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Introduction
Software programs used in safety-critical devices are one of many concerns when designing a product to be used by the public. Corporations must consider the risks presented by the products they create, as well as the safety measures that must be taken to ensure the least amount of harm done due to faulty software design.
Multiple factors lead to software failure. Companies are under extreme pressure to be the first entity to get a functioning product on the market. In addition, the pace at which technology is created continues to increase at an exponential rate. Because traditional safety methods do not work in a fast-paced development and acquisition market, this results in critical errors in products. Examples of these errors can be found across all engineering disciplines. This paper will discuss three specific cases in which a software error was the culprit in a safety critical device.
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There are multiple factors that lead to software failures. Companies are under extreme pressure to be the first entity to get a functioning product on the market. In addition, the pace at which technology is created continues to increase at an exponential rate. Because traditional safety methods do not work in a fast-paced development and acquisition market, this results in critical errors in products.
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The Electronics Race
There are many aspects of creating a product intended for mainstream usage — the main factors in product development are the costs associated with designing the product and the time necessary to create a prototype for mass production purposes. These are the concerns that every company in both the private and government sectors take into consideration before funneling funds into a project. If the basic needs are not met, it could mean great financial loss for that company.
The consumer determines what new product is needed by the market. Corporations hire marketing and research companies to enter the field and assess what product should be targeted for production. Once a product is determined to be marketable, it is handed over to the design team to create a device that fits the specifications of that need. The average time for a product to make it to mainstream market is solely based on the product category and the market climate for that product. For instance, an aftermarket device designed to increase fuel efficiency in vehicles would be widely accepted in today's economic situation, whereas a device designed to heat a pool that doubles the energy consumption rate would be seen as interesting, but too costly for a consumer to justify using.
In addition to the design of the new product, there are also fees incurred through legal departments, the building of scaled prototypes, building real-sized test and the costs of testing those products. Contract bids are placed with companies to see who would like to buy the product. Consumer data-gathering studies are done to make the product more alluring to potential clients. Patents are acquired to protect designs from other companies trying to create the same product first. All of this is done without the guarantee that the creator will be successful in finding someone to purchase the product.
While safety is a highly regarded measure, companies are under great strain to beat the competition to the mainstream marketplace. The supply and demand for newer, better consumer products, for a military weapon that is more efficient and more powerful than the enemy's, or for faster, more accurate healthcare equipment far exceeds the current wait period for necessary patents, rigid safety testing and complete data gathering. The economics of placing a competitive product on the market first creates an environment where shortcuts are taken at the expense of safety.
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