Medical Case Study: Death On Call

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Buyannemekh Munkhbat MIE 657 Case Study 5, 6 Death on Call Summary There was a friendly fire accident during the invasion of Afghanistan in December 5, 2001. 2000 pound American bomb from B-52 bomber missed its targeted location and killed three team members and two dozen Afghans. The GPS technology was complex itself and it took several days to practice and learn the system for soldiers. Two days earlier the accident, one man who had not had the benefit of the month of practice came from the headquarter and instructed his Air Force tactical air controller. Not only he had trouble using the Plugger GPS device when he was on board, but also the battery on the Plugger GPS went dead. The controller did not know that GPS reverted to its own coordinated whenever the battery has changed. The bomb was dropped on the team.…show more content…
In this case, the Plugger GPS was the one of the example of too complex technology. The device was not easy to use for new learner. It showed too much unnecessary information on display, which confuses users more. It is unbelievable that such an important device during the war was designed to change a long cylindrical battery regularly to work. Also it is not smart that the device could not store its previous locations before changing the battery. A skilled expertise is very important in situation like this. But instead of having already skilled controller, one just came took over the control. List at least two ways to design the system to avoid the accident Instead of replacing an old-fashioned big battery, it would have been better if it was designed to be charged on board. In that case it will not shut down, or lose its information about coordinates. Before sending the coordinate to the B-52, there should have been some verification steps. It would have been perfect if it was able to display what it looks like on the ground at the

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