valve timing.

Young people should have skills in math, science, communications and technical skills for a career as an automotive technician.

Some advantages in obtaining an education as an automotive technicians versus other high-tech educational options is that unlike many high-tech careers that require four, six, or even eight years of college, automotive technology careers can begin after just two years of education. As well, students in automotive technology can get out into the real world sooner, with less college debt.

They forecast automotive repair and maintenance industry will add 237,500 new jobs and have a 30 percent growth rate through 2020.

One thing that the automotive technician career is fairly "immune" to is the issue with outsourcing, because these jobs are needed all over.

Four other positions that an automotive technician can do in the automotive industry include, collision repair, painting, vehicle maintenance, and motorsports.

The automotive technician role is sometimes called "the portal career" because so many people have started their careers in the automotive aftermarket as an auto technician.

Reflection:

Some aspects of being an automotive technician that I think I would enjoy would be the constant work involved.  I am one who will become, how you say, "antsy" when left doing nothing for too long, so this job would appeal to me in this way.  Learning new tools and technology continuously throughout the course would be another interest of mine.  I very much enjoy learning new things, so this aspect would be fulfilling for me.  An interesting part of the video for me, was how working with the vehicles was something of an art.  You needed to have all the proper equipment, and every piece fit into the process in some way.  It interested me, how much technology is actually being used in these jobs.  This notion of life-long learning comes into play with the new technology that is created every day.  As an automotive technician, it would be extremely important for you to be aware of the changes in auto mobiles. If a new accessory is added from new inventions, than it would be essential to be aware of the challenges of these devices, and how to handle them/fix them when necessary. I think some characteristics and skills someone should possess when considering a career as an automotive technician would include whether or not the constant, hands on experience, work force is really something they would excess in.  Also, as said in the video, having good communication skills would be an important aspect of the job, seeing as many customers will come in, and be unaware of the actual problem.  You need to know how to handle the cars, as well as the people who drive them.

Certification in the Automotive Industry:

NATEF (National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation ): Their mission is to evaluate and improve the quality of automotive technician training programs nationwide. As an industry they examine the structure, resources and quality of training programs all over. Then they judge each against standards established by the industry.
 
SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance): Their purpose is to help every player in the automotive industry improve performance and reduce risk. The services provided by the industry focus on the design, construction and operation of motor vehicle inspection solutions all over the world.

ASE (Automotive Service Excellence): They work to improve the quality of vehicle repair and service by testing and certifying automotive professionals.

Jobs in the Automotive Industry:

The job that I would enjoy the most from the list provided in the article would be Classic car restorer. This job would be extremely enjoyable for me because, not only do I make my own hours, but I would get to marvel at the classics all day. I love the look of old, classic cars, although I know nothing about cars in general, it would still be nice to see an old beauty restored to its natural state. Being a Supercar test driver would have to be the job that I would dislike the most. First off, I am not one to enjoy speed, having to drive fast to test out the vehicle that I know pretty much nothing about, would be terrifying for me. As well, taking the safe side of things is always the way I lean, so becoming the one who sort of "makes" the safe side, would not cut it for me. The dangers that come along with being a test driver are too great for me to ignore.

Emerging Technologies and Automobiles.

Technologies in Development 

Out of the six emerging technologies from the article, I believe the flying car would be the least likely to happen. The issues that come along with flight and air traffic is far too great to risk. As well, the developments that must be made are too complicated to happen within the next 30, even 50 years. Regarding the issue of air traffic, it will be very difficult to avoid air flight collisions. The roads may seem harsh during traffic hours, but imagine a sky full of traffic. This topic has been in discussion for years, and the variables involved in trying to avoid these issues seem to be too much to make this development.

I feel the Next-Gen Active Safety Features will have the biggest impact on society. Almost 100% of vehicle accidents occur because of distractions. With this feature, any interruptions can be cut off when in stressful situations. This way, when you are driving in heavy traffic, and your stress levels increase, the sensors will notice. For your safety, and those around you, the car's system will hold calls, and turn any other disturbances to a minimum. This will impact the way people drive, and be an extreme improvement for collisions caused by distracted drivers.

Car-to-Car Communication seems to be an almost reality, and the closest to being used in the newer cars today.  Even with Cadillac Super Cruise, there has to be some form of sensing device to indicate how close the vehicle is to others.  This technology seems to be developing quickly, and even many cars that have come out in recent years, possess a device or system similar to this.  Just look at park assist technology: the vehicle's sensing systems, are aware of how close you are to other objects, allowing it to inform you when this becomes a hazard.  

I think Ford's "Driver Workload Estimator" with it's bio-metric sensing system could help keep drivers and their passengers safer by avoiding distractions that may effect their driving ability.  The technology will eliminate any disturbances that could possibly become dangerous for other drivers, or passengers in the vehicle.  As well, the system will be aware of how the driver is feelings, and would have the ability to help them through situations that they may feel helpless in.

My thoughts on the flying automobile is that they can become dangerous to everyone involved.  Take offs could be messy, and there is always the chance of something failing while in flight.  If there is a back up plan for failure, or any other safety precautions, then I would say that it is a good idea, as long as the plan is well thought out for the safety of it's passengers.  Some benefits of having an automobile that can travel by land and air would include: faster travel over long distances, also, the ability to fly over bodies of water that may cause an unnecessary dent in your travels.  Disadvantages of the flying automobile would be the safety issues that come along with the invention.  Any air born malfunctions that could cause major injuries, or even death, are huge disadvantages of the device, that cannot be taken lightly.

Regarding the idea of a self-driving automobile (or autonomous automobile), I would have to say I stand on the position of the "experience".  Sure, a car that drives itself could be helpful for those who live busy lives, and may not have the time to do tasks such as driving, but there is always that issue involving technology: it does not always work the way we plan.  To me, spending your hard earned money on something that isn't necessarily useful, is pointless.  Yet, it could be a useful gadget for others.  I think you should be given the choice of which you want to drive.  If the technology behind the self-driving cars are so advanced, then it should not be a problem to develop them to know how to share the roads with human controlled vehicles as well. 

Tech for the Sake of Tech?

I did find it surprising that younger people did not care about having smart phone connectivity options in their automobiles. This is shocking to me because as a generation that revolves around availability and technology, you would think the efficiency provided by these resources would be astonishing in their eyes. I feel like my generation would love this option. As we are known for always having our noses stuck in our phones, it seems like we would enjoy these options to their greatest extent. It would be a very beneficial source, being able to use our phones, without the dangers that come along with the actual thing. As well, the ability to cut off connection when needed seems to be a option that could benefit many.

The other technologies mentioned in the article to me, do help address the dangers of distracted driving, but in a way, it does make it easier for drivers to take more risks. Knowing that the technology will help you be aware of near objects, and will actually take over for you in some cases, almost seems like an invitation to drive distractedly. Yet, it could be a very beneficial aspect to many of whom are maybe unable to keep focused, or have too many distractions. The way I see it, if you are distracted to a point where you are unable to focus on your driving abilities, then you probably should not be driving in the first place.

When I consider drivers I know, like family and friends, I would have to say new technological features are not the most important aspect when considering a vehicle to purchase. Especially with my family, who must travel back and forth every morning for work, their biggest concern is gas mileage, and how well the car is going to drive. My parents particularly, have terrible luck with cars, and how well they run before something goes wrong, so this is more of a concern for them. These other features that are added are not a major priority, but a bonus feature, to sort of add to the experience. They are not a requirement to my family or friends when purchasing vehicles, and I believe it would not be one for me either.

One new technological feature that I would like to have, or would look for, when purchasing my own automobile would be Bluetooth connectivity. This would be an important addition for me because if something were to happen to someone in my family, or there was something urgent that I needed to be aware of, it would be helpful to not worry about the distraction of my cellphone. This way, I could continue to drive safely, while continuing the conversation. As a very curious person, I feel the need to know as much information about a situation as possible, so with this feature, I could do so, without endangering any lives, including my own.

A new feature that was introduced in 1939, the first air conditioning system, is one that some automobile operators may have seen as unnecessary in the past.  Enjoying the freedom feeling of having the windows rolled down, and a cool breeze flowing in, was probably one of the main concerns of drivers then.  When the air conditioning system was first introduced, it is my opinion that many people may have believed there was no point to the feature, when they already have windows.  Although, eventually, as times changed, and days where a cool breeze may have been too warm, or in places where the dust was too much to keep the windows down had passed, they would have seen the true purpose behind such a feature.

The History of the Automobile.

Carl Benz:

1.The automobile has been around for 120 years.

2.A patent is "a government authority or license conferring a right or title for a set period, especially the sole right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention."

3.The title Carl Benz uses to describe the automobile, after obtaining a patent is "Vehicle with Gas Engine".

4.The wife of Carl Benz, Berta, drives his invention to Fort Times, without Carl's knowledge, in August of 1888. This is when the first petrol station is born.

5.The "axial pivot steering system" helped solve the issue with steering, and being able to turn both wheels at the same time.

6.The new name of the merged companies is Mercedes Benz.

7.Benz lived to see his dreams come true, this is something that many pioneers in technology never experience.


Henry Ford and the Model T:

1. The assembly line changed from its original position of having the people move down the line, rotating between items, to the lines themselves moving the items around the people.

2. Workers tended to stay longer, and were more committed to Ford's company than others at the time because Henry treated all workers equally. Payments were equal for everyone, and he guaranteed a more “livable wage” than anyone else.

3. The first Model T costed a little over a thousand dollars. It was made for the common folk at the time who couldn't afford carriages, or more expensive forms of transportation.

4. The price of the Model T dropped to eight hundred, then dramatically to about $365.00. I think this drop occurred because of the production of automobiles. Perhaps he began without competition, but later, needed to compete against other companies for business.

5. Model Ts offered people a more efficient form of transportation they could use. They could travel to any place, at any time, without having to wait for train times, etc.


My Video Selections:

Tucker's Dream Impacts Auto Industry
- His vision was to build his own company from the ground up, and create the safest automobile around. It's interesting that safety was a concern for so long.
- Tucker had the idea of a "pop-out windshield". This to me, seems like a really good idea, and I was surprised to hear that he thought of it. I have never really heard of the idea before, until now.
- Another interesting point I found was his idea of a third headlight. A light that moves with the steering wheel to light up the road ahead. This seems like it was a really good idea at the time, but probably unnecessary with the headlights already on both sides of the vehicle.
- The fact that more shares were sold in Tucker's company than actual automobiles is another point I found interesting. It seems that automobiles were not his only concern.


Vulcanized Rubber

- The realization of how much the invention rubber has actually affected our lives is insane! It is in everything we do, or at least a part of our lives in some way.
- Rubber was invented during the industrial revolution. I did not know this, so it was an interesting fact to learn.
- Learning that sulfur is what makes natural rubber matter into the stretchy, usable material we know today, was a interesting point for me.
- It was shocking that rubber became such an important aspect to those during the industrial era. The abuse that occurred to the men who worked for it, and the guarding that was required to protect it is very bizarre.

Automobile Timeline:

1911- Electric starter introduced

Charles Kettering introduces the electric starter. Until this time engines had to be started by hand cranking. Critics believed no one could make an electric starter small enough to fit under a car’s hood yet powerful enough to start the engine. His starters first saw service in 1912 Cadillacs.

- I selected this point from the timeline because this invention was the start of something amazing. Before, starting a vehicle was it's own task itself.  Automobiles were invented for efficiency, to go any place, at anytime, but before the electric starter, trying to get there at anytime, was a bigger challenge.  You would have to take the time to hand crank the engine, which was also an unnecessary workout.  Once this invention was introduced, odds are, the vehicles became more popular in markets, because now, it is even easier than it was before.



1914- First car body made entirely of steel
Dodge introduces the first car body made entirely of steel, fabricated by the Budd Company. The Dodge touring car is made in Hamtramck, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit.
- This point was particularly interesting to me because before steel, most cars were made with special types of wood, with some components of steel or other metals.  They were easier to damage, and especially dangerous to those who owned one or drove one.  The possibility of catching the engine, as well as the body on fire was a greater risk.  With the invention of the all body steel vehicle, all of these problems and concerns were resolved.



1922- First American car with four-wheel hydraulic brakes
The Duesenberg, made in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the first American car with four-wheel hydraulic brakes, replacing ones that relied on the pressure of the driver’s foot alone. Hydraulic brakes use a master cylinder in a hydraulic system to keep pressure evenly applied to each wheel of the car as the driver presses on the brake pedal.

- I chose this event on the timeline because I feel it was an essential addition to the automobile.  Before the four-wheel hydraulic brakes, the risks of the vehicle were larger.  Even today, car accidents are common, where a pedestrian is injured due to a failed stop, or even other passengers of oncoming vehicles.  It is hard to even imagine how different, and more dangerous things would have been before this invention of the four-wheel hydraulic brake.



1935- Flashing turn signals introduced
A Delaware company uses a thermal interrupter switch to create flashing turn signals. Electricity flowing through a wire expands it, completing a circuit and allowing current to reach the lightbulb. This short-circuits the wire, which then shrinks and terminates contact with the bulb but is then ready for another cycle. Transistor circuits begin taking over the task of thermal interrupters in the 1960s.

- This invention was one that I found extremely important.  Traffic is a terrible thing, and even worse when you are unaware of who's going where.  The invention of the flashing turn signals was a solution to the problems of collision.  It makes things easier when you can see where the oncoming traffic is headed, so you are aware of where you can, and cannot go.

Digital Wellness PSA

Rationale:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qme9yeQ-KwpsHrpBVXsw4yu2pR3yxn56Ua4o8aIP9rE/edit?usp=sharing