In this blog post, we explore the connection between the ‘unseen beauty’ Steve Jobs emphasized and electrical and information engineering.
Before explaining electrical and information engineering, I want to talk about Apple’s Mac computers, synonymous with innovation. Generally, the perception of the Mac is that it is a relatively sleek and beautiful computer with elegant curves. However, the Mac’s true appeal lies not merely in its exterior. Apple’s products have always pursued the perfect harmony of design and performance. Underpinning this is a philosophy that even the parts invisible to the consumer must be beautiful. This philosophy was clearly evident in the Mac’s development process. The Mac development team said this about the Mac’s internal circuitry: “The true beauty of the Mac lies not in its exterior, but in what you see when you open it up.” This is well illustrated in an anecdote about Steve Jobs.
When an engineer completed the Mac’s internal circuitry, Steve Jobs, upon seeing it, declared the circuitry unattractive and ordered a redesign. The engineer countered that customers wouldn’t see the Mac’s interior. To which Steve Jobs replied: “I saw it!” What were the internal circuits mentioned in this anecdote, and what kind of beautiful circuit did Steve Jobs want? The answer lies in electrical and information engineering.
The typical circuit we know has a switch and wires with alligator clips connecting a battery and a light bulb. But such circuits don’t fit inside a slim computer like the Mac. Instead of switches and bulbs, they contain countless semiconductor chips. Yet the operating principle of the internal circuitry in a Mac is as simple as the circuits we know: pressing a switch turns the bulb on or off. However, it consists of hundreds of millions of components so small and minute they are invisible to the naked eye, connected by wires less than a millimeter thick and mounted on an extremely thin green substrate. Each component exchanges signals with others and outputs certain results. For example, pressing a key on the keyboard causes the computer to display that character on the monitor screen.
Let’s pause here to highlight the importance of semiconductor chips and the substrate. The semiconductor chip can be considered the brain of the computer, and these chips come together to deliver powerful computational capabilities. The substrate acts like blood vessels, connecting these semiconductor chips into a single unit. If the semiconductor chip is the brain, the substrate is like the neural network. Just as each nerve must be correctly connected for a neural network to function properly, each wire on the substrate must be precisely connected.
However, for the components to produce the desired results, they must translate each other’s language. This translation isn’t converting Korean to English, but rather converting everything into a mass of numbers: 0s and 1s. This is because each computer component only understands 0s and 1s. Therefore, everything must be translated into this new language composed of 0s and 1s. But if the translated data is delivered to the wrong component instead of the intended one, the computer outputs nonsensical results. So the wiring connecting the translated data must be precise.
Moreover, if the connections between components are faulty, it’s not just the output that becomes strange. Sometimes, even if everything looks fine on the surface, a faulty circuit can cause the computer to catch fire. This happens particularly often when two points with different voltages are connected only by a wire. For example, if a circuit wire connects two points with a resistance of about 1 ohm between them, the wire’s resistance is very low. However, if voltages of 0V and 9V are applied to each end of this wire, the current flowing through it, according to Ohm’s Law, would be 9A. If 5A flows through an 8mm thick wire, sparks will start flying at the weakest connection points. While the values are just examples, 9A is sufficient to cause a fire in the thin wires inside a computer.
Furthermore, even if connections are made correctly, circuits that ignore physical laws can cause wires to melt. For instance, excessive current flowing through a thin wire can melt internal components due to heat. This isn’t merely a heat problem. Such circuit damage drastically shortens the computer’s lifespan. Ensuring our computers are designed for longevity is also a crucial role of electrical and information engineering. In fact, premature failure often occurs due to poor design. Therefore, engineers must analyze data sheets containing information and charts related to the current and voltage of each component. They must predict the amount of current that will flow due to overload and calculate it by applying mathematical formulas and physical laws.
Completing a single circuit requires considering numerous factors. Every step, from design to verification and modification, is crucial. That’s why, after a circuit is built, multiple people conduct repeated verification tests. During verification, the circuit may undergo modifications. However, problems can arise if the circuit’s component placement is so complex and tangled, and the wiring so convoluted, that only the original designer can understand it. This is because others would struggle to identify what needs fixing and how to implement the necessary changes. This is where the true beauty of a circuit design is determined. No matter how complex, a truly well-made circuit should allow even someone seeing it for the first time to instantly grasp where and how everything is connected. This isn’t merely an aesthetic issue. Clear, understandable design significantly boosts collaboration efficiency and plays a crucial role in reducing errors.
In other words, the ‘beautiful circuit’ Steve Jobs envisioned meant not only one that avoids malfunctions and fires, but also one where an engineer can instantly grasp the connections at a glance, enabling seamless collaboration with others. Creating such beautiful circuits—designing them and solving the problems that arise—is the work of electrical and information engineering.
Engineers majoring in electrical and information engineering wrestle with circuits day and night. Sometimes they win that battle, and sometimes they suffer crushing defeats. Even after triumphing over a circuit, they must endure immense theoretical calculations and verification experiments. If the battle with circuits is the first half, then several subsequent second halves must be fought against other problems like communications or displays. In this process, engineers taste frustration and discover new challenges. Nevertheless, if they persist without giving up, the field of electrical and information engineering is where beautiful results, like the Mac, ultimately await.
