Always a Step Behind

Most of the time it is the Cause and Effect approach that prevails in the analysis of things. It is the final outcome that calls or attracts attention. I believe it is just in the very nature of whatever presently needed that triggers the cause. That maybe followed by a later thoughts on what may be the final outcome! Sort of do it now then worry later mentality..

The test equipment companies have been ahead of the general industry in MANY application areas for 20 years. Consider the advancement in A/D and D/A convertor sampling rates and bandwidths. These were achieved with joint efforts between IBM and a few high-end test equipment companies.

These same TE companies work closely with industry on new standards for nearly every communication system that is available, usually years before the systems are put into practical use. Test equipment is made available for the R & D of these systems years before the standards can be put on the market.

In the 60's when digital electronics are just on its early stages, I still remember having to troubleshoot digital timers and pyrometers that uses Nixie tubes as their display devices. This are used as controllers for plastic injection moulding machines. During troubleshooting, I still use analog multimeter and oscilloscopes. HP later on came out with a digital multimeter using the same Nixie tubes to display measured parameters. Having a first hand /personal experience on that, I tend to agree that TE are a step behind most of the time.. probably due to the fact that they won't have any idea on what to test for as of yet!