Knowledge transfer: scattered sources to sceptical clients

Abstract

In attempting to promote safety for children through design, we can encounter a number of problems. Consequences of children's often unpredictable or uncontrollable behaviour, lack of hazard awareness, and susceptibility to injury may be compounded by designs which have not taken interaction with children into account. Frequently children may be excluded from the target population by designers, architects, or manufacturers, or others producing products, equipment and environments. This can occur through lack of care, knowledge, or anticipation, but the result will always be an unnecessary increase in the rate of child accidents. Fortunately, professionals involved in design in many countries are increasingly aware of the need to apply ergonomics data about children. However, even where there is such willingness, there still may exist a barrier in the form of the unavailability, inaccessibility, or inapplicability of data. If the information that is potentially helpful in improving the safety of children is to be effective then it must be communicated to the relevant users in a form that they can apply effectively. Some of these issues have been addressed during the production of a databank of existing physical, cognitive, and behavioural data, information, and principles relating to children. The problems encountered in producing a parsimonious yet usable ergonomics databank are discussed, as is the need for research to produce applicable data, prompted by real problems and not merely academic interest. The relevance of the approach to a non-formal design setting will be addressed also.

Keywords:

• Children
• Databank
• Design
• Data
• Designers
• Knowledge