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design for the average

the principle that equipment for human use should be designed for average human dimensions, thereby sacrificing the extreme dimensions (e.g., below the 5th and above the 95th percentiles). Although no truly “average” person exists, this principle is used when adjustable designs cannot be developed and it is impossible or impracticable to design for the extremes. Compare design for adjustable range; universal design.

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Psychology term of the day

January 30th 2025

pause

pause

n. in linguistics, a rest or delay in speech. Short (often barely distinguishable) pauses are used to mark the juncture between linguistic units, such as syllables, words, and sentences, whereas longer pauses may be used for deliberate effect or may indicate psychological activity in the speaker. The analysis of the location of pauses in speech is an active area of research. —pausal adj.