20:
240:
134:
47:
The term "foolproof" originates in 1902. The term "idiot-proof" became popular in the 1970s. It may have been invented as a stronger-sounding version of foolproof, as the force of foolproof had declined due to frequent usage. Perhaps for the same reason, "foolproof" is now a formal term, whereas
23:
Paper cutting machine with two separate hand buttons and one leg pedal for its operation. Requiring most of the operator's limbs to be used to activate the machine prevents them from being in dangerous positions while it
55:
adages claim that idiot-proof systems cannot be made, for example "Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool" and "If you make something idiot-proof, someone will just make a better idiot." Along those lines,
124:
201:
122:
123:
66:, "a common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools".
277:
44:
principles. The implication is that the design is usable even by someone of low intelligence who would not use it properly.
270:
179:
19:
296:
263:
158:
100:
154:
139:
8:
251:
80:
301:
75:
41:
29:
222:
90:
85:
62:
52:
247:
290:
57:
142:
was created from a revision of this article dated 25 October 2019
40:
describes designs that cannot be misused either inherently, or by use of
95:
239:
288:
271:
16:Designed to be proof against misuse or error
278:
264:
150:, and does not reflect subsequent edits.
133:
18:
289:
246:This engineering-related article is a
227:. Vol. 5. Pan Macmillan, 2009, p. 113.
234:
13:
120:
14:
313:
238:
132:
48:"idiot-proof" remains informal.
215:
194:
172:
1:
165:
250:. You can help Knowledge by
7:
69:
10:
318:
233:
32:usage, the informal term
101:Unintended consequences
128:
108:Listen to this article
25:
127:
22:
159:More spoken articles
182:. Etymology online
180:"Foolproof (adj.)"
129:
26:
297:Engineering stubs
259:
258:
125:
309:
280:
273:
266:
242:
235:
228:
221:Douglas, Adams.
219:
213:
212:
210:
208:
198:
192:
191:
189:
187:
176:
149:
147:
136:
135:
126:
116:
114:
109:
76:Defensive design
42:defensive design
317:
316:
312:
311:
310:
308:
307:
306:
287:
286:
285:
284:
232:
231:
224:Mostly Harmless
220:
216:
206:
204:
200:
199:
195:
185:
183:
178:
177:
173:
168:
163:
162:
151:
145:
143:
140:This audio file
137:
130:
121:
118:
112:
111:
107:
86:Inherent safety
72:
63:Mostly Harmless
17:
12:
11:
5:
315:
305:
304:
299:
283:
282:
275:
268:
260:
257:
256:
243:
230:
229:
214:
202:"Ngram Viewer"
193:
170:
169:
167:
164:
152:
138:
131:
119:
106:
105:
104:
103:
98:
93:
88:
83:
81:Hanlon's razor
78:
71:
68:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
314:
303:
300:
298:
295:
294:
292:
281:
276:
274:
269:
267:
262:
261:
255:
253:
249:
244:
241:
237:
236:
226:
225:
218:
203:
197:
181:
175:
171:
160:
156:
141:
102:
99:
97:
94:
92:
89:
87:
84:
82:
79:
77:
74:
73:
67:
65:
64:
59:
58:Douglas Adams
54:
49:
45:
43:
39:
35:
31:
21:
252:expanding it
245:
223:
217:
205:. Retrieved
196:
184:. Retrieved
174:
91:Murphy's law
61:
53:Murphy's law
50:
46:
37:
33:
27:
34:idiot-proof
291:Categories
207:3 November
186:3 November
166:References
155:Audio help
146:2019-10-25
28:In modern
96:Poka-yoke
60:wrote in
38:foolproof
24:operates.
157: ·
70:See also
51:Several
302:Phrases
144: (
30:English
115:minute
248:stub
209:2013
188:2013
36:or
293::
279:e
272:t
265:v
254:.
211:.
190:.
161:)
153:(
148:)
117:)
113:1
110:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
