Satoshi Kose wrote:
>
> Could you please give me an example of what you think is "Universal Design?"
I was not familiar with the term, but a brief web search shows universal
design as having as specific meaning of design for a wider, more
diverse, range of users, such as those who are physically different from
a normal adult - children and the disabled, (and in my world I might
include dogs and cats).
It also seems to have a more general meaning of design with diversity in
mind, which might include diversity of economic class, geographic
factors, and bioregion, as well as physical size and abilities,
In this larger meaning, I think the bicycle has proven itself a
universal design. It is used all over the world by people of vastly
different economic classes. It is intuitively understood. It is useful
at a variety of speeds.
It has no language barrier. It is more energy efficient than any
competing device for travel. But, it does not fit the narrow meaning,
as children and the disabled may find it useless.
In the old (1972) "Design for the Real World", Victor Papanek shows some
designs of specialized hand and pedal powered cycles meant to strengthen
either the legs or the arms, whichever is in need. In the narrow sense,
these might be candidates or illustrations of possibilities.
Web sites include:
http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~uplan/UDEPweb/MainUDEP.html
http://www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/
http://trace.wisc.edu/world/gen_ud.html
--
Rhodes Hileman . Personal replies to mailto:[log in to unmask] .
All contact info can be found at - http://www.smsys.com/smaladdr.html
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