ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Dead man's switch

Okay, so imagine you're playing a really fun game with your friends. But sometimes, while playing, people might accidentally get hurt or get into some danger. That's no fun, right? That's why we need a safety measure called a "dead man's switch."

Now, a dead man's switch is like a special button that is connected to something important. Usually, it's connected to a machine or a vehicle that needs to be constantly monitored by a person to ensure safety. For example, in some trains, we have the dead man's switch. This switch is a lever found in the driver's cab that must be continuously held down by the driver to keep the train moving. So, if the driver falls asleep, gets sick, or for any reason releases the switch, the train comes to a stop.

Similarly, in some boats, we have dead man's switches too. In this case, this switch is usually a rope or a cord that a boat operator wears around their wrist or attached to their body. The other end of the rope is connected to the boat's engine. So, if the boat operator falls overboard or leaves the controls unattended, the engine cuts off, stopping the boat.

Ultimately, the dead man's switch is designed to prevent bad things from happening in case the person in charge can't do their job anymore. It's a safety measure to make sure everyone is safe and sound.
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