> TVs and furbies with electronics in them could give you an electric shock or start a fire In no universe will a small low-voltage chip cause a fire except in

> TVs and furbies with electronics in them could give you an electric shock or start a fire In no universe will a small low-voltage chip cause a fire except in exceptional circumstances. This is a non-dangerous product. But you can only design one if you are a certified engineer. Most engineering tasks are harmless. They require certification and licensing largely as a gateway mechanism, like being a beautician. No one says that people who design harmless products aren't "electrical engineers" or "computer engineers". Danger certainly isn't the defining feature of engineering -- gateway certification might be, but shouldn't be. And on the flip side, it is absolutely the case that for designing software which is potentially dangerous should require certification and liability considerations. Do these guys get to be called engineers then? What if all they do with their certification is make video games?