Challenges:
Throughout the course of this project, I encountered a few problems, but nothing that couldn't be fixed. The first problem I encountered was with the MAX30102 heart rate sensor I initially wanted to use. I could not get the sensor to power on, no matter what I did. I assumed the sensor was bad or just not working with the Arduino programming. I wanted to use this sensor because it gave me the possibility of including the users blood oxygen levels in the future. To fix this issue, I got a different pulse sensor called the Tragood heart rate sensor. This made things more simple and the sensor is easier to work with in the Arduino IDE. The only other issue I have come across is time. To deal with this issue, I had to take out the SD card function from my original design. The coding to setup and format the SD card was taking too long. The new design is more unique and still reaches the desired outcomes. In the future, I plan on making the device more efficient, adding more reliable components and improving my code. I want to add the MAX30102 sensor, but will need to do more research and work with the component individually. I would also like to work the SD card function back into the device.
Ethical concerns, health and safety issues:
The only ethical concern about this device was deciding on how to alert the user and what to say during the alert. I cannot have the device tell the user to seek medical attention, because if the user is just experiencing an anxiety attack or the device misreads the pulse and sets off the alert, the user may get worried for no reason and rush to the ER. The alert will continue until the user or other person stops it. This is because if the user is alone and falls unconscious, the device will continue to sound in hopes that someone around hears it and helps the person get medical help. The only safety issues with this device is electric shock and cutting off circulation. Electric shock is possible but extremely unlikely, especially in the prototype. With the components exposed on the breadboard, shock is possible, but there is not enough power going into the system to produce a small shock. The cutting off of circulation is on the user, the prototype won't be a wrist worn device, but in the future this device could be a wrist worn device. When this happens the user will need to adjust the strap so the device is tight enough to get a reliable reading but not too tight where it'll cut off the user's circulation.