When I entered the kitchen this morning, I was greeted with a small chirp every minute or so.
I checked the fire alarm, but there was no flashing light or sound.
The chirping continued.
I then stood on a chair, looked atop the kitchen cabinet, and found the source of the noise: the carbon monoxide detector.
I made a mental note to buy another one (carbon monoxide detectors are single-use; being battery-replaceable would put them at greater risk of malfunctioning due to human error). In the meantime, I tried to turn the chirping off. I pressed all the buttons, I tried to open up the device to find a switch, but I had no luck.
So I immediately ordered another and took the current one downstairs to the trash.
As I was walking back upstairs, I realised the manufacturer had created a foolproof system.
Their goal is to keep people safe, and that means having a functioning carbon monoxide detector in every home, and minimising the time a home doesn’t have one when a replacement is required.
The constant chirping meant I wanted to dispose of the device immediately. It didn’t feel right to throw the device away without purchasing a new one first, as I felt I’d be putting Maru and I at risk.
By building in an unavoidable, unstoppable chirping, the foolproof system achieved two things: 1) it stopped me from procrastinating to buy another carbon monoxide detector, and 2) it prevented me from forgetting altogether.
When something is important, build foolproof systems to ensure you never forget.