I was contemplating the changes in technology that many of us have seen since we started our engineering careers, in my case 30 (short) years ago. We saw the introduction of desktop computers, computer controllers, robotic milking, and the use of email to transmit documents and drawings as well as a means of communications, to name a few.

I like to think I am reasonably up-to-date so I asked my 21 year old daughter Paula, in 3rd year Mechanical Engineering at McMaster University in Hamilton, ON, how she communicates, and the following compares our preferred communication methods: