[ajarmst]

Nice article with an interesting approach. Assuming the poster is the author, the word ‘irradiate’ in the caption in the B17 photo confused me, although it did lead to some interesting speculation. Did you mean ‘eradicate’ and your spellchecker went rogue?

[java-man]

Perfectly fine meaning #2:

To shed light on; illuminate.

irradiate ir·ra·di·ate (ĭ-rādē-āt) v. ir·ra·di·at·ed, ir·ra·di·at·ing, ir·ra·di·ates v. tr.

To expose to radiation. To treat with radiation: irradiate farm produce so as to destroy bacteria.

To shed light on; illuminate.

To manifest in a manner suggesting the emission of light; radiate: irradiate goodness.

v. intr. Archaic

To send forth rays; radiate.

To become radiant.

[Latin irradiāre, irradiāt-, to illuminate : in-, on; see in-2 + radiāre, to shine; see radiate.]

[george_cave]

Thank you both! Yes, I'm the author. So you were correct, I had intended it to read eradicate but actually I really appreciate java-man's definition help, so I think I'll just leave it as it is now :).

[rob74]

Still... I would say that Chapanis' report shed light, or illuminated, or, if you want, irradiated the problem, but then the actual change of the controls eliminated or eradicated it, so we shouldn't mix them up...

[richardwhiuk]

I think illuminate would be the common usage here.