A Spectrum special report
Certain concerns of engineers overarch all their special skills, efforts, and knowledge. On the one hand, there are ¿tools¿ of the electrical engineering trade: those general design techniques and methods of information-gathering that make all engineering design tasks feasible. On the other hand, there are avocational activities: the ¿toys¿ that can give added meaning to the engineer's life whether he is actively working or in retirement.