1..1.2 Society

A set of 60 flashcards based on the lecture notes regarding safety, legal requirements, and cultural influences in product design.

What is the primary goal of safety in product design?

For products to be useful and effective while also keeping users safe.

Why must potential risks be identified early in the design process?

To ensure they are removed before the product is made.

How should designers handle sharp edges on products to ensure safety?

Designers must ensure that any edges are smooth and rounded.

Give an example of a product where a sharp blade is necessary but the design ensures safety for the user.

A kitchen knife, where the blade is sharp but the handle is rounded to make it safe to grip.

Why is the choice of non-toxic materials especially important in children's toys and food containers?

Because certain materials can release harmful substances if touched or inhaled.

What is a specific safety risk associated with water bottles mentioned in the text?

Using plastic that releases dangerous chemicals when heated.

How should products with moving parts, such as fans or toys with wheels, be designed to avoid injury?

Moving parts should be shielded or out of reach.

In an electric toothbrush, how is the rotating brush head designed for safety?

It is safely enclosed to avoid harm.

What electrical safety features are found in a well-designed hairdryer charger?

Properly insulated wiring and a design that protects the plug from water damage.

How does a designer act as a problem-solver when identifying risks?

By looking for potential hazards during the design phase and fixing them before production.

Why is testing a crucial part of the design phase?

It helps identify overlooked safety issues that might not be obvious at first.

What features in a well-designed baby car seat ensure the safety of infants during travel?

Secure straps, impact protection, and side shields to absorb force.

How are the blades in a food blender designed to prevent accidental contact?

They are hidden inside the device.

Which area of study relates body measurements to safety features in products?

Anthropometrics ($1.1.1$).

What could be the result of a virtual reality (VR) headset with straps that are too tight or padding in the wrong place?

It could be uncomfortable or cause injury.

Why is getting the correct size and shape important for products like bike helmets?

It ensures people are kept safe and protected during an accident.

Who invented the 'Palm-N'-Turn' safety cap?

Dr Henri Breault.

In what year was the 'Palm-N'-Turn' safety cap invented?

$$1967$$

By how much did child-poisoning cases drop in Dr Breault's local area after the invention of the safety cap?

Over $90$\,per cent.

By what year did the childproof safety cap become a legal requirement in Ontario, Canada?

$$1974$$

What is required to open a 'Palm-N'-Turn' medicine bottle cap?

One must push down and twist at the same time.

What is the legal implication if a product is found to be unsafe?

It is illegal.

What does the symbol 'CE' stand for?

Conformite Europeenne.

What does the 'CE' mark show about a product?

That it meets essential health, safety, and environmental protection standards for sale in the European Economic Area (EEA).

What does 'CCC' stand for in the context of Chinese safety standards?

China Compulsory Certificate.

How do recycling symbols and labeling laws influence designers?

They require designers to label materials clearly and ensure products are made in energy-efficient and sustainable ways.

What are the consequences for companies that do not follow environmental regulations?

Huge fines and serious damage to the brand's reputation.

What do copyright, patent, and intellectual property (IP) laws protect?

Original designs, logos, inventions, and creative work.

What is the term for copying a design without permission?

Infringement.

What does a Patent protect according to the text?

New inventions, including machines, products, or processes that are novel and useful.

For how many years does a Patent usually prevent others from making, using, or selling an invention?

$$20$$

What types of works are protected by Copyright?

Original artistic or creative works, such as drawings, books, music, films, software, and logos.

Is official registration required for Copyright in many countries?

No, it is automatic when the work is created.

What does a Trademark protect?

Brand identity — such as names, logos, slogans, and product shapes linked to a business.

What is indicated by the symbols TM versus ®?

TM can be used without registration, while the ® symbol shows a registered trademark.

What does a Registered design protect?

The look of a product — its appearance, shape, decoration, and style.

How long can the protection of a Registered design last?

Up to $25$ years.

Why is registering a design beneficial compared to unregistered rights?

It gives stronger legal protection and lasts longer.

List three potential consequences of breaking legal rules in product design.

Fines, product recals, or being banned from seling the product.

How does good design build trust with customers?

Customers are more likely to buy from brands they trust to be safe, ethical, and responsible.

What does white symbolize at weddings in many Western countries versus some Asian cultures?

It symbolizes purity in Western countries and mourning in some Asian cultures.

Give an example of how cultural practices differ regarding eating tools.

Some cultures use knives and forks, others chopsicks, and others traditionally eat using their hands.

What are two elements of ethical and sustainable design related to labor?

Avoiding the exploitation of workers and ensuring safe, fair working conditions for all people.

What is one way designers can reduce environmental impact and support local economies?

By sourcing materials locally.

Why are designers today increasingly expected to think about the whole life cycle of their products?

Due to global trends pushing for greater ethical and sustainable practices.

How does designing adaptable and repairable products benefit society?

It reduces waste and shows respect for the people and places the products are intended for.

What is the definition of 'Dimensions'?

The measurements of an object.

What is the definition of 'Fairtrade'?

A certification that ensures producers in developing countries are paid fairly and work in safe conditions.

What is the definition of 'Hazard'?

A potential source of harm or damage.

What is 'Infringement'?

When someone uses or copies protected work, designs or inventions without permission.

What is 'Intellectual property (IP)'?

Creations of the mind - including inventions, designs and creative work - that can be legaly protected.

What is the definition of 'Life cycle' in product design?

The journey of a product from raw material to disposal or recycling.

What is a 'Raw material'?

Unprocessed material; it has not yet been manufactured.

What is the definition of 'Risk'?

How likely it is that harm wil happen from a hazard, and how serious the harm could be.

What are 'Safety standards'?

Legal rules that make sure products do not harm users and are safe to use.

What is 'Testing'?

Carrying out experiments or trials to check if something works.

What is 'Trend'?

A general direction in which something is developing or changing, especially in fashion, technology, or culture.

Why did Dr Henri Breault create a new bottle cap in the $1960s$?

Because young children were accidentally opening medicine botles and getting poisoned.

How does the 'Palm-N'-Turn' cap design protect children?

It requires the user to push down and twist simultaneously, which small children cannot do.

What should a designer check to avoid legal battles over intellectual property?

That they are not accidentaly copying someone else's work.