Publications – Page 2 – THRILL Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University

Paper: Rider errors and amusement ride safety: Observation at three carnival midways

Woodcock, K., 2007. Rider errors and amusement ride safety: Observation at three carnival midways. Accident Analysis and Prevention 39, 390–397. Link

Patent: Amusement park attraction control management system and method

Woodcock, K. 2019. Amusement park attraction control management system and method. U.S. Patent 10,449,462 B2. 2019 October 22.

Presentation: Come to your senses: improving access for guests with vision or hearing disabilities

Come to your senses: improving access for guests with vision or hearing disabilities, Themed Entertainment Association, SATE (Storytelling + Architecture + Technology = Experience) Conference

Theme Studio

THRILL Lab Director Dr. Kathryn Woodcock has teamed with lead applicant Dr. Louis-Etienne Dubois of the FOL!E lab and Prof. Vincent Hui of the [R[ed[U]x Lab to secure a small Ryerson Research infrastructure grant to develop attractions on campus, and especially to explore diverse voices in themed attractions. The Theme Studio will partner with industry and we’re open to contributions of hardware, mentoring, and questions of mutual interest.

July RRRR update

The Ryerson Ride Report Recaps for 2021 July are available and we’ve moved on to August reports, except for late clean-up coverage. Reports included a fatal injury on a river raft ride malfunction among 14 reports from amusement and theme parks, carnivals, and water parks.

Uni giostra per tutti

“Una giostra per tutti” A ride for everybody: determining limits for the use of amusement devices by children and adolescents with disabilities. Expert panel, experimental trials at Bergamo, Italy.

Student publications and presentations

Student publications and presentations prior to date of website migration.

Ryerson Ride Report Recaps

DID YOU KNOW Thrill Lab has a separate blog site recapping media reports of ride accidents?

The site includes links to publications and analysis of the media reports, as well as a guide for reports to build a fuller story when covering a ride accident on their beat.

Check out Ryerson Ride Report Recaps.

#NationalInjuryPreventionDay

Cross-reference to “Human Factors” blog

Some longer items on human factors, including THRILL lab projects, see the other blog.

When the worst happens

The worst thing that can happen at a theme park, amusement park, water park, or carnival is an injury to a rider. The rider and their family obviously are hurt worst, but the owner/operator and the entire industry shares the pain.

Many people work very hard to make sure rider injury does not happen, and because of the success of that effort, it rarely does happen. In the immediate aftermath, thoughts often go to negligence. Was the inspection skipped or shortcut? Did someone leave a part out? Did the rider bring it on themselves by misbehaving?