tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post8607493847045623218..comments2023-09-21T04:02:29.457-04:00Comments on Skeptical Scalpel: Alarms! Sounding the Alarm on Alarms, FinallySkeptical Scalpelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206922456661320751noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-82070300048841969912011-09-16T23:31:09.885-04:002011-09-16T23:31:09.885-04:00...alarms are present and frequent in the mission ......alarms are present and frequent in the mission critical business of electricity and gas. In mechanical systems the voltage range is a plus/minus % variation in which equipment continues to operate within the range. Outside the range it may operate but equipment is stressed over time. Lights blink and alarms go off. However, the chief engineer is always present looking at his systems. Think Scotty in Star Trek. Same with hospitals. Thanks goodness.<br /><br />At the macro level, an outage an outage; things are on or off. That's when disaster may strike. Hopefully backup systems are in place to ride through the event. <br /><br />However, when humans operate the high voltage, there is no mercy in mission critical high voltage systems. Training and industry standards are key. If not, the human may perish. Attention to detail is important. Work is done in teams. Safety is #1. Same with hospitals.<br /><br />My point is I agree with the Doctor. We need to rely on human observation, the analog not the digital The machine is just a tool. A series of terrible coughs is better than a series of beeps in understanding my sickness.Felixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08138079889028301782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-70714292794766134622011-06-30T08:11:01.313-04:002011-06-30T08:11:01.313-04:00Not just auditory fatigue, you also get too many l...Not just auditory fatigue, you also get too many lights (so one more coming on or flashing can pass unnoticed). It's a well-known and well-documented phenomenon, and has been for years. Same with the "crying wolf" problem (oversensitive or unnecessary alarms).<br /><br />I find it scary that such a situation should have been allowed to grow up in the first place.anarchic teapothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15202342480527269614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-15378175531030826192011-04-28T10:21:51.829-04:002011-04-28T10:21:51.829-04:00Thanks to Mike and Farm for the thoughtful comment...Thanks to Mike and Farm for the thoughtful comments. Farm, you make some good points in your blog. Now, if only someone would listen [pun intended].Skeptical Scalpelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13206922456661320751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-1214532473988851562011-04-26T15:26:48.625-04:002011-04-26T15:26:48.625-04:00Unfortunately, auditory fatigue, or auditory desen...Unfortunately, auditory fatigue, or auditory desensitization, occurs in many working environments where auditory perceptual needs go unmet. Poor auditory environments challenge our ability to understand a situation, make appropriate decisions, and respond in a timely manner. Fortunately these challenges can and should be addressed through appropriate auditory system design. Check out some of the solutions suggested & feel free to comment. <br /><br />http://www.farmpd.com/Farm-Blog/bid/39048/System-Design-for-Auditory-PerceptionFarmhttp://www.farmpd.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-51248696876214052602011-04-26T10:26:42.916-04:002011-04-26T10:26:42.916-04:00I think a different technique for reporting alarms...I think a different technique for reporting alarms is in order. If there could be a large screen of some kind, similar to an airline gate status board, that's visible in the hallway to passersby and particularly in view of the desk person -- incoming alarms of any kind could be displayed in large print and what type of alarm, and perhaps flashing if critical. A soft tone could indicate that a new alarm has been triggered, prompting the desk person to glance up at the board and page/direct staff as needed. The biggest problem with this might be getting each device to relay the needed information to the receiver, since I'm sure most devices are from varying manufacturers and lack a universal reporting standard..Mikehttp://ablestmage.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com