How can the use of the computers cause public safety problems?

Answer 1

This is a broad question, since it would include computer-related risks and the role of computers in improving or managing public safety. Here are some examples including both of these areas:

• Using computers and related devices while driving is a safety hazard.
• Computer devices are not to be used during the take-off or landing of aircraft, since that could affect the instruments.
• Excessive use of computers can cause personal injury, including carpal-tunnel syndrome, carpal-dorsal syndrome, and increase the risk of developing myopia (particularly in children).
• Computer navigation devices can increase automobile accidents if they are not updated. Drivers may rely on them too much and drive off of cliffs.
• Vehicle engine computers can malfunction, cause acceleration problems, and may increase accidents.
• Police officers may rely on computer equipment too much and not rely on their skills and training. For instance, what if they only watch for weapons when their dash console computer says someone is armed and dangerous?
• Computer-operated traffic controls don't work without electricity.
• Computer-operated traffic controls can malfunction. That could put cars in the path of other cars if all lights are green, or it could cause drivers to run lights because the light is stuck.
• Personal computers can make stalking and some criminal activities easier.

Answer 2

If you use computers while driving, you could become distracted an get into a collision with another vehicle or harm a pedestrian.

Besides using them in the wrong place or at the wrong time, deliberate misuse of computers can cause safety problems as well. Cyberbullying can lead to suicide and health problems. Scams on computers may cause people to travel to unsafe areas to try to settle disputes, only to cause the person to get kidnapped, assaulted, or killed. Spyware in a government, medical, or banking computer could cause information to be released about other people which could be used to harm them. Computer Viruses could manipulate data, leak sensitive information, or cause a malfunction or instability in mission critical computer systems.

Then there are malfunctions. A radiation therapy computer harmed patients because it sometimes gave much more radiation than intended. That was related to operator error, bad software (it had "race conditions," meaning that steps sometimes got out of sequence), and no interlocks or safety features in the part that delivered the radiation. Also, the engine computer in certain Toyota cars may have been partially At Fault for acceleration problems. A car that accelerates on its own can cause collisions or loss of control of the vehicle.