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[quote user="tree68"] [quote user="BroadwayLion"] In Japan, the operator must point at each signal, and SING ALOUD its aspect. All of this is being recorded by Big San in the control room. [/quote]   Before I read the Sodoku comment, it had occured to me that the next step in resetting alerters might be a "password" on a keypad.  It might be something as simple as the locomotive number, or something as complex as an individually assigned code. Another option would be to require some other more complex action (ie, something like CNTL+ALT+DEL on a computer) that would be that much more difficult to complete without being cognizant of one's surroundings.[/quote] That is an improved type of alerter known as the “Cognitive Alerter.”  It requires an engineer to prove he is awake by performing some process that requires enough thought that the reset cannot be done as automatic reflex when asleep.  But there is another step in alerter evolution in which the alerter is connected to brain function and eye movement, so it can simply know whether the engineer is sleeping or awake, and also know degrees of alertness while being awake.  This is not too difficult to execute with a person sitting at the controls of a locomotive because the monitoring equipment does not need to be portable.  It would be more difficult to make it portable for use by switchmen, for instance.  I am not sure if the SmartCap can be used in that portable mode.  But if they have it built into a hat, portability can’t be too far off.
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