Transcript Universal Design and Its Relevance to Engineering Ethics Masahisa Seguchi Terumasa Ohkusa Introduction    1. Universal Design precepts may be used as ethical checks in many different fields. 2.

Universal Design
and
Its Relevance to
Engineering Ethics
Masahisa Seguchi
Terumasa Ohkusa
Introduction
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1. Universal Design precepts may be used
as ethical checks in many different fields.
2. By using Universal Design, Engineering
Ethics can be taught as integral to
engineering.
3. Universal Design stresses the moral
importance of improving the quality of life
of socially marginalized minorities.
Ron Mace’s Definition of UD
"the design of products and
environments to be usable by all
people, to the greatest extent
possible, without the need for
adaptation or specialized design."
Life Expectancy at Birth in Japan
Year
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Male
77.64
78.08
77.76
77.88
77.99
78.11
Female
84.62
85.18
84.73
84.89
85.05
85.20
Difference
6.98
7.10
6.97
7.01
7.06
7.10
Actual and Projected Life
Expectancy at Birth, 1950-2050
（National Institute of Population and Social Security Research）
Trends in the Percentage of the
Aged Population, 1950-2050
Trends in the percentage of the aged population, 1950-2050
Trends in the Percentage of the Major Age Composition
of the Total Population, 1950-2050:
Organizations set up to promote
UD in Japan
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Universal Design Consortium
(local government, enterprise and the
public)
Universal Design Forum
(Toyota, Panasonic, Fujitsu, etc)
JABEE-affiliated academic and professional
societies with codes of ethics
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1. Information Processing Society of Japan (1996)
2. The Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan (1998)
3. The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers (1998)
4. The Institution of Professional Engineers (1961, revised 1999)
5. Japan Society of Civil Engineers (1938, revised 1999)
6. Architectural Institute of Japan (1999)
7. The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers (1999)
8. The Chemical Society of Japan (2000)
9. The Illuminating Engineering Institute (2000)
10. Atomic Energy Society of Japan (2001)
11. Japanese Geotechnical Society (2002)
12. The Society of Chemical Engineers, Japan (2002)
13. The Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan (2002)
14. The Japan Society of Applied Physics (2002)
15. Japan Industrial Management Association (2003)
16. The Operations Research of Japan (2003)
17. Japan Society of Engineering Geology (2003)
Seven Principles of UD
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1. Equitable Use
2. Flexibility in Use
3. “Simple and Intuitive”
4. Perceptible Information
5. Tolerance for Error
6. Low Physical Effort
7. Size and Space for Approach and Use
PRINCIPLE ONE: Equitable Use
The design is useful and
marketable to people with diverse
abilities.
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Guidelines:
1a. Provide the same means of use for all users:
identical whenever possible; equivalent when not.
1b. Avoid segregating or stigmatizing any users.
1c. Provisions for privacy, security, and safety
should be equally available to all users.
1d. Make the design appealing to all users.
Japan Society of Civil Engineers
(JSCE) Code 9
civil engineer shall treat
everyone fairly without any
discrimination against race,
religion, sex, or age.”
 “A
Suppose a person in a wheelchair
uses different railway stations
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Station X has a specialized lift for
wheelchair users alongside the stairs.
Station Y has a special slope set behind
the ordinary stairs.
Station Z has no stairs but only gentle
slopes.
P ５: Tolerance for Error
The design minimizes hazards and
the adverse consequences of
accidental or unintended actions.
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Guidelines:
5a. Arrange elements to minimize hazards and
errors: most used elements, most accessible;
hazardous elements eliminated, isolated, or
shielded.
5b. Provide warnings of hazards and errors.
5c. Provide fail safe features.
5d. Discourage unconscious action in tasks that
require vigilance.
Guideline 3a of Principle 3
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Eliminate unnecessary complexity
Guideline 4b of Principle 4
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adequate contrast between essential
information and its surroundings
Topic: Project to Refurbish a
Railway Station:
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Japan is now an aged society; 20% of its
population consists of people aged 65 and
over. Suppose that you are responsible for
a design for the refurbishment of railway
station A. What points are you going to
pay particular attention to, in suggesting
new designs for the platform, stairs,
escalators, ticket machines, signs,
lavatories etc.?
Students’ Ideas
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aligning doors in platform walls with
the doors of arriving trains
introducing properly spacious lifts
special lifts or slopes for wheelchair
users, etc.
A Good Sample of UD
– Hankyu Itami Station
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The Hanshin-Awaji earthquake (1995)
seriously damaged the traffic and
transportation system. Hankyu Itami
Station was completely destroyed but
reconstructed successfully using UD
concepts. The reconstruction of Itami
Station was carried out in cooperation with
the local government and the local
community.
Hankyu Itami Station
Ｃｏｖｅｒｅｄ walkway leads from
station to bus terminal
‘Non-step’ bus (bus at same height
as pavement surface)
Non-step bus pulls up at gate
Voice and Braille signage for the
blind complements map
Wide access phone booths
accommodate wheelchair users
Widened ticket gate
Woman with pushchair uses wider
gate
Walkway slopes gently up to
platform
Two-height handrail can support
walkers and wheelchair users
Different-height phones
Baby-change and -feeding room
together with station orientation
Baby-change unit (‘baby seat’) in
male lavatory
3. The moral importance of
improving the quality of life of
socially marginal minorities.
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the fair treatment of the broad spectrum
of users with different abilities, many of
whom tend to be largely segregated from
the rest of society.
principle 6 ("Low Physical Effort")
P ６: Low Physical Effort
The design can be used efficiently
and comfortably and with a
minimum of fatigue.
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Guidelines:
6a. Allow user to maintain a neutral body
position.
6b. Use reasonable operating forces.
6c. Minimize repetitive actions.
6d. Minimize sustained physical effort.
From the Designer's knowledge
to Users'
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understanding different users' needs
putting users' experience, demands
and judgment first
understanding of the exact social
circumstances of the users