Karl Peglau
Karl Peglau (born May 18, 1927 in Muskau ; † November 29, 2009 in Berlin ) was a German traffic psychologist and inventor of the Ampelmännchen .
Life
After completing secondary school, Karl Peglau learned the professions of machine fitter and technical draftsman . After the Second World War , he made up his Abitur at the Humboldt University in Berlin , where he first studied mathematics / physics for a few semesters, then psychology . In 1954 he received his diploma as a psychologist.
From 1957 until the end of the GDR , Peglau worked as a leading traffic psychologist for the Medical Service of the GDR's traffic system. In this position, he worked for a long time on traffic accidents and ways of preventing them.
Peglau found that it would be possible to increase safety by directing all traffic streams separately with their own traffic lights. These traffic lights should each have their own distinctive guiding symbols. In the course of corresponding designs, Peglau also developed the Ampelmännchen in 1961 .
After various tests and the introduction of the first corresponding pedestrian traffic light in East Berlin in 1969, these traffic light figures were included in the traffic light standard of the GDR as official pedestrian signals in 1970.
After reunification in 1990, Karl Peglau was sent into early retirement and the East German Ampelmännchen were gradually replaced by the West German version. As a result, there were protests among the population and the “Committee for the Rescue of the Ampelmännchen” was founded, in which Karl Peglau was an honorary member. This was followed by the reintroduction of the East German Ampelmännchen, initially in the areas of the former GDR and later in West Berlin and other West German cities. Product designer Markus Heckhausen, who initially made lamps from dismantled traffic light glasses and, among other things, campaigned for the existence of the East traffic light men as an official pedestrian signal in the “Committee for the Rescue of the Ampelmännchen”, contacted Karl Peglau in 1996. This transferred the rights of use to the East Ampelmännchen to him. In 1997, Peglau and Heckhausen jointly developed the Ampelmännchen book, which deals with the history of the origins and rescue of the Ampelmännchen.
Since the founding of AMPELMANN GmbH in 1996 by Markus Heckhausen, the Ampelmännchen has developed into a brand that is popular today as a souvenir , Ostalgie product and Berlin symbol. Peglau worked at AMPELMANN GmbH until his death in 2009 and was involved in many decision-making processes - especially in product development. Even though Peglau was also financially involved in the success of the Ost-Ampelmännchen, the traffic psychological aspect was always in the foreground for him. It was important to him to focus on the advantages over other guiding symbols, such as better visibility and the associated increase in security.
With his wife Hildegard Peglau, with whom he was happily married until his death, he had two children and several grandchildren. On November 29th, 2009 he died at the age of 82 after a long illness in Berlin.
Tennis
Peglau played tennis passionately all his life . On June 23, 1949, as a student, he founded the tennis division at the Humboldt University in Berlin, which still exists today as the Humboldt TC. Peglau was chairman of this Humboldt tennis club until 1951/52 and an honorary member until his death. In the 1950s he secured the title of Berlin student champion several times and was also known on the tennis scene beyond Berlin's borders. Peglau was twice GDR senior champion. Peglau also took part successfully in international and national railway championships. In the 1970s and 80s he worked as a tournament director for international university tournaments.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Markus Heckhausen: The book of the Ampelmännchen . Eulenspiegel-Verlag, Berlin 1997, ISBN 3-359-00910-X .
- ↑ Stefan Jacobs: Father Ampelmann is dead . In: Potsdam Latest News , December 2, 2009
- ↑ Dieter Rewicki: Obituary for Karl Peglau . In: matchball , Official Organ Tennis-Verband Berlin-Brandenburg eV, 02/2010, p. 54
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Peglau, Karl |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | German traffic psychologist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | May 18, 1927 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Bad Muskau |
| DATE OF DEATH | November 29, 2009 |
| Place of death | Berlin |