Assignment 9:
9.1: Ethical issues: provide solutions to eliminate hazards identified in Assignment 8.1, e.g., foreseeable misuses.
Intentional false alarms: In order to avoid false alarms, the algorithm measures the heart rate, trembles, trouble breathing, and other signs that the patient is in danger. If there are no bodily signs that the patient has fallen or has injury in addition to the main action meant to trigger an alert, then emergency services will not be called. Essentially, the OuchAlert algorithm considers more than one fact when it comes to danger alerts to ensure that emergency service resources are not used unnecessarily.
Removing or obstructing sensors: In a situation in which the patient removes their sensors, an alert shall be sent to the caregiver to tend to the patient and clear any obstruction or place the sensors back on the patient. In addition to the alert, the sensors shall vibrate until the obstacle is resolved. With both of these features added, this ensures that the patient will wear the sensors and the sensors will be able to detect any dangers.Â
Caregiver overreliance: When installing the system and application, the caregiver must agree to the following: "OuchAlert is a helper designed to detect and log the health status of its patient as well as alerting emergency services when necessary. However, the caregiver shall continue to give their time and attention to their patient. OuchAlert is not solely responsible for the care of the patient, it is up to the caregiver to actively participate in the patient's supervision and safe-keeping. Caregivers are legally responsible for the custody and care of the assigned patient". This message will be reiterated on the main page of the app to ensure the caregiver is consistently reminded.
9.2: Product liability: provide solutions to eliminate hazards identified in Assignment 8.2, e.g., changes that may occur during the useful lifetime.
Faulty battery: Our device will avoid using lithium batteries since these specific batteries are always implemented with warnings about their combustibility, despite their common use in products.
Unreliable connection: Our device could come equipped with offline capabilities, prioritizing a functioning offline alarm and saving data to be sent once a connection is re-established. For example, if a connection is lost, an offline motion sensor could work as a backup. It would sound an audible alarm from the device if a patient experiences a fall or bodily impact during this offline period, alerting caregivers in the patient's area.
Unresponsiveness: Our device will create automated data backups, whether to local storage or cloud, in regular intervals to minimize the dangers of potential data loss due to crashes. Asides from ensuring that the device simply doesn't crash, our device will have a quick and effective reboot sequence to ensure the device is automatically prepared to collect data and respond to it on each reboot or startup.
9.3: Social impact: provide solutions to eliminate hazards identified in Assignment 8.3, e.g., disposal after the useful life has ended.
Electronic Waste - OuchAlert could partner with an electronic waste recycling program (either a private company or a location-based program) to allow customers to dispose of the device in a safe manner. To incentivize customers to do so rather than throw the device and its components in the trash, the electronic waste recycling program could offer free waste pick-up (as a part of an existing OuchAlert subscription) or provide a list of electronic recycling drop-off locations.