Low-cost, error-proofing solutions against Covid-19

TODAY’S buzzword is Pokayoke, the Japanese word for mistake-proofing. It’s a simple device or system that prevents even stubborn or stupid people from committing mistakes. It’s an everyday solution, except that many of us don’t know the right term for it and yet we enjoy it so much as it protects us not only from committing errors, but also from bodily harm.

Take your microwave oven and automatic washing machines, among many everyday examples. The moment you open its cover, automatically they will stop its operations to prevent spills or even protect you from harm. Another example is the washbasin. Do you ever wonder about the purpose of that ubiquitous hole in your porcelain or steel washbasin? It’s to prevent overflow. Even your standard power plugs and USB device have the same error-proofing standard feature.