IEC General Meeting 2016 - Safety. Future. Standardization.
Channel: DKE Deutsche Kommission Elektrotechnik Elektronik Informationstechnik in DIN und VDE
Date: 14/10/2016

October 14, 2016, 09:00 - 11:30
Standardization ensures safety and consistency. Even though digitalization speeds up standardization processes, health and safety aspects must continue to be consensus-based.
 
Michael Beilfuss, publisher at the International Data Group Business Media, pointed out that digital transformation is a continuing transition. For him it is essential to understand what digitalization actually means for occupational safety and the health lobby. He emphasized the importance of including the “digital natives” in this task.

Digitalization involves new risks but also opportunities and it affects everybody – the future of standardization, too.

Martina Mara, head of the Robopsychology research division at Ars Electronica Futurelab, Austria, does research on the psychological aspects of human-robot-interactions. Because of the strongly increasing number of robots worldwide the question that needs to be answered is: How can efficient, safe and well-accepted interaction between humans and robots be fostered?

The challenge is not only to build safe robots, but also to design robots with predictable actions to enable cooperation between man and robot.

Trust is the key to overcome reservations. Martina Mara: “We need to provide a positive vision of the future to raise acceptance for robots, this why interdisciplinary work is crucial.”

Starting his lecture after an artificial blackout in the Reinvention Laboratory, Dr. Sandro Gaycken, technology and security researcher at the European School of Management and Technology, shared his security nightmare with the audience. Security gaps are everywhere – and the only secure place is where no computer is around. He mentioned critical infrastructures, business-IT and medical devices as examples of very high vulnerability. Safety and security are getting more and more entangled. He explained that existing safety regulations should be a model for much needed security regulations.

Kirsten Bruhn, multiple Paralympic gold medalist in swimming, provided insights on how standardization can turn the tide for the inclusion of persons with disabilities.

Despite the fact that 10 % of the world population is disabled most manufacturers do not take account of this user group when designing products. While travelling around the globe she has witnessed some positive examples for accessibility but also many negative ones. Her demand for standardization community: Open your mind for inclusion!

Key messages

New skills and different perspectives are needed – involve digital natives, elderly and disabled people to make safety in standards fit for the future

Take account of the skills and abilities of all users in standards – make products usable for disabled persons as far as possible

Safety and security are getting more entangled - standardization needs to keep this in mind!

Standardization needs to take account of the meaning of safety for different kinds of stakeholders

Speakers

Michael Beilfuß
Publisher, IDG Business Media GmbH, Munich

Kirsten Bruhn
Paralympic swimmer, Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin

Dr. Sandro Gaycken
Senior Researcher Cybersecurity & Cyberstrategy, European School of Management and Technology, Berlin

Dr. Martina Mara
Head of Robopsychology Research Division, Ars Electronica Futurelab, Linz, Austria