We are living in the middle of the emergency over coronavirus all over the world. The reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on societies and economies around the world cannot be understated. Because an estimated 15% of COVID-19 patients require hospitalization and 5% require intensive care (Z. Wu and McGoogan 2020), the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has the potential of posing a substantial challenge to medical systems around the world (Remuzzi and Remuzzi 2020; Grasselli, Pesenti, and Cecconi 2020).
Necessity is the mother of invention. A need or problem encourages creative efforts to meet the need or solve the problem. This saying appears in the dialogue Republic, by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato.
“Necessity is the mother of invention” is an English-language proverb. It means, roughly, that the primary driving force for most new inventions is a need. When the need for something becomes imperative, you are forced to find ways of getting or achieving it.
Here are some examples of sort of ingenuity we need now in the middle of pandemia. Already many people contributed those efforts. Check out on those links what is already done if you can find any useful information or can contribute to those efforts you see as good idea. Start your reserach with 7 open hardware projects working to solve COVID-19 article.
I have collected here a list of interesting open hardware project and instructions that can be useful or educational. Hopefully this list I have contributed here will be useful for someone. Keep in mind that many of those ideas are potentially dangerous if the instructions are not entirely correct, implemented exactly right and used by people that know what they are doing. You have been warned: Do not try those at home yourself! We are dealing here with things that can easily injure or kill someone if improperly implemented or used – but at right place the best ideas from those could potentially save lives.
Repairing hospital equipment
The right thing to do in his situation is that medical companies to release service manuals for ALL medical equipment so they can be repaired and maintained where they are most needed.
In the face of ventilator shortages for COVID-19 victims, iFixit is looking to make maintaining and repairing equipment as easy as possible. iFixit Launches Central Repository for Hospital Equipment Repair and Maintenance Manuals
https://www.ifixit.com/News/36354/help-us-crowdsource-repair-information-for-hospital-equipment
Site http://www.frankshospitalworkshop.com offers links many service manuals
Robotics
COVID-19 pandemic prompts more robot usage worldwide article tells that the coronavirus has increased interest in robots, drones, and artificial intelligence, even as some testing of autonomous vehicles pauses on public roads. It is believed that these technologies can help deal with massive staffing shortages in healthcare, manufacturing, and supply chains; the need for “social distancing;” and diagnosis and treatment.
Here are some robotics related links that could be useful:
Medical robotics expert Guang-Zhong Yang calls for a global effort to develop new types of robots for fighting infectious diseases.
https://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/medical-robots/coronavirus-pandemic-call-to-action-robotics-community
Elements of Robotics Open Access Textbook
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-62533-1
Ventilators
A ventilator is a machine designed to provide mechanical ventilation by moving breathable air into and out of the lungs, to deliver breaths to a patient who is physically unable to breathe, or breathing insufficiently. Ventilators are sometimes colloquially called “respirators”.
A ventilator, also called a respirator, is designed to provide mechanical ventilation by oxygen into and out of the lungs, to deliver breaths to a patient who is physically unable to breathe, or breathing insufficiently. The machines can be used to help a person breath if they have conditions making it difficult to breathe, such as lung diseases, during and post-surgery. For patients critically ill with coronavirus access to a ventilator could be a matter of life or death.
In its simplest form, a modern positive pressure ventilator consists of a compressible air reservoir or turbine, air and oxygen supplies, a set of valves and tubes, and a disposable or reusable “patient circuit”. Modern ventilators are electronically controlled by a small embedded system to allow exact adaptation of pressure and flow characteristics to an individual patient’s needs.
They work by placing a tube in a person’s mouth, nose or small cut in the throat and connect it to a ventilator machine. The air reservoir is pneumatically compressed several times a minute to deliver room-air, or in most cases, an air/oxygen mixture to the patient.
Because failure may result in death, mechanical ventilation systems are classified as a life-critical system, and precautions must be taken to ensure that they are highly reliable. Modern commercial ventilator is a relatively complex piece of equipment with lots of components and a dedicated supply chain.
Because there is a lack of ventilators on many hospitals in several countries, there has been a lot of creative work done to help this problem.
There has been projects going on to repair old and non-working ventilators to a working conditions. For repairing some older devices, there has been problem to get spare parts from the manufacturer and that those spare parts can be very expensive. Also getting the service information for repairing those equipment seems to be hard to get from manufacturer, Ifixit has started a project Help commit industrial espionage for the greater good! to get the service information on-line at https://www.ifixit.com/News/36354/help-us-crowdsource-repair-information-for-hospital-equipment
In middle of the emergency some people have worked on to make their own spare parts when official parts are not available, thus making more devices available. For example a startup 3D-printed emergency breathing valves for COVID-19 patients at an Italian hospital in less than 6 hours. An Italian hospital that ran out of life-saving equipment for coronavirus patients was saved by a ‘hero’ engineer who used cutting-edge technology to design oxygen valves within a matter of hours. At least 10 lives were saved in this way.
So great thinking for 3d printing of valves. Are they sterilized and suitable? 3D printing has been used in numerous cases for medical parts already. Most 3D printing operates at relatively high temperatures and printed objects are actually naturally sterilized when they are made. Anyway the right kind of plastic needs to be selected and the part needs to be built in exactly right way that is works reliably as designed. If they are used and the individual gets worse, does the fact that equipment not medical certified (environment, storage, shipping, etc) put the hospital in additional jeopardy for a lawsuit? All valid questions each medical liability officer will have to address. But if people are going to literally die if you do nothing, then taking a risk with a part that you 3D print seems like an idea that is worth to try.
Links:
A startup 3D-printed emergency breathing valves for COVID-19 patients at an Italian hospital in less than 6 hours
https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-italian-hospital-3d-printed-breathing-valves-covid-19-patients-2020-3?r=US&IR=T
https://it.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-manca-la-valvola-per-uno-strumento-di-rianimazione-e-noi-la-stampiamo-in-3d-accade-nellospedale-di-chiari-brescia/
Firm ‘refuses to give blueprint’ for coronavirus equipment that could save lives
https://metro.co.uk/2020/03/16/firm-refuses-give-blueprint-coronavirus-equipment-save-lives-12403815/
3D printed life-saving valves: already a dozen in operation
https://www.embodi3d.com/blogs/entry/436-3d-printed-life-saving-valves-already-a-dozen-in-operation/
Volunteers produce 3D-printed valves for life-saving coronavirus treatments
Volunteers made the valves for about $1
https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/17/21184308/coronavirus-italy-medical-3d-print-valves-treatments
Another tried trick is try to use one ventilator with more than one patient. Daily Mail writes that ventilators can be modified to help FOUR coronavirus patients breathe at the same time if the NHS is still critically short of the machines when the outbreak peaks, scientists say. Here are some links to material on using one ventilator to more than one patient:
https://emcrit.org/pulmcrit/split-ventilators/
SAVING 4 PATIENTS WITH JUST 1 VENTILATOR
https://hackaday.com/2020/03/19/saving-4-patients-with-just-1-ventilator/
Here has been work going on in creating an open source ventilator design project. Here are some links to this project and some other DIY ventilator designs.
There’s A Shortage Of Ventilators For Coronavirus Patients, So This International Group Invented An Open Source Alternative That’s Being Tested Next Week
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandrasternlicht/2020/03/18/theres-a-shortage-of-ventilators-for-coronavirus-patients-so-this-international-group-invented-an-open-source-alternative-thats-being-tested-next-week/
Open-source Oxygen Concentrator
https://reprapltd.com/open-source-oxygen-concentrator/
https://blog.arduino.cc/2020/03/17/designing-a-low-cost-open-source-ventilator-with-arduino/
https://www.instructables.com/id/The-Pandemic-Ventilator/
Macgyvilator Mk 1 (3-19-2020) – “ventilator” for disasters and/or low resource environments
Macgyvilator Mk 1 is a disaster “ventilator”, a simple apparatus to compress a bag-valve-mask with some control over tidal volume and rate. Constructed quickly and simply using wood, PVC, velcro, common fasteners, and easily sourced and assembled electronic components.
An Arduino based Open Source Ventilator to Fight against COVID-19?
https://www.cnx-software.com/2020/03/21/an-arduino-based-open-source-ventilator-to-fight-against-covid-19/
Low-Cost Open Source Ventilator or PAPR
https://github.com/jcl5m1/ventilator
Low-cost Ventilators
https://procrastineering.blogspot.com/2020/03/low-cost-ventilators.html
Arduino Respirator Prototype (pen source solution from Reesistencia Team, which is undergoing testing)
https://www.facebook.com/official.arduino/videos/2557115014604392/
OxyGEN project
https://oxygen.protofy.xyz
“OxyGEN is an open hardware project to build an emergency mechanism that automates an AMBU type manual ventilator in extreme shortage situations such as the one caused by coronavirus (COVID-19) in some parts of the world.”
NOTE: Take a look at the expression VILI before thinking about trying one of these. It is hard making a ventilator that doesn’t harm the lungs. It is easy to get Ventilator-associated lung injury or die if the ventilator does not work exactly correctly all the time.
Testing for infection
There are many approaches thought to be helpful to finding out if someone is infected or something is contaminated.
Thermal scanners are effective in detecting people who have developed a fever (i.e. have a higher than normal body temperature) because of infection with the new coronavirus. However, they cannot detect people who are infected but are not yet sick with fever (it can take 2-10 days before infected people get the fewer).
Open-Source Collaboration Tackles COVID-19 Testing
https://hackaday.com/2020/03/10/open-source-collaboration-tackles-covid-19-testing/
Low-cost & Open-Source Covid19 Detection kits
https://app.jogl.io/project/118?
This Open Source Device Can Detect Coronavirus on Surfaces
The Chai team has developed a detection test that works with their Open qPCR tool.
https://www.hackster.io/news/this-open-source-device-can-detect-coronavirus-on-surfaces-3da1d7b1c73a
Prevent touching face
It is recommended to stop touching your face to minimize spread of coronavirus and other germs. People touch their faces frequently. They wipe their eyes, scratch their noses, bite their nails and twirl their mustaches.
Not touching your face is a simple way to protect yourself from COVID-19, but it’s not easy. If you can reduce face-touching, you can lower people’s chances of catching COVID-19. Why is it so hard to stop? Face-touching rewards us by relieving momentary discomforts like itches and muscle tension.
If you you want to change, you can try to replace it with a competing response that opposes the muscle movements needed to touch your face. When you feel the urge to touch your face, you can clench your fists, sit on your hands, press your palms onto the tops of your thighs or stretch your arms straight down at your sides. Some sources recommend object manipulation, in which you occupy your hands with something else. You can rub your fingertips, fiddle with a pen or squeeze a stress ball.
Related links:
This pair of Arduino glasses stops you from touching your face
https://blog.arduino.cc/2020/03/10/this-pair-of-arduino-glasses-stops-you-from-touching-your-face/
Don’t Touch Your Face
Don’t touch your face — easy to say, hard to do. This device, worn like a watch, will buzz whenever your hand aims for trouble.
https://www.hackster.io/mike-rigsby/don-t-touch-your-face-e8eac3
Hand sanitizer
Hand sanitizer is a liquid or gel generally used to decrease infectious agents on the hands. It depends on the case if hand washing with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer is preferred. For Covid-19 WHO recommends to wash your hands with soap and water, and dry them thoroughly. Use alcohol-based handrub if you don’t have immediate access to soap and water.
It seems that there are many places where there is shortage of hand sanitizers. This has lead to situation where people have resorted to making their own. Recipes for DIY hand sanitizer are popping all over the internet. A quick search reveals news articles, YouTube how-to’s and step-by-step visual guides. But think twice about joining them — experts are wary and even caution against the idea. The World Health Organization even has an official guide to making hand sanitizer. But it’s intended for populations that do not have clean water or other medical-grade products in place. Don’t try to make your own hand sanitizer just because there’s a shortage from coronavirus.
Can’t get your hands on hand sanitizer? Make your own
https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/hand-sanitizer-coronavirus-make-your-own/
Photos show why hand sanitizer doesn’t work as well as soap and water to remove germs
https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-photos-why-you-should-wash-hands-with-soap-water-2020-3?amp
Emergency DIY hand sanitizers (read the description)
“Every time a new health incident occurs there’s a rush on hand sanitizers, often causing shops to sell out.
Here’s how to make some simple emergency sanitizers at home, noting that they are not as effective as just washing your hands, and only some viruses can be damaged by simple sanitizers. These options are offered as a last resort when commercial versions are not available.”
“For the alcohol one the higher the percentage of alcohol the better, up to around 70-80%.”
Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer At Home When It’s Sold Out Everywhere
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tjmccue/2020/03/03/make-your-own-hand-sanitizer-at-home-when-its-sold-out-everywhere/
Sanitizing things
With deadly coronavirus spreading worldwide at an alarming speed, personal hygiene has become paramount importance to contain the infection spread further. Mobile phones are known to house several germ, and if you thing they are contaminated, you should maybe disinfect them. The CDC recommends that everyone “clean all “high-touch” surfaces every day” to protect against the spread of COVID-19.
How to Disinfect Your Smartphone article says CDC recommends that for your smartphone you should use 70% rubbing alcohol or alcohol-based disinfectant spray to wipe down the back and sides of your device. For example Apple recently updated its official cleaning advice, so ccording to Apple, it’s now safe to clean your iPhone with disinfecting wipes if you do it correctly. You should not try to spray any liquid to your phone.
The other option is to use a smartphone sanitizer device that cleans using UV rays. Sanitizers that use ultraviolet (UV) rays to kill bacteria and viruses have been around for a while now and they can kill 99% of bacteria in as little as five minutes. However its efficacy hasn’t been tested against nasties like SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. Coronavirus effect: Samsung offers UV-C sanitizing service for Galaxy devices. Samsung is using Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) disinfection technology, which uses of uses short-wavelength ultraviolet (UV-C) light to kill or inactivate bacteria, virus, molds and other pathogenic microorganisms on smartphones.
The UV-C light is capable of destroying nucleic acids and DNA. It will kill many things, but you don’t want that hitting your eye or skin. World Health Organization only states: “UV lamps should not be used to sterilize hands, or other areas of skin as UV radiation can cause skin irritation.”
Here are some UV C related links:
https://www.light-sources.com/blog/killing-bacteria-with-uv-light/
https://russellsrandomthoughts.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-gtl3-bulb-simple-and-inexpensive.html?m=1
Good UV versus bad UV. All available on eBay.
Protective masks
The protective mask ratings used by hospitals are typically N95, FFP2 or FFP3. FFP2 protection level is 94%. FFP3 protection level is 99%. N95 protection level is 95%. An N95 FFR is a type of respirator which removes particles from the air that are breathed through it. These respirators filter out at least 95% of very small (0.3 micron) particles. N95 FFRs are capable of filtering out all types of particles, including bacteria and viruses. The N95 mask is mainly for use if you already have the virus to keep it from spreading and many have argued that coronavirus is smaller than the 0.3 micron filter rating of the mask and thus, not that helpful, for people outside of healthcare. In fact, the U.S. Surgeon General wants consumers to stop buying masks.
Due to the worldwide pandemic of COVID-19, there has been a huge shortage of N95 masks. Promoting simple do-it-yourself masks: an urgent intervention for COVID-19 mitigation claims that widespread use of masks by the general population could be an effective strategy for slowing down the spread of COVID-19: “Since surgical masks might not become available in sufficient numbers quickly enough for general use and sufficient compliance with wearing surgical masks might not be possible everywhere, we argue that simple do-it-yourself designs or commercially available cloth masks could reduce the spread of infection at minimal costs to society”.
With masks sold out during the coronavirus outbreak, many people will have to make do with what some scientists have called “the last resort”: the DIY mask. Many people have been working on designs for a DIY mask that may be able to protect those who haven’t been able to secure their own masks. It seems that cotton homemade masks may be quite effective as alternatives and there are also other ideas. For any DIY ideas, be warned that there is no guarantee that those designs are effective. So I don’t recommend to use them as alternative to proper mask when they are available. Bit of proper marks are not available, they can be better than nothing.
Keep in mind the right filter type to use: Hepa filters do have the ability to filter particles and viruses, but they wont protect you 100% of the time. The real secret is layers. The problem is, more layers, more restriction. Keep in mind that charcoal filters will make your air fresher, but have almost no effect on cleaning the air of viruses. Coronavirus virions (or ‘particles’) are spherical particles with diameters of approximately 125 nm (0.125 microns). The smallest particles are 0.06 microns, and the largest are 0.14 microns. This means coronavirus particles are smaller than PM2.5 particles, but bigger than some dust particles and gases.
General information:
Guide to Dust Mask Ratings
https://www.seton.co.uk/your-guide-to-dust-masks-ratings
Can Masks Protect People from The Coronavirus?
https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/coronavirus-pollution-masks-n95-surgical-mask/
Hengityksensuojaimet
https://www.tays.fi/fi-FI/Ohjeet/Infektioiden_torjunta/Mikrobikohtaiset_ohjeet/Hengityksensuojaimet(51207)
DIY project links:
Homemade N95 Masks In A Time Of Shortage
https://hackaday.com/2020/03/18/homemade-n95-masks-in-a-time-of-shortage/
“According to a studied performed at Cambridge University during the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic, while surgical masks perform the best at capturing Bacillus atrophaeus bacteria (0.93-1.25 microns) and Bacteriophage MS virus (0.023 microns), vacuum cleaner bags, tea towels, and cotton T-shirts were not too far behind. The coronavirus is 0.1-0.2 microns, well within the range for the results of the tests.”
What Are The Best Materials for Making DIY Masks?
https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-materials-make-diy-face-mask-virus/
“Data shows that DIY and homemade masks are effective at capturing viruses. But if forced to make our own mask, what material is best suited to make a mask? As the coronavirus spread around China, netizens reported making masks with tissue paper, kitchen towels, cotton clothing, and even oranges!”
Can DIY Masks Protect Us from Coronavirus?
https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/diy-homemade-mask-protect-virus-coronavirus/
“DIY masks to protect against from viruses sounds like a crazy idea. Data shows masks work incredibly well, and they’re also really cheap. Surgical masks cost a few pennies, and they’re capable of filtering out 80% of particles down to 0.007 microns (14 times smaller than the coronavirus).”
“The homemade cotton masks captured 50% of 0.02-1 micron particles, compared with 80% for the surgical mask. Although the surgical masks captured 30% more particles, the cotton masks did surprisingly well. The researchers concluded that homemade masks would be better than nothing.”
“The Cambridge data shows that homemade masks made using cotton t-shirts can filter out some particles that are 0.02–1 microns in size. That’s pretty good, however its only one test.”
Professional and Home-Made Face Masks Reduce Exposure to Respiratory Infections among the General Population
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2440799/
Can Masks Protect People from The Coronavirus?
https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/coronavirus-pollution-masks-n95-surgical-mask/
This old hack doesn’t require any cutting or sewing:
http://how2dostuff.blogspot.com/2005/11/how-to-make-ninja-mask-out-of-t-shirt.html
Copper 3D makes the free N95 mask design to fight COVID-19 pandemic spread
https://3dprintingcenter.net/2020/03/18/copper-3d-makes-the-free-n95-mask-design-to-fight-covid-19-pandemic-spread/?fbclid=IwAR2iXJD5ybU8ReADakvCyDKsfzuRDOBEWxZ3ACCjZoz2dKNwvy07htUhon4
“Copper 3D – A Chilean manufacturer of innovative antibacterial filaments designed the own version of the popular N95 protective mask and prepared it perfectly optimized for 3D printing on desktop 3D printers of the FDM / FFF type. The project is released under an open-source license and has been simultaneously patent pending to prevent other entities from commercializing it.”
“Copper 3D team quickly got to work on developing the patent for a model similar to a standard N95 mask but with some peculiarities (Antiviral, Reusable, Modular, Washable, Recyclable, Low-Cost), which were completely designed in a digital environment so that it could be downloaded anywhere in the world and 3D printed with any FDM/FFF equipment, even a low cost one. The mask was called “NanoHack”.”
#HackThePandemic site offers the technical details of the N95 mask and download set of STL files for printing on own 3D printer
https://copper3d.com/HACKTHEPANDEMIC/
SaltMask
https://robots-everywhere.com/re_wiki/pub/web/Cookbook.SaltMask.html
https://www.nature.com/articles/srep39956
“This is NOT a straight replacement for a N95 mask. In a real emergency it is recommended to combine a full face shield with a filter mask.”
Prusa Protective Face Shield – RC2
https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/25857-prusa-protective-face-shield-rc1
“In a real emergency it is recommended to combine a full face shield with a filter mask.”
Promoting simple do-it-yourself masks: an urgent intervention for COVID-19 mitigation
https://medium.com/@matthiassamwald/promoting-simple-do-it-yourself-masks-an-urgent-intervention-for-covid-19-mitigation-14da4100f429
“Since surgical masks might not become available in sufficient numbers quickly enough for general use and sufficient compliance with wearing surgical masks might not be possible everywhere, we argue that simple do-it-yourself designs or commercially available cloth masks could reduce the spread of infection at minimal costs to society”
“Potentially, simply wrapping a suitable, large cloth around the face is easy to implement (Fig. 2), would arguably be more socially acceptable than surgical masks, and would be superior to a complete lack of face mask use.”
1,350 Comments
Tomi Engdahl says:
A mask cuts your COVID-19 risk by 65%, experts say
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/07/experts-a-mask-cuts-your-coronavirus-risk-by-65
Wearing a mask helps to protect you and others from the spread of COVID-19, which is primarily transmitted by droplets.
Face coverings reduce the risk of infection by 65%, according to research.
Aerosol particles we expel when we talk are the second major mode of transmission – and are more difficult to defend against.
How masks work to stop COVID-19′s spread
There are two primary methods of coronavirus transmission, Blumberg and Ristenpart explain.
The first is via droplets a carrier expels, which are about one-third the size of a human hair but still large enough that we can see them. Masks create an effective barrier against droplets.
“Everyone should wear a mask,” Blumberg says. “People who say, ‘I don’t believe masks work,’ are ignoring scientific evidence. It’s not a belief system. It’s like saying, ‘I don’t believe in gravity.’
“People who don’t wear a mask increase the risk of transmission to everyone, not just the people they come into contact with. It’s all the people those people will have contact with. You’re being an irresponsible member of the community if you’re not wearing a mask. It’s like double-dipping in the guacamole. You’re not being nice to others.”
The second major coronavirus transmission method is via the aerosol particles we expel when we talk. Those are about 1/100th the size of a human hair and are more difficult to defend against. Social distancing and staying outdoors, where there is more air flow, are helpful, Blumberg and Ristenpart say.
“Studies in laboratory conditions now show the virus stays alive in aerosol form with a half-life on the scale of hours. It persists in the air,” Ristenpart says. “That’s why you want to be outdoors for any social situations if possible. The good air flow will disperse the virus. If you are indoors, think about opening the windows. You want as much fresh air as possible.”
This is why, he says, places like bars are particularly hazardous for aerosols, on top of the likelihood of minimal distancing. “The louder you speak, the more expiatory aerosols you put out,” he says.
Plexiglass and cubicles as protection? The plexiglass shields in stores and restaurants only help somewhat. The same is true for office cubicles. But after a lengthy time, transmission is possible from aerosols if the air flow is not good, Blumberg and Ristenpart say.
“The way to think about that is to think about smells,”
Time of exposure matters: “If you’re going past someone very quickly in a grocery store,” Blumberg says, “the risk of getting infected is very low. It’s really lingering and talking that does it.”
Ristenpart adds: “It’s really important to know that just because you’re standing 6 feet or 7 feet away, if you have a prolonged conversation, there is still a risk. These aerosols can be carried along on weak air currents.”
Surface contact is less of a threat: There is no precise research on the prevalence of transmission from hand contact.
Children and COVID-19: Children are less likely—by half—to be infected if they are exposed, less likely to be symptomatic, and less likely to have a severe case if they do get sick, Blumberg says.
“They appear to be less likely to infect others,”
Masks and social distancing are key
Both scientists say the evidence has become even more powerful for wearing masks and social distancing. For instance, research shows that about 30% of infections are caused by people who do not know they have COVID-19 because they are asymptomatic or their symptoms have not appeared yet.
“So we don’t know who might spread it,” Blumberg says. “We do know social distancing reduces the risk of transmitting the virus by 90%, and wearing masks decreases the risk by 65%.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Faced with manufacturers’ inability to repair faulty machines, some medical staff are turning to security lockout hacks.
“Polish Hacker” Shares Software, Security Dongles for Repairing Abandoned Medical Ventilators
https://www.hackster.io/news/polish-hacker-shares-software-security-dongles-for-repairing-abandoned-medical-ventilators-7895ccc6579d
Faced with manufacturers’ inability to repair faulty ventilators, some medical staff are turning to security lockout hacks.
While many makers are still working on scratch-built emergency ventilators in preparation for potential additional waves of SARS-CoV-2 infections, others are bypassing artificial restrictions put in place by manufacturers to repair existing equipment that would otherwise be unavailable for use.
A number of makers, engineers, and scientists have put forward designs for low-cost, rapidly-producible ventilators designed to avoid a shortage of equipment in the face of rising COVID-19 infections. There have been designs released from NVIDIA, Makers for Life, Marco Mascorro, and even NASA — but what about the ventilators already in hospitals but which have failed and require repair?
Tomi Engdahl says:
Hacking Bluetooth for COVID-19 contact tracing
https://www.edn.com/hacking-bluetooth-for-covid-19-contact-tracing/?utm_content=buffercb1eb&utm_medium=social&utm_source=edn_facebook&utm_campaign=buffer
Hacking Bluetooth for contact tracing
Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) is a ubiquitous, widely-deployed, and mature connectivity technology with enormous potential to enable digital tracing. Every new smartphone is equipped with a Bluetooth radio, and almost everyone has a smartphone. If we reprogram smartphone Bluetooth radios in a certain way, we can potentially use smartphones to detect which individuals came in direct contact with each other.
Tomi Engdahl says:
CDC Director: It’s Time For Universal Masking To End Covid-19 Pandemic
https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2020/07/14/cdc-director-its-time-for-universal-masking-to-end-pandemic/?utm_campaign=forbes&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_term=Valerie/#76616c657269
Universal nationwide use of face masks could bring the spread of the Coronavirus strain Covid-19 under control within four to eight weeks, the head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday.
In an interview with the editor of JAMA, Dr. Robert Redfield, Director of the Centers for Disease Control is advocating all Americans wear masks and face coverings as a way to end the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The time is now,” Redfield told Dr. Howard Bauchner, editor of JAMA during the interview, which was live Tuesday afternoon. “The data is clearly there. Masking works.”
If the American public all embraced masking along with social distancing and hand-washing, Redfield said “we could bring this outbreak to its knees” within four to eight weeks.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Walmart Mandates Face Masks Even As Some Disputes Turn Deadly
https://www.forbes.com/sites/karenrobinsonjacobs/2020/07/15/some-face-mask-disputes-turn-deadly-as-states-and-now-walmart-issue-mandates/?utm_campaign=forbes&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_term=Valerie/#76616c657269
A Michigan man shot and killed by a sheriff’s deputy in a dispute over mask wearing became at least the third person in the U.S. to die in an incident tied to mask wearing, as more states, and now the nation’s largest retailer, mandate face coverings to slow the dramatic spread of coronavirus.
Similar incidents, ranging from gun fire to fist fights, come as states mandate face coverings to slow the record spread of the coronavirus, which grew to more than 3.4 million cases Wednesday and was responsible for 136,468 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
In response to the outbreak, and the patchwork of requirements across the nation, Walmart said Wednesday it will require all shoppers to wear a face covering starting Monday, joining stores like Best Buy and Starbucks that already have implemented mask mandates.
At least 30 U.S. states have enacted some form of a mandatory face covering policy because of the pandemic, but enforcement of those rules often has been left to low-wage “essential” workers in a retail setting, some of whom can be seen in social media posts being berated by irate, non-mask-wearing customers.
Mixed messaging from health officials in the early days of the pandemic in the U.S., along with a partisan stance have made wearing a face mask a line-in-the-sand issue for many in the U.S. That’s a distinct difference from other countries, particularly in Asia, where mask wearing is standard and the number of coronavirus cases has not ballooned as it has in the U.S. Japan, for example, has reported fewer than 23,000 cases and 984 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins.
In addition to the face mask mandate, Walmart this week said it would place “health ambassadors” at the entrance to some stores to remind customers about face mask protocols, according to media reports. A national mask mandate could save the U.S. economy $1 trillion, according to Goldman Sachs.
Tomi Engdahl says:
— if a private property owner can post a sign that says “No shoes, no shirt, no
Service” then they can post a sign requiring a mask.
Tomi Engdahl says:
CBD For Coronavirus? New Study Adds Evidence For Cannabis As COVID-19 Treatment
https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilyearlenbaugh/2020/07/15/cbd-for-coronavirus-new-study-adds-evidence-for-cannabis-as-covid-19-treatment/?utm_campaign=forbes&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_term=Valerie/#76616c657269
As we continue to see outbreaks of the novel coronavirus surging, many are waiting and hoping for treatments to be developed that might treat, cure or prevent the potentially deadly disease. In a surprising turn of events, cannabis is on the list of potential treatments.
Researchers on the study say that CBD could play an immunotherapeutic role in treating severe respiratory viral infections like COVID-19, based on the present findings.
Tomi Engdahl says:
COVIDSafe tries to connect to every device it’s ever connected to, indefinitely
https://github.com/AU-COVIDSafe/mobile-ios/issues/9
Tomi Engdahl says:
Another Study Finds Hydroxychloroquine Ineffective Against Covid-19—As Trump Continues To Hype It
Another Study Finds Hydroxychloroquine Ineffective Against Covid-19—As Trump Continues To Hype It
https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattperez/2020/07/16/another-study-finds-hydroxychloroquine-ineffective-against-covid-19as-trump-continues-to-hype-it/?utm_campaign=forbes&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_term=Gordie/#676f7264696
Hydroxychloroquine was an unsuccessful treatment for non-hospitalized people showing early symptoms of Covid-19, according to a study published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, further evidence of the drug’s ineffective use against the coronavirus despite the Trump administration’s continued endorsement of the treatment.
In a randomized study held between March 22 and May 20 by researchers at the University of Minnesota, 491 patients were given either a placebo or hydroxychloroquine within the first four days of showing symptoms for Covid-19, differing from previous studies that were conducted after hospitalization.
While the researchers found patients experiencing symptoms for over two weeks was 6% lower for the people taking hydroxychloroquine, there were no significant differences in hospitalization and death rates.
Additionally, people taking hydroxychloroquine experienced far more side effects than those taking a placebo, with 43% of the former group reporting symptoms versus 22%.
On June 15, the FDA revoked its emergency use authorization for the drug, following numerous studies that illustrated no benefits of its use with hospitalized patients.
Regardless, Trump has continued to be a huge proponent for the drug, even claiming in May he took the drug to prevent illness.
There is no cure or proven treatment for Covid-19, though Gilead’s antiviral drug remdesivir, which was granted an emergency use authorization, has been shown to shorten the length of recovery for Covid-19 patients. While numerous vaccines are going through clinical trials currently, the earliest expectation for mass distribution is end of 2020 or the start of 2021.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nairobi IEEE Students Design a Low-Cost Ventilator Using Locally Sourced Materials
https://spectrum.ieee.org/news-from-around-ieee/the-institute/ieee-member-news/nairobi-ieee-students-design-a-lowcost-ventilator-using-locally-sourced-materials
Tomi Engdahl says:
This COVID-19 system uses an NVIDIA Embedded Jetson Nano and a FLIR Systems Lepton 3 thermal module to take temperature and issue alerts if a fever is detected.
COVID19 – Fever Control with Jetson Nano and FLIR Lepton3
https://www.hackster.io/Myzhar/covid19-fever-control-with-jetson-nano-and-flir-lepton3-7f57fc
A useful application for the COVID19 era to control the human temperature and issue alarms in case of fever.
Tomi Engdahl says:
This Nano 33 BLE Sense-based wearable device listens to your surroundings and uses Edge Impulse cough detection to help reduce potential exposure to COVID-19: https://bit.ly/3fFZL8V
Tomi Engdahl says:
A team of young makers designed an Arduino-powered device to address the issue of disinfecting coins and bills during the pandemic.
The Money Launderer: Automated COVID-19 Currency Disinfector © GPL3+
https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/354743/the-money-launderer-automated-covid-19-currency-disinfector-ce7e6d
This product disinfects bills and coins, high-contact surfaces, to allow for cash dependent economies to survive in this pandemic.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Simple DIY Device Can Detect Moisture on Your Face Mask
https://www.hackster.io/news/the-simple-diy-device-can-detect-moisture-on-your-face-mask-94d5ea1e89dc
The Mask Moisture Meter could help ensure that wearing a face mask is as comfortable as possible
Despite the fact that businesses are reopening in some areas — and possibly because of it, the coronavirus pandemic rages on. If you are going out and visiting those businesses, you should absolutely be wearing a face mask whether it is required or not. But there has been a lot of push back against face masks, particularly in the United States. The argument is generally that they’re ineffective or uncomfortable. We’re not going to address the efficacy of face masks, but the Mask Moisture Meter could help ensure that wearing one is as comfortable as possible.
https://hackaday.io/project/172104-mask-moisture-meter
Tomi Engdahl says:
How to fight COVID-19 with machine learning
9 ways machine learning is helping us fight the viral pandemic.
https://www.datarevenue.com/en-blog/machine-learning-covid-19?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=%5BNew%5D+Articles+-+Conversion+Goals&utm_content=COVID19
Viral pandemics are a serious threat. COVID-19 is not the first, and it won’t be the last.
But, like never before, we are collecting and sharing what we learn about the virus. Hundreds of research teams around the world are combining their efforts to collect data and develop solutions.
We want to shine a light on their work and show how machine learning is helping us to:
Identify who is most at risk,
Diagnose patients,
Develop drugs faster,
Finding existing drugs that can help
Predict the spread of the disease,
Understand viruses better,
Map where viruses come from, and
Predict the next pandemic.
Let’s promote the research to fight this pandemic – and prepare ourselves better for the next one.
Tomi Engdahl says:
These UV Sterilizers Can Kill Bacteria And Viruses Including The Coronavirus
http://on.forbes.com/6189GXolt
You know a sunburn is not actually a burn, right? Not a burn such as you would get from acute exposure to a hot stove or an open flame. Sunburns are actually radiation damage caused by ultraviolet light. In the short term, this UV exposure causes redness, pain and peeling; in the long term, too much unprotected exposure to sunlight can lead to skin cancer.
There’s a silver lining here, though: the same UV light (in particular UV-C light, which has a wavelength between 200 and 280 nanometers, while visible lights smallest wavelength measures 380 nm) that damages the very DNA of human skin over time can be harnessed and used to kill off germs in a matter of minutes.
With a good UV light sanitizing device, you can clean surfaces like desktops and door handles, sinks and toilets, or those items that are always with you, like your phone. And by the way? You should really clean your phone from time to time. According to multiple studies, our phones are about the dirtiest objects in our lives, harboring on average nearly 20,000 distinct types of bacteria.
And while wiping down a smartphone with soap and water or isopropyl alcohol might not be the best idea, UV phone sanitizing cases won’t damage the device but will eradicate bacteria and viruses, so long as you use the sanitizing hardware properly and regularly.
The best thing you can do during the COVID-19 pandemic is to just stay home. But if you must go out, having a UV sterlizier at the ready is a great way to give yourself a fighting chance against this virulent virus.
Tomi Engdahl says:
U.S. Accounts For Almost 1 In 4 Covid Deaths As Global Toll Exceeds 600,000
https://www.forbes.com/sites/isabeltogoh/2020/07/19/us-accounts-for-almost-1-in-4-covid-deaths-as-global-toll-exceeds-600000/?utm_campaign=forbes&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_term=Gordie/#676f7264696
The latest figures follow another day of record new infections around the world, with 260,000 new cases reported to the World Health Organization on Saturday.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/peerreview-confirms-covid19-vaccine-stimulates-antibodies-for-first-time/
Tomi Engdahl says:
More than a century ago, epidemiologist Dr. Thomas Tuttle prescribed face masks and social distancing to slow the influenza pandemic. He made a lot of enemies-but it worked.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2020/04/28/the-dr-fauci-of-the-1918-spanish-flu/?utm_source=FBPAGE&utm_medium=social&utm_content=3515874237&utm_campaign=sprinklrForbesMainFB#406067f63547
Tomi Engdahl says:
Why did the Government’s Track and Trace App fail?
https://pentestmag.com/why-did-the-governments-track-and-trace-app-fail/
#pentest #magazine #pentestmag #pentestblog #PTblog #goverment #tracking #app #cybersecurity #infosecurity #infosec
Tomi Engdahl says:
Covid-19 has forced businesses to change how they operate with great speed and agility. Meanwhile, hackers have been equally innovative.
WIRED and Accenture have examined the company strategies being used to stay secure during the pandemic #WIREDpartner https://buff.ly/2OkATHJ
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-human-os/biomedical/devices/handheld-vagus-nerve-stimulator-gets-emergency-approval-for-covid19-use
Tomi Engdahl says:
These developers designed an ML-based approach for analyzing audio signal patterns in cough recordings to diagnose symptoms of COVID-19.
COVID-19 Pre-Screening Using Deep Learning on Edge
https://www.hackster.io/354788/covid-19-pre-screening-using-deep-learning-on-edge-31d14f
Facilitation of quick and efficient cough-based pre-screening for COVID-19 suspects.
Tomi Engdahl says:
This system enables safe control of ultraviolet germicidal lights using an Android device along with a Nano 33 BLE Sense.
Bluetooth Control for UV-C Disinfection Lights © CC BY
Safely control a UV-C disinfection light over Bluetooth.
https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/lingnan-entrepreneurship-initiative/bluetooth-control-for-uv-c-disinfection-lights-030e55
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-07-28/fastest-u-s-supercomputer-enlisted-in-fight-against-coronavirus
Tomi Engdahl says:
You Must Not ‘Do Your Own Research’ When It Comes To Science
https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2020/07/30/you-must-not-do-your-own-research-when-it-comes-to-science/?utm_campaign=forbes&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_term=Valerie/#2ef72c16535e
“Research both sides and make up your own mind.” It’s simple, straightforward, common sense advice. And when it comes to issues like vaccinations, climate change, and the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, it can be dangerous, destructive, and even deadly. The techniques that most of us use to navigate most of our decisions in life — gathering information, evaluating it based on what we know, and choosing a course of action — can lead to spectacular failures when it comes to a scientific matter.
The reason is simple: most of us, even those of us who are scientists ourselves, lack the relevant scientific expertise needed to adequately evaluate that research on our own. In our own fields, we are aware of the full suite of data, of how those puzzle pieces fit together, and what the frontiers of our knowledge is. When laypersons espouse opinions on those matters, it’s immediately clear to us where the gaps in their understanding are and where they’ve misled themselves in their reasoning. When they take up the arguments of a contrarian scientist, we recognize what they’re overlooking, misinterpreting, or omitting. Unless we start valuing the actual expertise that legitimate experts have spent lifetimes developing, “doing our own research” could lead to immeasurable, unnecessary suffering.
Tomi Engdahl says:
[https://hackaday.io/project/173779-ultraviolet-microwave-name-subject-to-change](https://hackaday.io/project/173779-ultraviolet-microwave-name-subject-to-change) If I can find that old microwave. Incidentally the sort with holes in the top casing are fairly useful and I already have a turntable with light mounted on it.
Tomi Engdahl says:
#Bluetooth bracelets can expedite #COVID19 contact tracing without compromising user #privacy STMicroelectronics NV https://buff.ly/3hOTt7M
Tomi Engdahl says:
This STM32-based, LoRa-enabled sensor logs foot traffic in an area, aggregating data to better gauge social distancing over a given time.
https://www.hackster.io/ss5r/peoplecount-c58488
Tomi Engdahl says:
Kasvomaskeista merkittävää hyötyä koronaviruksen torjunnassa, toteaa suomalainen tutkijaryhmä
“Päätuloksemme oli, että maskit selvästi suojaavat käyttäjäänsä.”
https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11473723?utm_source=facebook-share&utm_medium=social
Suomalainen tutkijaryhmä pitää kasvomaskien hyötyjä koronaviruksen torjunnassa merkittävinä. Ryhmän tekemä analyysi tehtiin saman aineiston pohjalta kuin sosiaali- ja terveysministeriön teettämä selvitys toukokuussa.
Tutkijaryhmä kritisoi ministeriön tilaamaa selvitystä siitä, ettei aineistoa yhdistetty laskennallisesti, eli sille ei tehty meta-analyysiä. Tutkijoiden nyt tekemän meta-analyysin mukaan maskeista saatu suojavaikutus on suuri ja tilastollisesti merkittävä. Maskit alensivat käyttäjiensä sairastumisriskiä kolmannekselle.
Tutkimusta ei ole vielä vertaisarvioitu. Suomalaisryhmä on lähettänyt analyysinsä kansainväliseen lääketieteen tiedelehteen tiedeyhteisön arvioitavaksi.
– Maskin käyttöön liittyviä vakavia haittoja ei raportoitu. Tulokset osoittavat, että maskin käyttöön voi tottua, vaikka käyttöön voi liittyä subjektiivisia epämukavuustekijöitä
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.io/project/173779-ultraviolet-microwave-name-subject-to-change
Tomi Engdahl says:
As businesses continue to reopen during the pandemic, this MKR WiFI 1010-based system can help limit the number of customers in a store at once using a mobile app and the Arduino IoT Cloud.
Customer Limiting Shop Door Assistant V3 – IoT version © GPL3+
https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/HarryAnderson/customer-limiting-shop-door-assistant-v3-iot-version-6abe06
Control the number of customers in a store using a phone app to ensure social distancing.
Tomi Engdahl says:
First US apps based on Google and Apple Exposure Notification System expected in ‘coming weeks’
https://techcrunch.com/2020/07/31/first-u-s-apps-based-on-google-and-apple-exposure-notification-system-expected-in-coming-weeks/?tpcc=ECFB2020
Google Vice President of Engineering Dave Burke provided an update about the Exposure Notifications System (ENS) that Google developed in partnership with Apple as a way to help public health authorities supplement contact-tracing efforts with a connected solution that preserves privacy while alerting people of potential exposure to confirmed cases of COVID-19. In the update, Burke notes that the company expects “to see the first set of these apps roll out in the coming weeks” in the U.S., which may be a tacit response to some critics who have pointed out that we haven’t seen much in the way of actual products being built on the technology that was launched in May.
Burke writes that 20 states and territories across the U.S. are currently “exploring” apps that make use of the ENS system, and that together those represent nearly half (45%) of the overall American populace.
Tomi Engdahl says:
You thought the covid scare was for public health benefit
Could this COVID-19 ‘health passport’ be the future of travel and events?
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/07/covid-19-passport-app-health-travel-covidpass-quarantine-event/
Rising COVID-19 infection rates pose a threat to global tourism.
A new app acts as a health passport for travellers who are virus-free.
Using blockchain technology, it provides an encrypted record of test results.
Its creators say it could allow healthy travellers to avoid quarantine.
The app could also allow sports and entertainment venues to reopen safely, as well as the global conference and exhibition industry.
Now, a new health passport app promises to restore confidence to the travel industry, which has been badly hit by the pandemic. Global tourism shrank by 97% in April, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization.
A possible solution
CovidPass is the brainchild of one of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders, Mustapha Mokass. It also involves other YGLs across 5 continents, including Muna AbuSulayman and Peggy Liu. CovidPass uses blockchain technology to store encrypted data from individual blood tests, allowing users to prove that they have tested negative for COVID-19.
Unlike contact tracing apps, CovidPass will not track users’ movements. Non-mandatory contact tracing apps have met with only limited success so far due to privacy concerns.
Germany, regarded as one of the most successful nations in rolling out a voluntary app, currently has only 16 million users out of 83 million citizens. Experts say at least half the population needs to use a contact tracing app to make it effective in fighting the virus.
Meanwhile, governments are faced with a variety of different testing regimes to validate the health of travellers. “This isn’t enough to reassure tourists or health authorities”, says Mokass.
Mokass hopes his app, which is launching in September, will become a standardized solution for airlines, airports and border agencies, and eliminate quarantine for healthy travellers. CovidPass could also allow hotels, cinemas, theatres, sporting and concert venues to reopen safely.
Another possible use would be to help restart the worldwide conference and exhibition industry, which has contracted by 60%, at a cost of $180 billion in lost revenues and impacting 1.9 million jobs, according to the industry’s global association, UFI.
CovidPass commits to mandatory carbon offsetting for each flight passenger, to preserve the environmental benefits of reduced air travel during the crisis.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Designing the ultimate contactless switching mechanism for the COVID-19 era.
Contactless Switching Mechanism (CSM)
An ultimate contactless switching mechanism.
https://www.hackster.io/coderscafe/contactless-switching-mechanism-csm-9aac29
Tomi Engdahl says:
Former Fiat engineer aims to put the brakes on COVID
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-italy-gadget-idUSKCN24F125
Tomi Engdahl says:
Princeton and Carnegie Mellon researchers have developed a new mathematical model that could determine the effectiveness of coronavirus countermeasures.
Could a Mathematical Model Determine Whether Coronavirus Preventative Measures Work?
https://spectrum.ieee.org/news-from-around-ieee/the-institute/ieee-member-news/could-a-mathematical-model-determine-whether-coronavirus-preventative-measures-work
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ben Heck’s Deployable Mask Is a Cyberpunk’s Dream
Wearing your mask has never been cooler.
https://www.hackster.io/news/ben-heck-s-deployable-mask-is-a-cyberpunk-s-dream-efa4785e27ba
In recent months, wearing a mask has become a part of daily life. Ben Heck found that his masks would frequently fog up his glasses, so he decided to solve this problem with his mechatronics expertise. Inspired by intricate robotic masks and helmets from superhero films, Heck set out to build an automatically deployable mask.
Heck has made a couple iterations on this idea, both of which are fantastic in their own right.
Tomi Engdahl says:
FASHION fans are scrambling to get their hands on a ‘trikini’ – a bikini that comes equipped with a matching face mask.
https://www.the-sun.com/lifestyle/813833/bikini-coronavirus-face-mask-trikini/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Uuden tutkimuksen mukaan kasvomaskeista on sittenkin hyötyä –ministeriö päätyi keväällä samalla aineistoilla eri tuloksiin
“Päätuloksemme oli, että maskit selvästi suojaavat käyttäjäänsä.”
https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11473723
Tomi Engdahl says:
As businesses reopen during the pandemic, this MKR WiFi 1010-powered storefront indicator can help at-risk individuals decide whether to enter or wait by tracking cell phone BLE traffic.
Small Store Congestion Warning © GPL3+
https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/ianmercer/small-store-congestion-warning-742ea4
This store-front “crowd indicator” lets at-risk individuals decide whether to enter or to wait ’til later by tracking cell phones.
In these times of social distancing many larger stores now have people on the front door ensuring that it does not become too crowded inside the store. Smaller stores in strip-malls cannot afford to do this. At-risk individuals are particularly concerned about entering small spaces with many people inside. This project creates a simple RED/GREEN indicator that can be placed by the front door.
Sample display with prominent red/green LED and explanatory text.
Using Bluetooth Low Energy scanning on an Arduino MKR1010 it is able to reliably count how many cell phones are nearby and warn when the store is busy or reassure at risk individuals that now would be a good time to come inside.
Have an idea for our Touch Less, Do More Challenge? Submit your solution by August 30th! https://bit.ly/2MwvcWv
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://thl.fi/fi/-/koronasovelluksen-koekaytto-alkaa-tiistaina
Also in English: https://www.solita.fi/en/blogit/how-the-finnish-mobile-app-tracing-coronavirus-exposure-works/
Tomi Engdahl says:
This page (dated 2020-07-15, so more recent than the first linked Solita blog post) says it will be open-sourced though: “Lisäksi ratkaisun lähdekoodit julkaistaan avoimena, jolloin niiden sisältöä voidaan arvioida kenen tahansa toimesta. ” https://thl.fi/fi/web/infektiotaudit-ja-rokotukset/ajankohtaista/ajankohtaista-koronaviruksesta-covid-19/tarttuminen-ja-suojautuminen-koronavirus/tartuntaketjujen-katkaisua-tehostava-sovellus
Tomi Engdahl says:
To Protect Himself From The Coronavirus, Artist Crafts A 59-Piece Leather Mask In The Shape Of A Facehugger
https://www.boredpanda.com/leather-facehugger-mask-alien/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=BPFacebook
One of the latest entries to the “my mask is definitely much cooler than yours” competition is this intricately made leather facehugger mask as crafted by James of Pirate’s Leatherworks, with whom Bored Panda got in touch for an interview.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://spectrum.ieee.org/news-from-around-ieee/the-institute/ieee-member-news/this-temperaturescreening-system-for-covid19-can-check-up-to-9-people-at-once
Tomi Engdahl says:
Achieving fast, accurate patient diagnoses with molecular #testing Texas Instruments #COVID19 #analyzers
Achieving fast, accurate patient diagnoses with molecular test technology
https://www.edn.com/achieving-fast-accurate-patient-diagnoses-with-molecular-test-technology/?utm_content=buffer7baa5&utm_medium=social&utm_source=edn_facebook&utm_campaign=buffer
During these unprecedented times, people around the world have been concerned about the accuracy and availability of testing for the COVID-19 pandemic. Traditionally, samples for potential viral infections are tested at a central lab, where trained personnel use large-scale systems to produce results with a turnaround time of days.
Alternatively, in recent years, advances in technology like microfluidics have enabled instruments capable of conducting in-vitro analysis and can be used at a point of care (PoC), like a doctor’s office. The PoC testing enables physicians to improve the standard of care by combining quick diagnosis with a treatment decision made during the first patient visit, rather than waiting days for test results.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Hacking #Bluetooth for #COVID19 contact tracing Silicon Labs #medical #BLE https://buff.ly/2PtNFEk
Tomi Engdahl says:
Medieval ‘wine windows’ are reopening, reviving Italian plague tradition
https://nypost.com/2020/08/06/medieval-wine-windows-are-reopening-reviving-italian-plague-tradition/
“Everyone is confined to home for two months and then the government permits a gradual reopening,” the Wine Window Association website reads. “During this time, some enterprising Florentine Wine Window owners have turned back the clock and are using their Wine Windows to dispense glasses of wine, cups of coffee, drinks, sandwiches and ice cream — all germ-free, contactless!”
Matteo Faglia, president of the Wine Window Association, told Insider, “People could knock on the little wooden shutters and have their bottles filled direct from the Antinori, Frescobaldi and Ricasoli families, who still produce some of Italy’s best-known wine today.”
More than 150 wine windows — some of which have since been permanently filled — within Florence’s walled city, and even more, dotted the Tuscan region.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Maintaining satellite #electronics production during the pandemic with #RemoteTesting Rohde & Schwarz NA #software #VNA #COVID19 https://buff.ly/31Bqaz8
Maintaining satellite-electronics production using remote testing
https://www.edn.com/maintaining-satellite-electronics-production-using-remote-testing/?utm_content=buffer7ba0d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=edn_facebook&utm_campaign=buffer
During the COVID-19 pandemic, staff lockdowns and social distancing disrupted global satellite production, much of it intended for export around the world. Skilled staff were furloughed or laid-off, crippling the wellbeing and livelihoods of families and communities.
Traditionally, testing is a manual, labour-intensive process, so production ground to a halt for many spacecraft OEMs during the pandemic.
Much of the equipment used to test satellite avionics can be commanded remotely and test procedures can be created, automated, and controlled by the same engineers from their homes. This allows manufacturers to continue operating and maintain production by limiting the number of staff physically required at the factory to generate income, sustain employment, deliver products to meet customers’ schedules, and fulfil contractual time-to-market needs.
For many satellite OEMs, the pandemic identified major shortcomings with their existing manufacturing approach and test equipment, brutally exposing limitations. Remote testing will allow manufacturers to prepare and adapt for the future, and staff lockdowns during COVID-19 highlighted the value of social-distanced testing for many of Spacechips’ clients.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Achieving fast, accurate patient diagnoses with molecular #testing Texas Instruments #COVID19 #analyzers https://buff.ly/3klySd7