What is the IEEE?
The IEEE and its predecessors, the
AIEE (American Institute of
Electrical Engineers) and the IRE
(Institute of Radio Engineers), date to
1884.
Origins
• From its earliest origins, the IEEE has
advanced the theory and application of
electrotechnology and allied sciences,
served as a catalyst for technological
innovation and supported the needs of its
members through a wide variety of
programs and services.
19th Century Growth
• The last quarter of the nineteenth century was
marked by a tremendous growth in electrical
technology. By the early 1880s,
– telegraph wires crisscrossed the United States.
– Europe and America were connected by underwater
cable.
– arc lights were in use in several cities.
– Thomas Edison's Pearl Street Station was supplying
power for incandescent lights in New York.
– there were numerous firms manufacturing electrical
equipment.
– the telephone was growing in importance as a
communication tool.
AIEE
• This growth in the technology and the planning for
an international Electrical Exhibition to be held by
the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia prompted
twenty-five of America's most prominent electrical
engineers, including Thomas Edison, Elihu
Thomson and Edwin Houston, to issue a call for
the formation of a society to promote their
burgeoning discipline. On 13 May 1884, the AIEE
was born in New York and quickly gained
recognition as a representative for American
electrical engineers.
AIEE -- Wire Communications,
Light and Power
• From the beginning, the major interests of
the AIEE were:
– wire communications and
– light and power systems.
The first 3 decades:
• An early and active participant in the development
of electrical industry standards, the Institute laid
the foundations for all work on electrical standards
done in the United States. During its first three
decades, the AIEE confronted and resolved such
internal concerns as:
– locating permanent headquarters for the organization
– providing mechanisms for contact with a far-flung
membership and with students, and
– fostering new technical interests through committees
that were established to meet the challenge of
increasing specialization.
1912
• By 1912, however, the interests and needs
of those specializing in the expanding field
of radio could no longer be satisfied by
periodic technical committee meetings in
their local areas.
The IRE -- Wireless
Communications
• Two largely local organizations -- the Society of
Wireless and Telegraph Engineers and the
Wireless Institute -- merged to form an
international society for scientists and engineers
involved in the development of wireless
communications -- the Institute of Radio
Engineers.
• Many of the original members of the IRE were
members of the AIEE and both organizations
continued to have members in common until they
merged to form the IEEE in 1963.
IRE
• The structural development and general activities
of the IRE were similar to those of the AIEE.
– Specialized segments were gathered into professional
groups under a central governing body.
– Geographical units and student branches were formed.
– Meetings and publications facilitated the creation of an
extensive literature and the exchange of knowledge.
– Membership grades were established.
– Standards development became a major effort.
IRE attracts members from
outside US
• The nature of radio technology meant that the
interests of the IRE went beyond national
boundaries.
• Therefore, the new organization sought and
attracted members from many countries and
eventually established units in several areas
throughout the world.
• From the beginning the 'Proceedings of the IRE'
regularly published papers from authors outside
the United States.
Enter 'electronics'
• In the 1930's, electronics became part of the
vocabulary of electrical engineering.
Electronics engineers tended to become
members of the IRE, but the applications of
electron tube technology became so
extensive that the technical boundaries
differentiating the IRE and the AIEE
became difficult to distinguish.
Competition
• After World War II, the two organizations
became increasingly competitive. Problems
of overlap and duplication of efforts arose,
only partially resolved by joint committees
and meetings.
AIEE, IRE Merge to form IEEE
• In 1961, the leadership of both the IRE and
the AIEE resolved to seek an end to these
difficulties through consolidation.
• The next year a merger plan was
formulated and approved and became
effective on 1 January 1963.