I've blogged before about the workforce challenges that utilities are facing in finding younger people, both skilled trades and professional engineers, and how some utilities are turning to 3D technology to attract and retain young workers and engineers.
Autodesk has released a free application called TinkerBox App for the iPad, which is designed to spark teenagers' interest in mechanical engineering. It's available on the App Store.
In planning for Tinkerbox Autodesk surveyed a thousand teenagers between the ages of 12 and17 about their attitudes toward technical subjects. The survey found that teenagers seem to appreciate the importance of engineering, but are concerned that the technical skills required are too difficult.
- Over 50 % said that they believed that engineering and math are important to their careers
- Interestingly, they don’t find the subjects boring or nerdy, but think that engineering and math are twice as hard as other subjects
The TinkerBox App is intended to shows teenagers how modern 3D technology can take a lot of the technical drudgery out of engineering and make it fun and exciting, and in some ways similar to the experience they've had with video gaming.
Autodesk also provides free access to 3D design, engineering and entertainment software and curricula though the Autodesk Education Community.
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