Industry

According to a growth forecast from research group, Freedonia, the 3D printing market is expected to reach $5.0bn in 2017. This represents an annual growth rate of 20.7%, from $1.95bn in 2012.

Up until now there’s been much emphasis on designing to make a product “idiot proof”. This has provided some benefit, but what Usability Engineering is reminding us is that it is the designers who are sometimes viewed as idiots by the users. It is the users who are the experts (in usability).

The reliable operation of complex electronic communications, control and armament systems in extreme environments demands stringent design criteria and careful validation. Severe shock, vibration, heat, humidity and airborne contaminants are common in land, sea and air platforms.

The Indian Road Transport Ministry has begun the process of creating standards for automobile safety, called the New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP). Test facilities are also being built to perform these tests throughout the country.

A new $6.5 million, 32-acre site will be built on the north campus of University of Michigan as a test center for self-driving vehicles. The testing center will be made into a fake downtown that will feature buildings, parked cars, traffic signals, a tunnel, bicycle lanes and more.