Digital Imaging Careers Presented by Morton M Sternheim June, 2012

The NSF ITEST Program Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers Funds STEM DIGITAL Workforce emphasis Projecting future STEM and Information Technology (IT) needs is uncertain, but large increases are likely

STEM Employment STEM employment grew over 3 x faster than the total workforce between 1950 and 2007 (NSF, 2010) STEM employment is expected to continue to grow faster in the next decade than the overall workforce (U.S. Department of Labor, 2009) Growth in STEM degrees has not kept pace with the overall demand, and the gap has been filled by foreign-born scientists and engineers

STEM Employment, cont. The U.S. is expected to face a serious shortage of skilled workers in STEM fields over the next twenty years (NAS, 2007; ACT, 2006). Depending on one’s definition, 60 to 80% of the 30 fastest growing occupations are STEM or IT related. (U.S. Department of Labor, 2010)

Optical Society of America The number of images that are sensed, stored and displayed digitally continues to increase dramatically in virtually every imaging system from video endoscopes and digital phones to digital cameras to remote-sensing satellites and astronomical telescopes A major important feature of digital images is that they lend themselves to various processing techniques that can be used to enhance the visual appearance, to extract important information automatically, to format for data storage and transmission and to optimize the image data for display.

Example: Digital Cameras How many photos did you take in a one week vacation with a film camera? How many photos do you take in a one week vacation with a digital camera?

Example: Drones The US military is awash in images from Predator spy drones flying over Afghanistan and Iraq, and this problem will intensify as more drones are added and they are upgraded from one camera per drone to 10 and eventually to possibly as many as 65 (NY Times, 2010).

References NSF, Science and Engineering Indicators 2010, US Department of Labor, Occupational employment projections to NAS, Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, D.C., The National Academies Press.

References, cotd. NY Times, Military Is Awash is Data from Drones. e.html e.html ACT, Developing the STEM Education Pipeline. Washington, D.C., ACT U.S. Department of Labor, 2010.Employment Projections Program.

Where Will Digital Imaging Be Used? Groups of ~ 4 people Discuss career ideas List 5-10 ideas 5 minutes Report

Where Will Digital Imaging Be Used?