You might have got the impression that I’m a fan of velcro in this project. I like what it offers as a material, and I like the playful nature of the ripping noise it makes, as well as the fact that varying the speed of removal simply makes more noise – a quick rip is louder, while trying to do it gently just makes the noise more prolonged.

However, I’m not blind to its flaws – it eats fluff, which degrades the quality of the velcro over time, and in relation to the previous concepts, could prove to be a problem. Also, at the price offered by a local craft store, it doesn’t seem particularly viable in cost terms.

As a result, I decided to take a careful look at whether or not the material is suitable to design with. First off, I looked at the price. Unable to extract information on the trade price of velcro from the shop, a look online reveals that it can be obtained considerably cheaper, especially when you factor in bulk buying:

1m of hook strip & 1m of loop strip, 50mm wide, self-adhesive

Retail price – £7.00 per metre
Bulk price – £1.10 per metre

Clearly, cost is not as much of an issue as initially expected. The retail markup is very high, and any mainstream production of the item would not utilise materials bought at retail price.

Secondly, I looked into the life-expectancy of hook & loop fastening (the generic name for Velcro). While it was difficult to find a reliable source, an article in Popular Science from July 1978 states that “Nylon fasteners have a cycle life of 10,000 openings and closings”. If an item’s enclosure is used 10 times a day, then the individual velcro piece will still last for just under three years, which isn’t unreasonable, given the low cost of replacement material.

The final issue is the fluff problem, and that can’t really be explained away – the hook side is very bad for attracting thread, hair, and anything else that happens to be blowing around. So, the only way to avoid that is to prevent the material – specifically the hook side – being exposed to dirty environments… can this be done?

As I mentioned, I’m still dabbling in a few different ideas for expressing my final concept. The concept itself is to use sound to alert staff members to the fact that someone has picked up one of the store’s high-risk items, but obviously there’s more than one way to do this.

From the previous post on the cutlery dispensers in the Ref, I’ve had a think about how similar dispensing technology could be used to attract staff attention. Storing high-risk items in a dispenser setup has a number of benefits:

• Simple to stock
• Allows stock to be stored neatly on the shop floor
• Simple for customer to access
• Does not impede customer’s experience
• Their use attracts the attention of the staff member

So, I began to think about the problem, again using spray cans as an exemplar product – it’s clear that this type of solution would be easy to tailor to a range of products of varying styles.

The sheet above basically shows a few quick sketches to try and thrash out how the paint can be displayed in various dispenser configurations. Three important points are highlighted here; it cannot be too complex, and ideally, it should be modular, to allow it to fit simply into the shop display – it should also offer some point where the release of a product creates an audible signal.

Using a rotating gate at the end of the dispenser, it’s possible to allow only one product to be released at a time, but in a manner that results in a prolonged sound from the release mechanism – a simple ratchet in the handle of the release creates noise as it turns. However, the manner in which stock is inserted creates an obvious flaw, as the gravity-fed method used here means the customer – and ultimately, thieves – can remove products from the top of the dispenser.

Adapting the stand to a design that fits with the idea of modularity, it’s possible to see how a range of one product type could be displayed in a small space. However, stocking is again an issue, as front-loading displays will make customers who remove items to browse less likely to put the item back properly (if they are unsure how to re-insert it through the gate in the display, for example).

I have reservations about this idea. Whilst I accept that it is highly adaptable through a few design changes, stocking is still an issue, and to me, it seems a little bulky… Obviously at this time in the project, I need to decide quickly what my solution is, but I don’t want to dismiss a concept too quickly. If something comes out of this in the next day or so, then so be it, but I’m not going to force a compromised idea forward.

Apologies if this is a repeat grumble, but every time I export an EAR file from RSA the dialog box annoys me. Well, that’s a bit unfair, it’s not the whole dialog box, just one very pointless checkbox on it…

So the first time I attempt to export to a destination which already exists, I get a helpful error preventing me doing something potentially stupid. When I know that I’m just re-exporting the same EAR and I’m happy to just overwrite the old one (which probably wasn’t working because I forgot to include something important) I just need to check the “Overwrite existing file” box to make the error go away and I can hit finish. Lovely… except that the dialog remembers this option next time I come to do an export! Basically it may as well not exist after the first export.

It’s actually a bit of a love hate relationship with this little checkbox though, because if it always defaulted to unchecked I think I’d much prefer it to having a dialog popping up asking whether I want to overwrite an existing file. Oh well, almost useful.

Anyway, it’s Friday and time to go home; check.

A quick update from the field…

2 projects finished tomorrow - both AUDI and RSA competitions, will post up some images soon.

Dissertation finished by Friday. Has been pretty amazing and really interesting to do, but I think I will be glad to get it off of my back. It has shown me that I CAN write 7000 words (and more), which I didn’t really think that I could at the beginning. If you’ve got a good topic though, then it’s actually quite easy.

I am still looking at the dispensing idea, but in the meantime, I got hold of some Velcro and decided to have a shot at mocking up one of my ideas to see how it performed. The model below is made of paper and Velcro strip, giving a rough idea of the concept.

The velcro is double-sided, so when the can is rolled up in the ‘blanket’, the surfaces bond together and hold the can tightly. Multiple units can be stored vertically above and below, with the idea being that only one item of each variety (colour, for example), is accessible to the customer.

The can protrudes from the end of the blanket, making it simple for the customer to quickly identify what colour of paint is which. However, the blanket obscures other data about coverage, ingredients or similar, so there is a need to allow access to this information, preferably without the need to remove the can.

So, given the product is wrapped in a re-usable adhesive surface, I decided to try the idea of removable tags. This means the display unit doesn’t have to be used specifically for one brand, one product, or one specific range of colours, but can be adapted to whatever is in it. In the example above, the label shows colour and info for the customer about obtaining more of the product, but the tab could encompass any information at all.

On asking one of my coursemates to have a try, it became apparent that the method of removal isn’t at all obvious – the product looks fixed aside from the clamps at the top.

Using a simple labelled pull tab, the customer is alerted to the method for releasing the product, which pulls the Velcro open, and allows the simple removal of the item from the display. The display then leaves a visible tab, showing the retailer what product needs to be replaced, and also indicates to the customer the missing item, should they wish to purchase one.

There are a few issues with this concept:

1. You can slide the can out sideways – Fairly obviously, the can is able to be removed by sliding it out sideways from the display. This circumvents the noise-producing aspect of the display, making it useless.
2. Re-stocking is difficult - In order to make sure the display functions correctly, it is necessary to tightly fasten the velcro around the item; it is fiddly to do this.

However, I’m already thinking about these, and am confident they can be overcome. With the deadline looming, I’m keen to pick a definitive solution, so keep reading for more updates, as and when they happen.

They’ve recently got a new item in the Ref that caught my eye, which replaces an old system of stock display with a new one. The traditional tray with four compartments – the staple of school canteens the world over – has been replaced with a slick modern design…

Something I’d considered previously, is a similar idea that limits access to products. Although the benefit of hygeine is not really a consideration in relation to shoplifting prevention, other aspects of this dispenser include the fact that people can’t lift handfuls of the product at once, reducing costs for the food outlet, and that re-stocking is simpler thanks to the way in which you can drop refils in to the unit.

The cutlery is arranged into ‘clips’ of dozens of spoons, which are dropped into the dispenser as one unit. Every time someone pushes the handle below, one of the item drops out into the tray at the base. It’s a nice, neat solution to a problem…

Anyway, my idea was basically a similar system that stores several of the markers or paint cans – the items that I’ve been using as exemplar products – but limits access to more than one at a time. I’m developing the idea a little to incorporate a means of audible alert (as is the direction of my project at the moment), so I’ll post back later when I’ve done this, but in the meantime, the ideas that I came up with originally are below – click to see bigger…

Info

Žižek visits the RSA to ask the question that is on everyone’s lips: if we can pour billions of dollars into the global banking system in a frantic attempt at financial stabilization, why has it not been possible to bring the same forces to bear in addressing world poverty and environmental crisis?

So, I popped out yesterday and got hold of a clicker from the local pet shop (in Glasgow’s lovely Savoy Centre, for those who know it). I also managed to get bitten by a rat whilst I was there, which has put a major dint in my typing speed. Anyway – the clicker itself is designed as Wikipedia suggests, and looks like this:

The plastic casing is actually quite important – the metal inside is what creates the noise, with the flex between a convex and concave curve on the surface making the loud ‘click’, but the case makes it more audible than if the metal alone was used. At any rate, you basically just push the button with your thumb, and it clicks both on pressing, and on release too.

At its heart, the product works using a simple bit of spring sheet metal (similar to what’s used to make springs in clocks), and relies on the casing to amplify it, although it does also work on its own.

So can this be used to act as a sensory stimulant? Well, yes, put simply. It’s remarkably simple technology (a bit of bent metal), and is easy to make loud enough to alert staff (as many people in the studio will testify to, after yesterday’s experimentation). To that end, I started having a think about how it could be used with the spray can exemplar, and knocked up a basic idea or two.

Basically, the first notion was that the clicker could be incorporated into the base of a display stand. This would allow the product to be stored in a manner that saves space, allows easy access to any product, but alerts staff each time one is removed. However, it relies on the product being heavy enough to depress the clicker, which isn’t likely – even the small hand-held one needs firm pressure to depress it.

So, from that, I looked at placing it in a different position – as long as it clicks when the product releases, it doesn’t matter where it is in the stand (the click resonates through the structure of any hard surface the spring metal is attached to). Putting it on the side of the rack would allow the easy removal and re-insertion of products (important for stocking displays quickly), while the pressure of the product fitting snugly in its alcove would be enough to ‘prime’ the clicker, ensuring it releases when needed.

In terms of expansion into other product areas, the clicker can be varied in position and size in order to adjust to the display requirements of various items. Practically, it seems like a useful proposition… we’ll see where it goes from here though.

Had a thought about the noise production idea, revisiting something that had popped into my head a while back. During World War Two, paratroopers engaged in the invasion of Europe at the time of D-Day (Operation Overlord) used a series of answer and response challenges to identify friend from foe. Alongside spoken challenges (A friendly soldier responding ‘Flash!’ to another asking ‘Thunder?’), they were issued with a clicker device that allowed the same, but in a non-verbal manner.

According to Wikipedia ( it’s not a dissertation, I’m allowed to read it!), it basically works as follows:

“They usually consist of a piece of thin metal held in a casing so that the metal is slightly torqued; depressing one end of the metal causes it to pop out of alignment and releasing it causes it to pop back into alignment, each time making a sharp click.

With some clickers, the user depresses the metal directly with thumb or finger; with others, a button extends above the surface of the casing so that depressing the button makes the metal click.”

So, can I use this in my solution? Well, I’m off to pick up one from a pet shop – they’re also used as dog training devices, as it happens – to give me the chance to play around with it.

Muita gente se organiza para vir para a Austrália, trabalhar aqui e poder se sustentar com o dinheiro do próprio bolso. O que muitos não sabem antes de chegar  é que 90% dos estrangeiros que vêm não estão trabalhando na área de formação (e muitos deles são brasileiros). A Austrália é sim um país com inúmeras e interessantes oportunidades, mas obviamente o nível de inglês e experiência de mercado irá determinar se é ou não possível conseguir um emprego na área.

Para aqueles que não falam inglês ou têm um nível muito básico de entendimento da língua, os trabalhos de cleaner, glasser ou kitchen hand são os mais comuns. São trabalhos de faxineiro(a), recolhedor de copos em pub ou ajudante de cozinha. Estes empregos costumam pagar entre 15 e 20 dólares por hora, e o número de shitfs (horas) para as quais você será escalado para trabalhar irão determinar o valor do seu salário semanal e o número de horas por semana será de acordo com seu desempenho na função.

Cleaner

Quem tem um nível de inglês do intermediário ao alto pode conseguir empregos melhores em lugares como lojas, lanchonetes, pubs e cafés. Saber preparar drinks de café é um diferencial já que em quase todas as cidades australianas é possível encontrar uma coffe shop em cada esquina. A média de salários também fica em torno de 15 a 20 por hora e em alguns casos também se recebe comissão. A dica para conseguir emprego inclui muitos currículos e sola de sapato. Entregar de 20 a 40 currículos por dia nas mãos dos gerentes e se mostrar disposto(a) a trabalhar duro é essencial.

Como a grande maioria dos brasileiros que vêm nunca trabalhou em hospitality, ou seja, como garçonetes, faxineiras ou afins, a grande maioria têm dificuldade para começar o processo de procurar trabalho, que implica em estratégias muito diferentes das utilizadas no país de origem para conseguir emprego. A internet ajuda, mas não resolve. É preciso ir atrás, conversar com os managers (gerentes) e se esforçar para conseguir uma colocação. Empresas de recrutamento  como Bluestone e Pinnacle podem dar um direcionamento.

Algumas destas empresas recrutam pessoas para trabalhar em eventos como garçonetes/garçons, mas para ser apto a trabalhar na Austrália servindo bebida acoólica (isso em qualquer lugar do país) você será obrigado a tirar uma licença chamada RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) que lhe permite servir álcool. O curso custa cerca de 65 dólares e dura de 3 a 4 horas. É um curso simples, no qual se questões legais ligadas ao cargoe recebe algumas dicas são importantes e podem evitar dores de cabeça. Eles explicam, por exemplo, que se você servir bebida alcoólica para algum menor de idade ou alguém já intoxicado/bêbado você é multado assim como o seu gerente.

É muito fácil encontrar lugares que fornecem o curso de RSA e sem ele no currículo fica mais difícil conseguir empregos que envolvam venda de bebidas alcóolicas. Dê uma gogleada em escolas próximas à sua casa que tem o curso e aqui vão alguns links de cursos em Sydney ou em Brisbane.

Mesmo não tendo um nível de inglês muito elevado é possível conseguir um emprego na área se a sua for alguma das áreas em demanda na Austrália e você tiver experiência considerável para apresentar seu trabalho a uma empresa australiana. Em todo caso, o visto de estudante só permite 20 horas de trabalho semanal, o que dificulta conseguir uma colocação.

Salário: Cleaners geralmente trabalham cerca de 3 horas por dia e recebem em média 1.200 aud por mês. Em cidades como Brisbane é possível pagar o aluguel, comida e transporte com este valor. O horário de trabalho é, na maioria das vezes, entre 6 e 9 da noite.

Alguns cleaners estão dispostos a trabalhar em shifts extras limpando estádios de Rugby, Cricket ou Futebol. A disposição vai de acordo com a necessidade financeira de cada um.

Suncorp Stadium - Brisbane

Muita de gente se organiza para vir para a Austrália, trabalhar aqui e poder se sustentar aqui com o dinheiro do próprio bolso. O que muitos não sabem antes de chegar aqui é que 90% dos brasileiros que vêm não estão trabalhando na área de formação. A Austrália é sim um país com inúmeras e interessantes oportunidades, mas obviamente o nível de inglês e experiência de mercado irá determinar se é ou não possível conseguir um emprego na área.

Para aqueles que não falam inglês ou têm um nível muito básico de entendimento da língua, os trabalhos de cleaner, glasser ou kitchen hand são os mais comuns. São trabalhos de faxineiro(a), recolhedor de copos em pub ou ajudante de cozinha. Estes empregos costumam pagar entre 15 e 20 dólares por hora, e o número de shitfs (horas) para as quais você será escalado para trabalhar irão determinar o valor do seu salário semanal e o seu desempenho irá determinar quantas horas por semana lhe serão designadas.

Cleaner

Como a grande maioria dos brasileiros que vêm nunca trabalhou em hospitality, ou seja, como garçonetes, faxineiras ou afins, a grande maioria têm grande dificuldade para começar o processo de procurar trabalho, que implica em estratégias muito diferentes das utilizadas no país de origem para conseguir emprego. A internet ajuda, mas não resolve, é preciso ir atrás, conversar com os managers (gerentes) e se esforçar para conseguir uma colocação. Empresas de recrutamento podem dar um direcionamento como Bluestone e Pinnacle.

Algumas destas empresas recrutam jovens para trabalhar em eventos como garçonetes/garçons, mas para ser apto a trabalhar na Austrália servindo bebida (isso em qualquer lugar da Austrália) você será obrigado a tirar uma licensa chamada RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) que lhe permite servir álcool. O curso custa em torno de 65 dólares e dura em torno de 3 a 4 horas. É um curso simples, em que eles explicam questões legais ligadas ao cargo. É umm curso aparetemente desnecessário, mas alguns detalhes são importantes; se você servir bebida alcoolica para algum menor de idade ou alguém já intoxicado/bêbado você é multado assim como o seu gerente.

É muito fácil encontrar lugares que fornecem o curso de RSA sem ele no currículo fica mais difícil conseguir empregos que envolvam venda de bebidas alcóolicas. Sydney ou em Brisbane

Mesmo não tendo um nível de inglês muito elevado é possível conseguir um emprego na área se a sua for alguma das áreas em demanda na Austrália e você tiver experiência considerável para apresentar seu trabalho a uma empresa australiana. Em todo caso, o visto de estudante só permite 20 horas de trabalho semanal, o que dificulta conseguir uma colocação na área.

You might remember a concept that I pulled out very soon after I completed the main research stage of my project, looking at attracting attention through noise. If not, take a look here: (click for a bigger look)

Essentially, the idea looked at the idea of attracting attention to a product as it is removed from display by a customer. Shop owners know the high-risk items within a retail environment, and act to protect them to the best of their ability (selective tagging, items close to the till etc.) – the idea is to replace traditional methods of knowing when anyone is interacting with them (EAS etc.) with another method that is equally, or more effective than what is available at present. The use of sound is ideal for this, as currently, electronic gates only alert staff once stock is on its way out the door – new concepts can bring the alert back into the retail environment, making it more likely that the shoplifter will be caught, and ultimately, that they will not attempt the theft in the first place.

Initially, the idea was based around the idea of the plastic ring system that holds six-packs of beer together – a customer would snap off a product from this ‘pack’ and the material would make a noise, alerting the staff to the interaction. However, before going too far with this concept, it became clear that this continual breaking of material presented sustainability and cost issues for the retailer, and was not ideal. As a result, a new material was sought, and balsa wood was considered as a result to the plastic of the initial concept.

This idea also addressed the concept of how products could be locked into the rack itself, utilising a simple fastening method that allowed tight fitting to the product, as well as the display itself. However, I still felt it was too wasteful – broken material is still produced as the items are sold. While the idea of sound as an alert method makes sense, it doesn’t make sense to substitute EAS tags (which are ultimately re-usable) for something that will deplete over time.

Considering this, the idea of noisy materials emerged as a direction for development – materials that can make a noise, but do not lose their functionality as a result. The clearest example of this is Velcro, which make a hell of a racket when you pull it apart, no matter what you do to try and stifle it (as highlighted by a course mate who talked about trying to open his bag during a presentation).

My primary idea on this looked at using tags on the products, allowing them to stick to a Velcro-surfaced rack, meaning they would make a loud noise every time they were removed from the surface. The main issue with this is the need for sticky velcro tags to attach to the product, which again produces waste – the tags are left on the product, costing the store money every time they have to put a new one on a replacement product.

The development of this removed the need to have sticky-backed Velcro tags on the product itself, thus removing any waste in the process of the removal of any item. The product is simply rolled up in a double-sided Velcro ‘blanket’ which is fixed to the display rack. The item is prevented from sliding out, using simple technology employed in Motocross goggles, which utilises the friction between rubber bands on the inside of the goggle strap, and the smooth surface of the helmet to effectively prevent movement – the bands can be seen on the strap in the image below.

This design then prevents the removal of the product from the display without making noise, and thus alerting the staff to the fact that someone is trying to take one of the product off the shelf. Legitimate customers can still access the product to view it, but a shoplifter, based on the research done to date, will not be keen to draw attention to themselves and will not attempt the theft. However, following discussion with another of my tutors, I’m keen to keep developing this idea, as the re-stocking ability of the concept is a bit clunky – each item has to be wrapped in the display ’strap’, and the volume of items of display is clearly limited by the system. Currently, I’m looking at other methods of utilising audible alerts, and will post back when I’ve got something new…

Bit of an over-enthusiastic name for the post, but what the hell…

As I said, there are two key methods that I’m looking at for the staff-alert branch of thinking – sight and sound. In terms of sight, I want something that really attracts attention, which is easier said than done. Why? Well, from trying to indicate to people doing presentations that they’re running over time through waving at them wildly, I know that movement is not a great way of diverting someone’s attention from what they’re doing. Equally, I’ve found that flashes of light are very good at alerting people to an event – I remember with glee when my friend was scared to death by someone in the back of his car taking a photo as he went past a speed camera (the flash was turned on…). Anecdotes aside, my initial view is that light is a good way of attracting attention for those occupied with something that’s occupying their attention.

The benefit of this idea is that the retail worker can see when an item is being meddled with, even if the store layout prevents a direct line of sight, and even if they are surrounded by customers. However, there are problems – the need for a power source would make the numerous display units (especially for items like marker pens) completely unmanageable, and only items with a direct line of sight to the ceiling would be able to operate like this. That said, the idea isn’t without its merits, and I’ll be looking to see if there’s an angle that can eliminate these problems.

The majority of shoplifting solutions (I use the term reluctantly) are based around the idea of identifying those who are guilty. The result of this is to subject all those people who are good, honest shoppers, to the same level of control that the thieves experience. Is there perhaps an opportunity to then grant those people who are proven as trustworthy more freedoms, rather than reducing the freedoms of those who are proven to be troublesome? Stakeholders indicate that they know who the troublemakers are, so is focusing on the identification of criminals just money for old rope?

This idea (click the picture for a larger look), is simply based around the notion that good people have nothing to hide. If you were offered a card that meant a discount across stores, in return for shopping with your identification known to the store (in the form of an ID card), would it be preferential to offer greater access to these people, rather than limiting the access of criminals? If you look at my links, you’ll see articles that relate to my thinking on this (UNight and The Scotsman article on a similar idea for shoplifting in Lothian).

In its most basic form, the card would allow access to locked cabinets of high-value or high-risk items, due to the fact that the store can track who is accessing them through the identification scheme. If goods are stolen, the theft can be simply traced back to the person who last accessed it. Theft is deterred through this risk of simple identification, and customers who are not out to steal are rewarded with a more streamlined shopping experience. The main issue, and it’s a pertinent one, is that the issue of identification is not popular amongst the general public at present, thanks to preconceptions about the Government’s ID card proposals. However, it has worked well with a local nightclub group, who have worked with Strathclyde Police to collect customer ID information, in return for supplying a discount card that facilitates free entry to their venues…

So, as promised, let me bring you up to where I am.

My last discussion with my tutor added to my thoughts on where I’m going with this project. Whilst my thoughts from talking with the various stakeholders involved with this project ultimately led me to focus on an individual aspect of shoplifting, his suggestion of a consideration on the entire shopping experience made me consider this aspect – what if the way we’re shopping is the reason that shoplifting is rife?

From this, I began to look at the example he raised – the idea of a small business owner asking him to leave his bag at the till while he browsed. My immediate reaction was to strike this down as a bad interaction; something that design could solve. However, beyond that, it’s clear that there are positives to this concept:

1. The shopper gets to drop their bags off when they’ve been shopping all day
2. They don’t need to struggle with their purse etc. when paying
3. The shop owner knows they’re not able to conceal anything
4. The idea that their bags are in the custody of the shop acts as a deterrent to casual theft

Thinking of an example, we already use this in our retail experience. When shoppers in supermarkets finish their shopping, they often pop into the cafe for a fish tea, or similar. In order to prevent a maelstrom of trolleys, the supermarket provides lockers to place this shopping in. The customer feels happy knowing their shopping is secure – the supermarket is happy knowing that there’s not a sea of wire-mesh wagons littering their shop floor. Perception is everything – the customer believes it’s done for them, the store knows it’s done for their sake (of course, this is just my humble opinion).

Ultimately, I’m not a huge fan of this idea. It’s a clunky solution that requires a major shift in the manner in which customers shop, and from speaking to individuals, does not seem like a popular concept. For the shop, it would require some level of investment in staffing levels (to act as ‘cloakroom’ attendants), or technology, to act as an automated method of storing customer belongings, taking up an area of the store. While it could work in larger premises, it’s not a solution that would benefit the majority of small retailers, and that’s my area of focus.

Check out my work-through at any rate, it’s a basic concept, but it gives you an idea of what I was thinking (click to see larger).

www.drinkdriving.ie Aims to Dispel the Myths on Drink-Driving

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has launched a new website aimed at dispelling the myths surrounding drink driving. As the issue continues to be debated on national and local airwaves, www.drinkdriving.ie has been set up to provide members of the public with factual information on the effects of drinking and driving and its role in road deaths and serious injuries.

“We know that there are some people out there who simply don’t know the facts about drink driving and why it is important that the limit is reduced from 0.08 to 0.05,” said Mr Noel Brett, Chief Executive, Road Safety Authority. “But we also know that there are people out there that are intent on putting out incorrect information, inaccurate data and simply untrue statements about drink driving. It’s time for us to provide people with the facts.”

“It’s estimated that alcohol is a contributory factor 1 in 3 fatal collisions. This is a fact. At the current limit, you are six times more likely to be involved in a collision. This is also a fact. But the most important fact of all is that lives will be saved by reducing the drink drive limit. I would urge anyone who is following the debate on this issue to visit the website and get informed and then decide what is more important – a life saved, or a drink had,” Mr Brett concluded.

The website includes sections that explore the Myths and Facts surrounding drink driving, using research from Ireland, the EU and other countries where the lower limit has been introduced and consequently, lives have been saved. It also highlights public attitudes towards drink driving, as well as providing further information on the recommendations to reduce the drink driving limit. There is also an opportunity for members of the public to email questions or comments directly to the RSA.

For further information:
RSA Communications Office, Ballina: 096 25008

Editor’s Note:
Drink Driving – Fast Facts:
• Drink driving is a male problem.
• Alcohol is estimated to be a contributory factor in 1 in 3 fatal collisions.
• In 1 in 4 fatal crashes, the driver had consumed alcohol
• Any alcohol impairs driving and increases the risk of collision.
• At half the current limit, drivers are twice as likely to be involved in a collision. At the current limit (0.08g/dL) drivers are six times more likely to have a collision.
• Alcohol is twice as potent when you are a tired driver.
• Almost 1 in 5 drivers killed on our roads, where alcohol was present, were under the legal limit when they died.
• 92 lives were saved in the first 12 months following the introduction of Mandatory Alcohol Testing (MAT) on 21st July 2006.
• About three out of every four drivers – an increasing majority – are in favour of the introduction of a lower drink driving limit and two thirds now support a zero limit for all drivers.
• 87% of the public say that drinking and driving is extremely shameful. In fact they say it’s more shameful than speeding, shop lifting, adultery and tax evasion.
• The UK (0.08) and Malta (0.09) are the only other EU countries with the same or higher drink drive level compared to Ireland.
• All of the available evidence from research indicates that reducing the legal limit of BAC from the current limit of 0.08 to 0.05 will reduce the risk of being involved in a road traffic collision, and consequently will save lives and prevent serious injuries.
• Ireland is among the highest alcohol consuming countries in the EU according to research published on November 1st 2007 by the Health Research Board.
• Any amount of alcohol impairs driving and increases risk – so the only safe advice is to NEVER EVER drink and drive.
• The aim of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy 2007 – 2012, is to reduce collisions, deaths and injuries on Irish roads by 30%. This means 400 lives could be saved by the end of 2012.

For further information on the facts on drink driving in Ireland, visit www.drinkdriving.ie

http://www.rsa.ie/NEWS/News/www.drinkdriving.ie_Aims_to_Dispel_the_Myths_on_Drink-Driving.html

I went to a very interesting talk last night by Kevin Slavin, the co-founder of New York games company area/code. The theme was ‘Playing the City’ and he was talking about how games can create and enhance social systems. In particular he was celebrating how games are returning to their social function after a few years in the wilderness as a solitary activity.

“Games connect us,” he said, citing the shift from screen-focussed video games to more interactive efforts like Wii, Band Hero and Four Square. The natural evolution seems to point to more games in the future where we use the city as a playing arena. Slavin’s made a stack of games that get folk out and about, and now the Knight Foundation (which traditionally bankrolls projects to support local journalism) has commissioned him to create games encouraging community engagement.

I’m so keen on this it’s untrue. I’ve been thinking of setting up some sort of scavenger hunt for ages now, and what with technology becoming more mobile, I reckon we could create quite a fun interactive effort for London neighbourhoods. If you have any suggestions of good games to engage people (either existing games or something brand new) give us a shout and we’ll get our heads together; it could be fun.

My Amelie vs. Garden State post has been exceptionally popular this past week. It garnered a month’s unique views in the past 7 days. Someone must be doing a project about it or something.

Not related, to my mind I can’t see how raising the drinking age to 19 will reduce alcohol-related violence. I’m not even pretending to be an expert in the field, but I imagine that doing this would only raise the amount of illegal drinking as 18 year olds become the new 17 year olds. You may reduce some cases of violence as 18 year olds stay at home (but I wonder how much, as a proportion, 18 year olds are involved in the reported violence compared to, say, 20 and over). But you will simply have 18 year olds getting drunk at home. And, without a barman or a RSA-trained person in their company they will likely drink to excess. And doesn’t drinking too much over a prolonged period of time cause as many problems to society as the violence we hear about?

May it not be a better idea to lower the drinking age to, say, 16 but the purchasing of alcohol itself stays at 18 or raise it to 19. That way, people aren’t drinking at home, in secret and causing all sorts of problems, and the person who is doing the purchasing is now responsible for the peoples drinking. And it would take away the whole ‘wonder’ of hitting 18 and going  out to get smashed. The person will have been drinking for some 2 years already – the fact that they can now buy it doesn’t actually change much.

I understand that lowering the drinking age doesn’t eliminate at-home drinking, but perhaps allowing 16 year olds to partake in drinking in public will increase the moderation of their intake. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure there are medical ramifications to drinking during a key development stage. And I’m happy to hear them and defer to experts. But I would also like to see studies that reflect what impact alcohol has on the brain and body at certain levels which could be the new ‘legal limit’.

Adjustments to the law are not going to stop binge drinking bar a limit on the amount of alcohol someone can buy per hour. People will do so long as they can get alcohol. It has to be a cultural change – the idea that being drunk is acceptable and encouraged needs to go. Maybe by introducing drinking at a somewhat lower age, exposing teenagers to alcohol and all the myths earlier might, in fact, dispel the myths and the attractive ideas of being a binge drinker or drinking to excess.

Other than something like this, it’s either status quo or a massive shake-up of Australian culture. Treating alcohol much like cigarettes and tobacco, and banning advertising, sponsorship, slapping on disgusting labels, etc. That’s the only real other option to changing things as I see it.

Thomas.

Teen Driving

Parents, do you have teens preparing for their theory test or learning to drive for the first time? If you are looking for information and tips on how to best help your teen become road ready, then check out the Teen Driver Guide at RoadReady.ie.

The Teen Driver Guide provides a useful selection tips for parents to assist their teen make the transition into becoming a regular driver. Our guide is designed to help both parents and teens learn the basic Rules of the Road and ensure they have a successful education on the road to becoming a licensed driver.

http://www.roadready.ie/teen-driver-guide.asp

From the various ideas that I’ve had about this problem, one thing keeps coming into my head, based on the idea I had earlier that looked at the idea of sound in the retail environment.

Speaking to the various different stakeholders I’ve met, and also looking at other research material online, one of the biggest deterrents amongst shoplifters appears to be based around the presence of staff. Equally, staff feel most comfortable about loss prevention when their high-risk items are within sight. This allows them to see when people are interacting with them – regardless of whether this is in a criminal manner, or a legitimate one. For a legitimate customer, the presence of staff is ultimately useful in their shopping experience (as long as the interaction does not stray into a cack-handed instance of a store detective following them).

So how can I make the most of this?

Having a think about the sensory interactions that a store employee may use to become aware of a shoplifter – or suspicious behaviour in general – it’s clear that there are two main senses involved in the process. Excluding taste and smell (unless someone is willing to counter that store detectives can actually smell the fear of a potential criminal), touch relies too much on the close proximity of a shoplifter – something that is very much avoided by thieves. Realistically, sight and hearing are what retail staff rely on the most, and increasing the range and ability of these senses should ultimately improve their perception of what’s happening on the shop floor. (Click the image to enlarge)

So with these two senses as the primary methods of increasing awareness amongst staff, what is their role in aiding loss prevention?

Predictably, previous methods of preventing theft in retail environments have focused on both these areas before. In relation to hearing, EAS systems utilise loud alarms to alert staff to the theft of items from the store, while CCTV systems augment the visual perception of the staff, allowing the recording of theft, and ultimately allowing the identification of individuals who are stealing from the store. However, the reality of both these systems is a costly one. Both require staffing to allow them to function at their best (CCTV requires monitoring to ensure criminals are caught in the act, whilst EAS needs security staff to catch those leaving without paying). In both instances, staffing is the key to their function, and security-specific staffing is not preferable amongst small businesses. Additionally, EAS only allows identification of theft upon leaving the store, which is too late to prevent it happening.

The point of all this? Well, it’s clear that the solutions that exist in this area, at present, offer partial coverage utilising relatively high-tech equipment. Given my aim of low cost, low tech solutions for small business who cannot justify these methods, it seems clear that there is the opportunity to alert staff to potential loss without relying on electronics. How can I stimulate sight and hearing in a manner that fits with my brief?