I can hardly believe that in a few short days, we will be departing Seoul and heading back to the states. However, I’m grateful that even as the trip comes to a close, we continue to learn through the rare opportunity to visit companies abroad. Yesterday, our ninth day in Seoul, we visited the Fredit Company and the Samsung Innovation Museum (SIM).
As we began our morning at the Fredit Company, the prevalence of smart systems persisted. Immediately upon our arrival, we saw a machine that used temperature sensors to maintain optimal conditions for the company’s various probiotic products. Seeing the integration of smart systems into food manufacturing processes reinforced the idea that such technologies are vastly applicable beyond the automotive and smartphone industries. Hence, it is important that when I develop smart technologies as an electrical engineer, I shouldn’t limit my imagination regarding where my work could be significant.
Following our time at Fredit, we visited the SIM – the epitome of modern technology and smart systems. We began our tour by watching an exhibition video about how static electricity was first discovered millennia ago when humans shocked themselves when polishing metal by rubbing it with wool. The video then explained how advancements in electricity developed after humans discovered how introducing a magnetic field can induce a current. Having taken Physics II this past semester, I’d entered with prior knowledge about such concepts regarding electricity and magnetism. Further, witnessing first-hand how these concepts were valuable contributions to modern Samsung technologies reinforced that the engineering curriculum I engage in at Pitt is relevant to the real-world.
As we continued our tour, we observed how technological advancements grew more complex and contributed to modern day. For example, we witnessed the development of televisions from noiseless black and white to the extremely thin screens and surround sound we know today. However, the significance of television in the cultural context in Korea was unexpected. In the 1980s, one of the longest television marathons in history occurred reuniting Korean families separated by the war. The program was critical to aiding emotionally wounded Koreans and would not have been possible without developed technologies. Further, this aspect of the SIM reinforced that I must consider the potential to help others and make positive contributions to society with the work I do in electrical engineering.
Lastly, our day ended with a final challenge from Dr. Yun. We were given four images of destinations near Lotte World that we were meant to navigate via public transportation without his aid. For instance, we located the famous Gangnam-style hands. After successfully taking group photos at all the locations, we traveled to the 122nd floor of the Lotte Tower which yielded spectacular views of Seoul. Overall, day nine took my knowledge of smart systems and Korean culture to new heights!