Abstract
My technical project and STS research paper are connected through the idea of safe design and explore the interactions between human decisions and technological development. Safe design refers to the “process of designing products, systems, and environments that are safe for people to use” (Safe design: What it is & why it’s essential, 2024). With the technical project, my team approached the issue of safe design from the perspective of designers ensuring that the intended consumers could safely use the product. However, in my STS research paper, I approached the issue of safe design as an analyst determining the ethicality of the design decisions that led to an engineering tragedy. While the two projects differ in their approach to safe design, the constant theme allows for a more robust understanding of safe design by incorporating multiple perspectives.
In our technical project, my team developed a biomechanical analytics tool to help sprinters improve their race starts. My team embedded a force sensor within a sprinting block, constructed a height sensing apparatus, and connected both sensors into a central micro-processing hub. Then we designed a companion application to present users with useful and informative data gathered by our system. This type of design carries the risk of physical injury since athletes physically interact with the product in intense athletic environments. Additionally, we had to consider how our design could be used to promote the “perfectionist” culture in athletics.
In my STS research paper, I use the framework of Aristotelian virtue ethics to analyze the design decisions made by the actors involved in the collapse of Terminal 2E at Roissy Airport in Paris, France. Terminal 2E collapsed on the morning of May 23rd, 2004, killing multiple people. Investigations performed after the collapse determined that certain design factors including the complex tunnel structure, improper material analysis, and faulty construction contributed to the collapse. I argue that multiple designers in this case acted unethically by exhibiting a lack of attention to detail and failing to take responsibility for their actions. This project specifically helps engineers understand the ethical implications of each design decision.
Although I did not work on these projects during the same semester, the opportunity to complete my technical design and subsequently explore the ethical implications of design decisions added great value to my understanding of safe design. During my technical work I gained a greater appreciation of the thought and attention that must be given to consumer safety. However, I did not grasp the full weight of the consequences of my design decisions until I completed my research project. My research allowed me to see how even the most minute detail can have immense ethical implications. I will carry these insights into my future work and will endeavor to create safe designs that protect and care for the consumers.
References
Safe design: What it is & why it’s essential. SafetyCulture. (2024, August 23). https://safetyculture.com/topics/safe-design/
