User manual

ECE 477 Final Report Spring 2004
In addition to the above suggestions on ethical design several other steps can be taken.
These include adding warning labels in appropriate places to advise the end user that attempting
repair of the device may result in injury. Also, warning of repeated shaking or dropping may
result in damage. This ensures that the end user will know how to prevent damage to the unit
and protect themselves from injury. Additional warnings that advise of proper cleaning and care
of the device can be placed in the operating manual. This will allow those familiar with the
device to be able to care for it without using any methods that may result in damage to the device
or themselves.
Environmental Impact Analysis
Similar to the ethical impact, throughout the design and development process the
environmental impact must be considered. There are several stages that the system will go
through in its lifetime. These include manufacturing, shipping, normal use, and disposal.
Throughout these different phases, the impact on the environment must be considered and extra
precautions must be taken in order to limit the negative impact.
During the development and manufacturing phase several considerations can be made.
First, smart engineering can reduce the amount of power utilized by the system. This idea of
“green engineering” can not only save the end user money, but also reduce energy consumption
and increase battery lifetime. This process only require a little extra thought when designing the
power supplies and attempting to produce the most efficient power supplies possible. During the
manufacturing phase the use of utilizing lead free solder and non-ozone depleting de-fluxing
chemicals can help reduce the damage to the environment. Also, utilizing a PCB manufacturing
process that complies with EPA regulations should be considered throughout this phase. The
waste created through the manufacturing process should be minimized, chemical byproducts
should be disposed of through environmental friendly methods, and every attempt should be
made to recycle and reuse these chemicals.
Once the manufacturing phase has been completed, the product should be shipped in
environmentally friendly ways. This can include minimizing the product packaging size and
using biodegradable packing materials. At this point the end user will receive the system and it
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