Scenario for A Third Computer Revolution in Structural Engineering

On the basis of the analogy between the industrial revolution and the computer revolution, it would be expected that subsequent conferences on electronic computation would deal exclusively with time-shared computing. The analogy is examined, and it is shown that the computer revolution differs significantly from the inudstrial revolution. Some of the adverse factors affecting the structural engineering profession are examined, and their implications for computer use are analyzed. A solution is presented for the problems outlined, calling for a centralized agency to handle software manufacture for structural engineering. The mode of operation of the profession in such an environment is described.