Digital Engineering

The practice of designing and building the digital infrastructure that underpins modern existence, from the apps that deliver food to the algorithms that decide what you see on the internet. It's the field responsible for both the miracle of instant global communication and the curse of "we've detected you're using a ad-blocker." Digital engineers must balance user experience with corporate goals, leading to design choices like "the 'cancel subscription' button is intentionally hidden in a submenu, behind a FAQ, in a font size of 2." It's a profession that requires both technical brilliance and a carefully managed conscience.

Digital Engineering Example: "He was a brilliant digital engineer who designed a news app algorithm that perfectly personalized content. It worked so well that users only saw articles confirming their existing beliefs, which was great for engagement but terrible for society. He told himself he was just giving people what they wanted, which is what engineers tell themselves at 3 AM."

by Nammugal February 14, 2026

Metadigital Engineering

The practice of designing digital systems that manage other digital systems, creating layers of abstraction so deep that no one remembers what the original problem was. It's the field responsible for "the internet of things," where your toaster now talks to your fridge, which talks to your phone, which talks to a server in a warehouse somewhere, all so you can... have toast. Metadigital engineering solves problems that didn't exist by creating systems so complex that new problems emerge, which then require more metadigital engineering. It's a jobs program for people who like flowcharts.

Metadigital Engineering Example: "The company hired a metadigital engineer to optimize their workflow. She built a system that integrated their project management software with their communication software, which then fed data into their analytics software, which then generated reports for the project management software. The workflow was now perfectly optimized for generating workflow data, but no actual work was being done."

by Nammugal February 14, 2026

Supernatural Engineering

The practice of designing and constructing systems, structures, or rituals intended to harness, contain, or repel supernatural forces. This includes building churches on ley lines, designing exorcism protocols that actually work (spoiler: they don't, but they're dramatic), and creating "protected" spaces that vampires theoretically cannot enter (tested on zero actual vampires). Supernatural engineering faces the unique challenge that the forces being engineered are unpredictable, the materials are untested, and the building inspector is a priest who may or may not have the authority to approve your demon-proof barrier.

Supernatural Engineering Example: "He spent years supernaturally engineering the perfect haunted house attraction, using actual occult symbols and historically accurate rituals to create 'authentic' paranormal energy. The result was a perfectly safe, mildly spooky house that no ghosts visited, because ghosts, it turns out, are not impressed by historical accuracy and prefer places with better ambiance, like abandoned asylums."

by Nammugal February 14, 2026

Paranormal Engineering

The practice of designing and constructing environments, devices, or protocols intended to facilitate, control, or prevent paranormal activity. This includes building "haunted" attractions that actually feel haunted (mostly just dark corridors and unexpected noises), creating ghost-hunting protocols that yield "results" (results being any anomaly, no matter how mundane), and designing "protective" measures against entities that may or may not exist. Paranormal engineering faces the challenge that its target phenomena are unreliable, unproven, and apparently quite shy, making quality control impossible.

Paranormal Engineering Example: "He was a paranormal engineer who designed a 'ghost trap' based on plans he found in an obscure forum. The trap consisted of copper wire, crystals, and a modified vacuum cleaner. He set it up in a reportedly haunted room and waited. The vacuum ran for an hour and then overheated. He caught no ghosts, but he did catch a lot of dust, which he considered a form of paranormal residue and therefore a success."

by Nammugal February 14, 2026

Media Engineering

The practice of designing and constructing media systems, platforms, and content with the precision of an engineer building a bridge—except the bridge is made of algorithms, the load is measured in user engagement, and structural failure means everyone starts yelling at each other in the comments. Media engineers decide what you see, when you see it, and how it makes you feel, all while optimizing for "engagement," which is a polite way of saying "keeping you angry enough to stay glued to the screen."

Media Engineering Example: "He was a media engineer who designed the recommendation algorithm for a major video platform. His algorithm learned that users who watch conspiracy theories tend to watch more ads, so it started suggesting increasingly unhinged content. He told himself he was just giving people what they wanted, which is what engineers say when they've built something they probably shouldn't have."

by Nammugal February 14, 2026

Game Engineering

The practice of designing and building games with the precision and intentionality of an engineer, balancing rules, mechanics, and player psychology to create experiences that are fun, fair, and financially viable. Game engineers must understand probability (so loot boxes feel exciting, not rigged), player motivation (so achievements feel rewarding), and the subtle art of addiction (so players keep playing, ideally after buying the season pass). It's a field that requires technical skill, creative vision, and a carefully managed conscience.

Game Engineering Example: "She was a game engineer who designed a mobile game with a perfectly balanced economy—players could progress for free, but slowly, or pay to accelerate. The game made millions. She also designed a feature that sent notifications when players hadn't played for a day, triggering fear of missing out. She told herself this was just good design, not psychological manipulation. The line, she had learned, was very thin."

by Nammugal February 14, 2026

Gaming Engineering

The practice of designing the environments, tools, and experiences that facilitate the act of playing games, from comfortable gaming chairs to streaming platforms that let millions watch someone else play. Gaming engineers optimize for "flow state" (that perfect zone where you're fully immersed), minimize "lag" (the enemy of enjoyment), and design "accessibility features" so everyone can play, regardless of ability. It's a field that requires understanding both technology and human psychology, and also how to keep a PC cool enough to fry an egg on.

Gaming Engineering Example: "She was a gaming engineer who designed a controller for players with limited mobility. It had larger buttons, customizable layouts, and could be operated with minimal force. When she tested it, a gamer with cerebral palsy completed a level he'd been stuck on for years. She cried. He cried. The controller went into production and changed lives. This is what gaming engineering looks like when it remembers that games are for everyone."

by Nammugal February 14, 2026