I was at a symposium recently where hundreds of (strictly non-electrical or otherwise powered) puzzles and games were being rated (for aesthetics such as age level, fun and intellectual challenge). However, nobody at this event gave any consideration to the familiar regulatory compliance issues such as choke hazard, biological safety, stored energy or unintentional uses.
I began thinking about this when I examined a very simple toy consisting of 16 equal ¼ diameter, 4 long polystyrene tubes strung in series on a thin bungee cord. The string of tubes can be torqued into forming many (over 200 claimed) stable wire frame three dimensional objects. I was sitting there, twisting this thing into cubes and polyhedrons, when I realized that it could also form a very credible slingshot! I then noticed a very prominent CE on the box. I wonder if anyone in our group has ever done a product compliance with the Toy Directive. Maybe my background in defense is showing, but it seems to me that only a great toy can stimulate, amuse, educate and also be converted to a weapon. Ed Price WB6WSN Chula Vista, CA USA - ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to <emc-p...@ieee.org> All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.ieee-pses.org/emc-pstc.html Attachments are not permitted but the IEEE PSES Online Communities site at http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/ can be used for graphics (in well-used formats), large files, etc. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ Instructions: http://www.ieee-pses.org/list.html (including how to unsubscribe) List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas <sdoug...@ieee.org> Mike Cantwell <mcantw...@ieee.org> For policy questions, send mail to: Jim Bacher: <j.bac...@ieee.org> David Heald: <dhe...@gmail.com>
