Just the facts, sir

By Len O'Neal December 1, 1999

It would be all too fitting to follow the course of so many other publications’ year-end issue and provide you with predictions about the Year 2000, whether it be the impact of the Y2K glitch to the internet or how the World Wide Web will evolve in the coming year. However, commenting on the former would just be overkill, and providing insight on the latter would be like trying to predict the weather in Chicago.

So to close out the year, we’ll instead focus on the facts — recent additions and upgrades to Plant Engineering Online (www.plantengineering.com) that you may not be aware of and ones you can expect to see in the new millennium.

Fact 1: PE channels evolve

Within your favorite PE channel(s), you can now access topic-related articles and new product and literature information with a single click of your mouse. Perform targeted keyword searches within each PE channel for content related only to the topics covered in that channel or, if you’re the browsing type, click through to the archives page for links to any articles published by Plant Engineering magazine or exclusively online in the last 5 yr.

What can you expect to find in the Plant Engineering channels in the coming months? We’ll be giving you a better look at what’s available at our IndustryStore.com web site with featured titles in each channel. If you’re a history buff, then you’ll enjoy our retrospectives, where we’ll highlight technological and operational advancements that, at the time, were considered state-of-the-art and have helped shaped the way you operate your plant today. And you can also expect to see more exclusive content from the award-winning Plant Engineering magazine staff and trusted experts in the various fields of technology covered in the Plant Engineering channels.

Fact 2: A new “side”

As Richard Dunn mentioned in this month’s Editorial (p 10), “the shortage of well-trained, skilled workers will continue.” To help you combat this dilemma and to keep you tuned in to the enormous amount of available continuing education and career opportunities, Plant Engineering Online has introduced a new “side” of engineering: Career Side of Engineering . Located in the “Resources” section of the web site, the Career Side offers you access to books, training opportunities, technology reference material, job opportunities, and links to universities with plant engineering-related courses, certificate programs, and degrees. And this is just the beginning.

Fact 3: Your voice matters

We value your responses to our online opinion polls and we will continue to offer new ways for your voice to be heard in the plant engineering community. And if you haven’t done so already, you still have an opportunity to tell us how to make Plant Engineering Online a better resource by completing our annual online reader survey. Help us take your web resource into the Year 2000.