Unintended Consequences of Design: Keyless Ignition Revisited

Unintended Consequences of Design: Keyless Ignition Revisited: "

Peter Hancock, writing in the January issue of The Ergonomist, writes about the hidden dangers imposed by rapidly advancing automotive technology (noise, vibration suppression, keyless ignition).  Noise, vibration, sound, and the mechanical key provides useful information that the car is still on.  Removing these cues could result in mode errors:

In previous generations of vehicles, leaving the car ‘on’ as you exit tends also to provide a series of visual, auditory and even tactile kinesthetic cues as to its status. Old-time vehicles tended to make a considerable noise, their exhaust was often visible and the whole vehicle tended to vibrate noticeably while the engine was on. Over the immediate past decades, designers and engineers have sought ways to reduce these sources of disturbance since they were perceived as being perhaps unpleasant.

However, these nominally adverse effects contained problematic yet important informational content. Modern vehicles now rarely belch smoke from the exhaust. Efforts have also been very successful at reducing both noise and vibration such that modern vehicles have now indeed become whisper quiet.

…

It might, initially seem that leaving your engine running is more of an inconvenience than a significant threat. This is simply incorrect. The cases in the United States which have so far accrued from this form of design-induced error have been fatal.

…

A vehicle ‘running’ in an enclosed space with direct access for the exhaust to the airflow into your house is indeed a deadly trap. Sadly, a number of individuals now appear to have fallen into that trap.  This example may be one of these adverse but unintentional design outcomes.

There does not appear to be an online copy so I’m attaching the PDF here (thanks Rick!)

(post image from flickr user IceNineJon)

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BMW's New Plant Built With Aging Workforce in Mind

BMW's New Plant Built With Aging Workforce in Mind: "

Life isn't easy for older car assembly line workers who are on their feet for hours each day. BMW's solution: segregate the older workers in a special factory built for their needs.

A new BMW factory in Dingolfing, is one result of Germany's low birthrate and lack of younger skilled workers. The plant, nicknamed Altstadt ('Old town' in German) is a fiftysomething factory worker's dream: better lighting, mobile tool carts, ergonomic back supports for workers who spend all day turning monkey wrenches, stools to sit on, and a greater variety of robots to perform menial tasks. Perhap most helpfully, the plant also includes a production line that has been slowed to a third of its normal speed, according to the UK Daily Mail.

The 200-person factory was designed by automotive engineers and industrial architects, with a little help from physical therapists and doctors. This isn't a one-off design for BMW, either. The automaker plans to expand the Old Town model to 4,000 workers in different factory locations. 

It makes sense--the ratio of over-50 BMW workers will rise from 25% now to 45% in the next decade. But wouldn't it make more sense to implement some of these changes in all factories to prevent injuries and future problems?

Follow Fast Company on Twitter. Ariel Schwartz can be reached by email.

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Can Robots Save ObamaCare's Doctor Shortage?

Can Robots Save ObamaCare's Doctor Shortage?: "

Robots can gave a paraplegic new legs and ring up our afternoon hamburger order, but they still cannot solve the pesky shortage of careers requiring an advanced degree. Especially problematic for President Obama’s new health care mission, doctors will be in short supply and states are struggling to fill the void with physician assistants.

Fortunately, science has come to the rescue with new research proving that robot-assisted physical therapy is superior to therapy without a metallic friend.

In a study presented to the American Stroke Association, patients suffering from stroke-induced paralysis on one half of their body (hemiplegia) improved upper extremity function in their shoulders, elbows, and forearms. Patients spent spent six weeks of daily 40-minute sessions with the Israeli-made Reo Therapy System, a robotic arm that scaffolds movement along a pre-determined path. Just like a human, the system can custom tailor the amount of assistance to patient needs. And, unlike their error-prone human counterparts, robots are not susceptical to the sloppy mistakes of monotonous boredom. 'Robots, on the other hand, can carry out the repetitive movement exercise with exactly the right movement pattern to prevent misuse,' lead other Kayoko Takahashi, tells ScienceDaily.

Takahashi’s research is latest in a torrent of related breakthroughs helping disabled patients regain basic motor skills. For instance, Italian scientist Elana Vergaro developed a robotic arm that trains stroke patients in the art of hand-shaking, so that they may reenter the coveted world of business small-talk.

Self-run therapy with a cold robotic arm may not have the same appeal as a warm, smiling physical therapist, but being able to do it yourself is better than nothing at all.

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Brain-controlled robot arm kicks off new FDA program to speed up approval of medical devices

Brain-controlled robot arm kicks off new FDA program to speed up approval of medical devices: "

As we've seen, the FDA approval process for medical devices and other gadgets can be a long one, but it looks like things could soon be speeding up considerably. The agency has just announced a new 'Innovation Pathway' program that promises to allow for priority reviews of 'truly pioneering technologies,' which could potentially cut the approval process time in half. Somewhat ironically, however, that program itself will first need some further review before it's broadly deployed, but the FDA has already kicked things off on a limited basis with its first submission: a brain-controlled robotic arm from DARPA. It's not clear which arm that is, but it sounds a lot like the now-famous 'Luke' arm developed by Dean Kamen's Deka organization, which just so happens to be funded by DARPA. Head on past the break for the official press release, and a video of the FDA's webcast announcing the program.



Update: A tipster has pointed out that the robotic arm in question, and seen briefly in the video after the break, is actually the Modular Prosthetic Limb developed by Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory (now pictured above), not Deka's Luke arm.

Continue reading Brain-controlled robot arm kicks off new FDA program to speed up approval of medical devices

Brain-controlled robot arm kicks off new FDA program to speed up approval of medical devices originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 06:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LiquidKeyboard may have substantial ergonomic benefits

LiquidKeyboard may have substantial ergonomic benefits: "

As an iPad user for well over 6 months, the iPad is a terrific device for reading but it is not the best for writing.  This may be due to having typed since the age of 14 on everything from a solid old Remington typewriter to an IBM golf ball electric typewriter and various keyboards over the decades.  Typing on glass is possible but the limited keyboard size on the iPad is a struggle.  But that struggle may be replaced by an even greater challenge.

The iPad, and many other devices, are bound by a QWERTY keyboard.  Others have argued that the QWERTY layout is outdated but it is possible to produce a presentable email holding an iPad in one hand and typing with the other.  It is likely that , over a short period of time, the shortcomings of that arrangement will create ergonomic problems.

Researchers at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) have not introduced an alternative to the QWERTY keyboard but rather tweaked it into a new layout.  LiquidKeyboard is the system and, in short

• “A new keyboard that makes it easier to type on touch screen devices has been invented


• LiquidKeyboard enables people to use both hands in typing in the traditional way


• As soon as your first four fingers touch the surface – in one fluid motion – an entire keyboard is constructed using the QWERTY format”

As with many innovations, productivity is the main motivation or it may be that productivity is the language needed to gain broad media attention but the potential ergonomic benefits are just as interesting.   If ergonomics is “the science of designing the workplace environment to fit the user” then the ergonomic benefits of LiquidKeyboard are self-evident.  Just because the  use of  a virtual keyboard has not identified any hazards yet does not mean that research into alternative, more ergonomic methods is not warranted.  The forethought of Christian Sax and other researchers is to be applauded.

Kevin Jones

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Kickstarter: The aTrackt Improves Apple’s Keyboard And Trackpad Ergonomics

Kickstarter: The aTrackt Improves Apple’s Keyboard And Trackpad Ergonomics: "

I wasn’t convinced this particular project was worth its salt, but a little reflection convinced me. I don’t use Apple’s dainty little desk accessories — I always go back to a nice, meaty mechanical keyboard and high-performance mouse, because Apple’s keyboards are like toys and the trackpad is no good for gaming. But hey, some people like ‘em. The trouble is their naturally light and slippery nature, which causes them to slide about and become separated.

I would have thought Apple would foresee this and install powerful magnets in that round bit of the casing, so they’d stick together, but they didn’t, so it’s left to the ever-inventive fans to justify their purchase with a home-brewed accessory. The aTrackt on Kickstarter really does solve the problem, and passes the only test it needs to, in my opinion: if I had the keyboard and trackpad, I wouldn’t be caught dead without one of these as well.

The idea is extremely simple: a bar of aluminum with space for the feet of the peripherals to go in; they rest at the same height they normally would, so nothing is really changed about the user experience — except that now, your trackpad won’t go on walkabout. It doesn’t appear that the bar has any kind of non-slip surface on the bottom, though, which would be handy. That said, if this guy can put together a whole Kickstarter project and we can’t even be bothered to put a piece of gaffer’s tape on the bottom of the thing, that bespeaks a certain consumer entitlement I’d rather not admit to.

I’m not sure $50 and $100 for the normal and “go” versions respectively are going to fly, but then again, the appetite of Apple users for expensive accessories is bottomless, so maybe I shouldn’t naysay just yet. I’d also lose the irregular bolding in the logotype; it makes me angry. At any rate, the project is just starting out and if you can spare a ten spot to nudge it towards its relatively modest $8000 goal, I’m sure Mark would appreciate it.

CrunchBase Information

Kickstarter

Information provided by CrunchBase

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For Tablets And Smartphones: Elecom’s Stand And Bluetooth 3.0 Keyboard

For Tablets And Smartphones: Elecom’s Stand And Bluetooth 3.0 Keyboard: "

There are quite a few stands and keyboards for tablets and smartphones out there, but Elecom‘s TK-FB023E (announced [JP] today) is an especially pretty stand/keyboard set. Elecom sells the keyboard, which supports Bluetooth 3.0, in two versions, namely with Japanese and English layouts.

Elecom says that for iPad/iPhone/iPod touch users, there’s also a special key to bring up the home screen (the English keyboard has 82 keys in total).

The keyboard is sized at 237×123.5×22mm and weighs 224g.

Elecom plans to sell it together with the stand for $70 from next month (in black or white). Ask specialized online store Geek Stuff 4 U to get one shipped to you if you live outside Japan.

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