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:
Fog-Free Mask Hack Solves Mask Versus Glasses Conundrum With Superb Seal
https://hackaday.com/2020/09/02/fog-free-mask-hack-solves-mask-versus-glasses-conundrum-with-superb-seal/
If you have worn a mask and glasses together for more than a quarter of a second, you are probably annoyed that we don’t have a magical solution for foggy lenses. Moisture-laden air is also a good indicator of where unfiltered air is escaping. Most masks have some flexible metal across the nose bridge that is supposed to seal the top, but it is woefully inadequate. The Badger Seal by [David Rothamer] and [Scott Sanders] from the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering is free to copy during the COVID-19 pandemic, even commercially. It works by running an elastic cord below the jaw and a formable wire over the nose to encourage contact all around both mouth and nose.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Badger Seal (Mask Fitter)
https://making.engr.wisc.edu/mask-fitter/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Top 10 Mostly Techno Face Masks
https://www.eetimes.com/top-10-mostly-techno-face-masks/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Deep tech – what is it and why does it matter for tackling the coronavirus pandemic?
New wave of medical ‘deep tech’ can help coronavirus response – but there’s resistance
https://horizon-magazine.eu/article/new-wave-medical-deep-tech-can-help-coronavirus-response-there-s-resistance.html#utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=deep_tech
The development of new medical technologies based on cutting-edge discoveries has accelerated during the coronavirus pandemic and is helping us respond to the health crisis. But for these technologies to flourish, attitudes and scepticism among investors still need to change, say researchers and start-ups.
‘Deep tech’ describes companies working with technologies such as advanced material science, artificial intelligence or biotech to bring completely new scientific discoveries or engineering breakthroughs to businesses. For example, deep tech includes pharmaceutical companies using the ultra-fast processing power of quantum computers to simulate complex chemical reactions to discover new drugs, or using artificial intelligence and machine learning to build navigation systems for self-driving cars.
Deep tech is often based on ‘fundamental’ research driven by scientific curiosity about new, untested theories – rather than ‘applied’ research, which improves existing technology.
Although the term is new, the approach has been around for decades, says Jonathan Wareham, a Professor of Information Systems at the ESADE Business School in Barcelona, Spain.
‘History has given us many examples of how deep technologies have diffused into clinical products or medicines that have been tremendously helpful,’ he said. He gives the example of how Paul Dirac’s theory of antimatter evolved from a theory that even Dirac didn’t believe to being the science behind modern PET scanners.
New wave
As the coronavirus spread through Europe in early 2020, many deep tech companies adapted their technology to help with the response.
The coronavirus pandemic has given deep tech funding an opportunity, Dr Krisch says. ‘(European research infrastructures) have become very receptive to accelerating processes and mechanisms to allow result-driven research and innovation which is not their typical timescale.’
‘That initial process of (deep tech) R&D is done by taxpayers. It’s almost a gift for investors.’
Prof. Jonathan Wareham, ESADE Business School, Barcelona, Spain
Potential
Nonetheless, there are intrinsic problems with deep tech that continue to affect it, says Prof. Wareham. Since deep tech uses new concepts such as quantum technology, it can take years for investors to fully appreciate its potential. Deep tech start-ups looking for early investment are at a disadvantage when talking to sceptical investors.
‘The problem with this in terms of selling it in the public imagination is that cause and effect is difficult,’ he said. ‘You’re not talking about a car sharing app. You’re talking about something that could take maybe 10 years before it piloted, tested, produced and commercialised.’
According to BeSure cofounder Olga Chumakova, the difficulty of trying to reach European investors during lockdown became obvious immediately.
Collaborate
Dr Krisch thinks that researchers need to collaborate better too. There is room for further improvement, according to him, but the current crisis has also created an unexpected opportunity.
For Prof. Wareham, better communication of deep tech’s low-risk potential could be better. ‘You have to convince people that the benefit that deep tech has is that researchers develop the technology. They test it, they operate it and scale it. That initial process of R&D is done by taxpayers. It’s almost a gift for investors.’
The breakthrough science that deep tech uses can also be reinterpreted for a second life as another new technology, says Dr Krisch. Having different disciplines work together can help that happen.
‘You put a physicist together with an architect and psychologist, and they have three completely different angles. And in the end, you come up with a smart idea you didn’t think about as a physicist or psychologist on your own,’ he said.
In the future he hopes that bringing investors closer to fundamental research will help create deep tech businesses that respond to future crises, like climate change.
‘I think one of the strongest common denominators (between the pandemic and climate change) is early detection,’ Dr Krisch said. ‘One of the lessons to be learned is how we can use deep tech to prevent future crises.’
Tomi Engdahl says:
COVID-tracing Framework Privacy Busted By Bluetooth
https://hackaday.com/2020/09/03/covid-tracing-framework-privacy-busted-by-bluetooth/
[Serge Vaudenay] and [Martin Vuagnoux] released a video yesterday documenting a privacy-breaking flaw in the Apple/Google COVID-tracing framework, and they’re calling the attack “Little Thumb” after a French children’s story in which a child drops pebbles to be able to retrace his steps. But unlike Hänsel and Gretl with the breadcrumbs, the goal of a privacy preserving framework is to prevent periodic waypoints from allowing you to follow anyone’s phone around. (Video embedded below.)
The Apple/Google framework is, in theory, quite sound. For instance, the system broadcasts hashed, rolling IDs that prevent tracing an individual phone for more than fifteen minutes. And since Bluetooth LE has a unique numeric address for each phone, like a MAC address in other networks, they even thought of changing the Bluetooth address in lock-step to foil would-be trackers. And there’s no difference between theory and practice, in theory.
In practice, [Serge] and [Martin] found that a slight difference in timing between changing the Bluetooth BD_ADDR and changing the COVID-tracing framework’s rolling proximity IDs can create what they are calling “pebbles”: an overlap where the rolling ID has updated but the Bluetooth ID hasn’t yet
https://vimeo.com/453948863
Tomi Engdahl says:
COVID Tracing Apps: What Europe Has Done Right, And Wrong
https://hackaday.com/2020/08/03/covid-tracing-apps-what-europe-has-done-right-and-wrong/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Paitsi että vaikka sovellus on tehty kuten pitää, perusta vuotaa.. https://hackaday.com/2020/09/03/covid-tracing-framework-privacy-busted-by-bluetooth/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Automated Light Switch
Build your own cheap touch-less light switcher right now!
https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/AitchdeeCee/automated-light-switch-8d9500
Tomi Engdahl says:
COVID-tracing Framework Privacy Busted By Bluetooth
https://hackaday.com/2020/09/03/covid-tracing-framework-privacy-busted-by-bluetooth/
[Serge Vaudenay] and [Martin Vuagnoux] released a video yesterday documenting a privacy-breaking flaw in the Apple/Google COVID-tracing framework, and they’re calling the attack “Little Thumb” after a French children’s story in which a child drops pebbles to be able to retrace his steps. But unlike Hänsel and Gretl with the breadcrumbs, the goal of a privacy preserving framework is to prevent periodic waypoints from allowing you to follow anyone’s phone around. (Video embedded below.)
The Apple/Google framework is, in theory, quite sound. For instance, the system broadcasts hashed, rolling IDs that prevent tracing an individual phone for more than fifteen minutes. And since Bluetooth LE has a unique numeric address for each phone, like a MAC address in other networks, they even thought of changing the Bluetooth address in lock-step to foil would-be trackers. And there’s no difference between theory and practice, in theory.
In practice, [Serge] and [Martin] found that a slight difference in timing between changing the Bluetooth BD_ADDR and changing the COVID-tracing framework’s rolling proximity IDs can create what they are calling “pebbles”: an overlap where the rolling ID has updated but the Bluetooth ID hasn’t yet.
https://vimeo.com/453948863
Tomi Engdahl says:
Toimistot tarvitsevat toimivan hygieniasuunnitelman – Näin työympäristö mukautuu uuteen normaaliin
https://www.staples.fi/blogi/tyoymparistot-mukautuvat-uuteen-normaaliin?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=plan-c&utm_content=blogi
Yritykset laativat suunnitelmia ja varautuvat yllättäviin tilanteisiin, mutta korona yllätti meidät kaikki. Kuinka luodaan uusi arki täysin poikkeuksellisessa tilanteessa?
Tomi Engdahl says:
This multifunctional, gesture-controlled switch is designed to elegantly replace normal electrical switches.
Gest-R: A Multi-Purpose No Touch Switch © Apache-2.0
https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/nafihahmd/gest-r-a-multi-purpose-no-touch-switch-171d5a
Gest-R is state of the art gesture switch made to elegantly replace normal electrical switches.
We often come across situations where we have to switch on and off devices in a public space, like fan in an office or lights in your class room. Having such common switches to touch can have a negative impact on our efforts to counter corona. That is why I thought of a gesture switch that can be operated exactly as a traditional switch but comes with some bells and whistles. Gest-R (pronounce it as ‘gesture’) is a multi purpose ‘no touch’ switch in the same form factor of an electrical switch. It can be regarded as a premium switch but is in fact very affordable and unlike other non-contact solutions (like IR distance sensors) extremely power efficient.
Tomi Engdahl says:
To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, Microchip Makes’ AVR DA-based Temperature Access Point system automatically measures a person’s temp before entering building and displays it on an OLED screen.
Temperature Access Point Using an AVR® DA Microcontroller
https://www.hackster.io/robert-perkel/temperature-access-point-using-an-avr-da-microcontroller-abf0cc
Inspired by COVID-19 prevention, we have developed a system which measures the temperature of persons before they enter a building.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The study provides some much needed hope that meaningful immunity to Covid-19 is possible.
Antibodies To Covid-19 Can Last For At Least 4 Months, Icelandic Study Shows
https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/antibodies-to-covid19-can-last-for-at-least-4-months-icelandic-study-shows/
A large new study from Iceland suggests that antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes Covid-19, last for at least four months in most people.
There’s been much debate about immunity, antibodies, and Covid-19 — and there is still much more to find out. However, unlike some previous studies, the new research reassuringly shows that some level of meaningful immunity to Covid-19 can be achieved in some people for at least four months. The study’s findings are published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Iceland has been prolific in its Covid-19 screening, testing around 15 percent of the Nordic country’s whole population.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Welcome to the low touch economy, where social distancing has become the norm and consumers have a completely new set of expectations. Neil C. Hughes explores what it takes to adapt to the new normal
The rise of the low touch economy
https://cybernews.com/editorial/the-rise-of-the-low-touch-economy/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=rm&utm_content=low_touch
Over the last few years, consumers have increasingly turned their back on ‘stuff’ and opted for experiences as the so-called Insta-life took center stage. Everything from your favorite fast-food burger chain to your local supermarket replaced human cashiers with touchscreens that promised to speed up the process and improve the user experience.
Predictably, businesses attempted to stay ahead of the curve by investing heavily in experience economy technologies. But then a global pandemic hit and everything changed in an instant. For example, the arrival of a widespread lockdown saw Primark’s sales plunge from £650 million a month to zero. But as consumers emerge from quarantine, they will have a completely new list of expectations.
A combination of travel restrictions, rules around limited gatherings, and low-touch interactions have changed everything.
How brands showcase products will need to adapt to the isolation-induced behaviors of their consumers. With the physical touching of anything off-limits, something has to change. Although many will see nothing but uncertainty on the road ahead, successful businesses will be those that evolve with their customers to unlock opportunities.
Thermal Screening
The market worth of thermal scanners is predicted to be worth $7.6 billion by 2027. In just a few months, the use of thermal scanning devices has become commonplace at entry points everywhere, from restaurants to hospitals. It is hoped that thermal technologies that make it easy to check body temperatures of large crowds will provide much-needed peace of mind and help kickstart the economy.
The resurgence of QR codes
The humble quick response (QR) code has been around since 1994. Despite promising to be the next big thing for decades, they failed to meet consumers’ expectations and meet their simple requirements that typically consisted of ‘What’s in it for me?’ But as the low touch economy gathers place, QR codes are enjoying a resurgence.
As digital natives continue to question what they touch, many have already embraced more sanitary solutions such as contactless payments.
The rise of AR and experiential eCommerce
How we interact with products and brands is undergoing a dramatic transformation. AR technology brings the concept of mixed reality to life as the blurred lines between online and offline begin to disappear. MAC Cosmetics partnered with photo editing app YouCam to enable users to add MAC products to photographs and live videos in the hope they will buy the products with greater confidence.
By leveraging AR technology, MAC has been able to replicate the in-store experience with a virtual try-on feature that can be enjoyed at home.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.kone.fi/referenssit-ja-tarinat/artikkelit/ratkaisuja-terveellisempaan-kaupunkielamaan-uudessa-normaalissa.aspx
Tomi Engdahl says:
Koronavilkkuun on varattu 6 miljoonaa euroa, kehitys maksoi 147 000 – minne loput rahat menevät?
https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/koronavilkkuun-on-varattu-6-miljoona-euroa-kehitys-maksoi-147-000-minne-loput-rahat-menevat/7915338#gs.feb0d1
Sosiaali- ja terveysministeriön huhtikuussa julkaiseman muistion mukaan koronavirussovelluksen alustava kustannusarvio oli 5 miljoonaa euroa. Tuo summa jakautuu seuraavasti:
• Hankekoordinaatio, vaatimusmäärittelyn tarkentaminen ja muut asiantuntija-tehtävät (THL) 0,4 milj. €
• Sovellus ja taustajärjestelmän kehittäminen (palveluntuottaja) 3,2 milj.€
• Käyttöönoton tuki ja viestintä (THL, palveluntuottaja) 1,4 milj. €
• Ylläpidon kustannukset tarkennetaan myöhemmin
Tomi Engdahl says:
Pelkäätkö Koronavilkkua? Vielä keväällä ammattihakkeri Benjamin Särkkä sanoi, ettei asentaisi koronasovellusta – 5 syytä miksi mieli on nyt muuttunut
“Moni taskulamppukin vaatii enemmän oikeuksia kuin Koronavilkku”, tietoturva-asiantuntija sanoo.
https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11523504
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple and Google announce new automatic app system to track COVID exposures
https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/1/21410281/apple-google-coronavirus-exposure-notification-contact-tracing-app-system?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTVdRek5qQmpNamRoWVdZeSIsInQiOiJaSzZ4a0poRTBSRDBEcUtueWpGdWNDaXIwS29tdXNnVEtBWkR0VEFqXC9zMnNnb1F2YUFJR0x3ZWQxZ1Fkb1wvS2dEOHBGM2pZWHBWbTY2dUlSc2VqQ090MzVTTTFqNXpHWDc3M0FXSnppV3pXXC9uclNjVlNpcnlmSWtjSlNTeWY3MCJ9
States can now deploy exposure notifications without building their own apps
Tomi Engdahl says:
Add some Vader sounds and after some 3D mods, I’m in
LG officially announces its battery-powered air purifier mask
With two fans designed to make it easier to breathe
https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/27/21403762/lg-puricare-wearable-air-purifier-mask-coronavirus-filter
LG has officially announced a portable air purifier that you wear on your face like a mask. The PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier uses a pair of replaceable filters similar to what you’d find in LG’s range of air purifiers for the home, pairing them with battery-powered fans to help you breathe. LG says the device has sensors to detect when you’re breathing in or out, and adjusts the fans’ speeds accordingly.
LG REVOLUTIONIZES PERSONAL CLEAN AIR WITH PURICARE™ WEARABLE AIR PURIFIER
http://www.lgnewsroom.com/2020/08/lg-revolutionizes-personal-clean-air-with-puricare-wearable-air-purifier/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Sanitize anything from masks to wallets using this DIY device.
UV-C Based Germs Disinfecting Machine
https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/yeshvanth_muniraj/uv-c-based-germs-disinfecting-machine-a20020
A touch-free germs disinfecting device that can disinfect anything from masks, wallets to mobile phones, killing maximum germs using UV-C.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Mask Moisture Meter could help ensure that wearing a face mask is as comfortable as possible.
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:
https://hackaday.com/2020/09/06/pocket-sized-device-sniffs-out-damp-masks/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Covid-19 Tech Diary: Design Specs for Tackling The Pandemic
https://www.eetimes.com/covid-19-tech-diary-design-specs-for-tackling-the-pandemic/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nyt on Koronavilkku alkanut antaa altistumisvaroituksia – Arvio: Useita kymmeniä ilmoituksia sairastumisesta
https://www.iltalehti.fi/digiuutiset/a/0a8514a2-89de-4950-b771-eefb04dbb22f
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2600net/permalink/2824508707772236/
Tomi Engdahl says:
LG officially announces its battery-powered air purifier mask
With two fans designed to make it easier to breathe
https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/27/21403762/lg-puricare-wearable-air-purifier-mask-coronavirus-filter
Tomi Engdahl says:
Koronavilkku kuunteli kritiikkiä: sovellukseen tuli kaivattu muutos
Suvi Korhonen7.9.2020 13:12|päivitetty7.9.2020 13:12MobiilisovelluksetKoronavirus
Elokuun viimeisenä päivänä julkaistua Koronavilkkua ei aiemmin voinut asentaa puhelimeensa joka puolelta maailmaa.
https://www.tivi.fi/uutiset/tv/2fb5729e-192a-4c86-af5b-9c3720eb97c4
Tomi Engdahl says:
“Effect of Calcifediol Treatment and best Available Therapy versus best Available Therapy on Intensive Care Unit Admission and Mortality Among Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19: A Pilot Randomized Clinical study”
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960076020302764?via%3Dihub
Highlights
•
The vitamin D endocrine system may have a variety of actions on cells and tissues involved in COVID-19 progression.
•
Administration of calcifediol or 25-hydroxyvitamin D to hospitalized COVID-19 patients significantly reduced their need for Intensive Care United admission.
•
Calcifediol seems to be able to reduce severity of the disease.
Tomi Engdahl says:
3D Printed DIY Germ Erasers and Mobile Labs Hack COVID-19
Notable mentions from the Jersey City Maker’s health hackathon contest will pique DIY’ers’ interest for both small and large 3D-printing projects.
https://www.designnews.com/industry/3d-printed-diy-germ-erasers-and-mobile-labs-hack-covid-19
Tomi Engdahl says:
Fitbit Gleans Important Insights from Early Results of COVID-19 Study
The wearables giant has been making an impact in the fight against COVID-19. In June Fitbit was granted an EUA for a low-cost ventilator.
https://www.designnews.com/industry/fitbit-gleans-important-insights-early-results-covid-19-study?ADTRK=InformaMarkets&elq_mid=14317&elq_cid=876648
A new study from Fitbit suggests that the wearable device makers technology can identify signs of COVID-19 at the earliest stages. The San Francisco, CA-based company has made the full manuscript of the study, which has yet to be peer-reviewed, available as a preprint on MedRxiv.
In a company blog, Fitbit said early results of the study show it can detect nearly 50% of COVID-19 cases one day before participants reported the onset of symptoms with 70% specificity.
In a blog posting Conor Heneghan, Phd, director of research, algorithms at Fitbit wrote, “Our study also reinforces that breathing rate, resting heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) are all useful metrics for indicating onset of illness and are best tracked at night, when the body is at rest. Our research shows that HRV, which is the beat-to-beat variation of the heart, often decreases in people who are exhibiting symptoms of illness, while resting heart rate and breathing rate are often elevated. In some cases, those metrics begin to signal changes nearly a week before participants reported symptoms.”
Fitbit has been highly active in the fight against COVID-19. MD+DI reported in June the company was granted an emergency use authorization for the Fitbit Flow, a low-cost emergency ventilator.
The Fitbit Flow was inspired by the MIT E-Vent Design Toolbox and based on specifications for Rapidly Manufactured Ventilation Systems.
Assessment of physiological signs associated with COVID-19 measured using wearable devices
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.08.14.20175265v1
Tomi Engdahl says:
COVID vaccine candidate developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca put on hold after ‘unexplained illness’
https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/09/08/report-covid-vaccine-candidate-created-oxford-university-and-astrazeneca-put-hold/5752569002/
AstraZeneca, one of the companies racing to make a vaccine against the coronavirus, seems to have hit a stumbling block.
“This is a routine action which has to happen whenever there is a potentially unexplained illness in one of the trials, while it is investigated, ensuring we maintain the integrity of the trials.”
The interruption represents the first major hiccup in what has been a remarkably smooth path in the historically rapid vaccine effort spanning the globe. That said, large scale, make-or-break Phase 3 clinical trials are where real issues are most likely to occur.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://science.slashdot.org/story/20/09/08/2052247/a-new-theory-asks-could-a-mask-be-a-crude-vaccine?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Slashdot%2Fslashdot%2Fto+%28%28Title%29Slashdot+%28rdf%29%29
Tomi Engdahl says:
A New Theory Asks: Could a Mask Be a Crude ‘Vaccine’?
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/08/health/covid-masks-immunity.html
Scientists float a provocative — and unproven — idea: that masks expose the wearer to just enough of the virus to spark a protective immune response.
Tomi Engdahl says:
COVID-19 contact tracing that relies exclusively on Bluetooth technology probably won’t work that well. Researchers have shown how machine learning models could improve on the process of detecting a phone’s proximity based on the combination on Bluetooth signal information and data from other common phone sensors such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers.
Can AI Make Bluetooth Contract Tracing Better?
https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-human-os/artificial-intelligence/machine-learning/ai-bluetooth-contact-tracing
During the COVID-19 pandemic, digital contact tracing apps based on the Bluetooth technology found in smartphones have been deployed by various countries despite the fact that Bluetooth’s baseline performance as a proximity detector remains mostly a mystery.
That is why the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology organized a months-long event that leveraged the talents of AI researchers around the world to help evaluate and potentially improve upon that baseline Bluetooth performance for helping detect when smartphone users are standing too close to one another.
https://tc4tlchallenge.nist.gov/
Tomi Engdahl says:
What has the coronavirus response taught us about sharing health data? We asked the experts
Coronavirus accelerates drive to share health data across borders
https://horizon-magazine.eu/article/coronavirus-accelerates-drive-share-health-data-across-borders.html#utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=Covid_Data
Allowing health data to flow more freely between countries in Europe could aid the fight against coronavirus while also help the region be better prepared for future pandemics, but privacy and technical considerations need to be tackled sooner rather than later, say experts.
In the midst of a global pandemic, sharing information might seem like a mundane and rather unimportant part of the response to the health crisis.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Sanna Marinin Koronavilkku värähti – pääministeri tekee nyt töitä Kesärannasta käsin
Pääministeri Sanna Marinin (sd) Koronavilkku-sovellus ilmoitti mahdollisesta altistumisesta.
https://www.iltalehti.fi/politiikka/a/f46c8375-d85e-4530-a7ed-aa6a7bc659d9
Tomi Engdahl says:
Koronavilkun ladannut 30 prosenttia Suomen väestöstä
https://www.kaleva.fi/koronavilkun-ladannut-30-prosenttia-suomen-vaestos/2850917
Tomi Engdahl says:
Koronavilkun kehittämiseen on kulunut 6 miljoonan budjetista vain alle miljoona – Sovelluskehitys oli huomattavasti edullisempaa kuin muissa maissa
https://www.talouselama.fi/uutiset/koronavilkun-kehittamiseen-on-kulunut-6-miljoonan-budjetista-vain-alle-miljoona-sovelluskehitys-oli-huomattavasti-edullisempaa-kuin-muissa-maissa/f1432ee0-31db-4c20-808f-fb9efc684849
Suomalaiset ovat ladanneet ahkerasti THL:n maanantaina julkaisemaa Koronavilkku-sovellusta. Sovelluksen on kehittänyt Solita, joka voitti kesäkuussa järjestetyn kilpailutuksen 147 000 euron hinnalla.
Kokonaisuudessaan sovellukselle on kuitenkin varattu kuuden miljoonan budjetti. MTV Uutisten mukaan kehitystyö itsessään ei ollut kallista, vaan kulut koostuvat kaikesta muusta.
Sosiaali- ja terveysministeriön huhtikuussa julkaisemassa alustavassa kustannusarviossa 0,4 miljoonaa euroa budjetista on varattu hankekoordinaatioon, vaatimusmäärittelyn tarkentamiseen sekä muihin asiantuntijatehtäviin, 3,2 miljoonaa euroa sovelluksen ja sen taustajärjestelmän kehittämiseen sekä 1,4 miljoonaa euroa käyttöönoton tukeen ja viestintään.
Tomi Engdahl says:
e-CoVig collects data about symptoms from users who either have been confirmed or suspected of having COVID-19.
Doctors Can Track Patients’ COVID-19 Symptoms with This App
https://spectrum.ieee.org/news-from-around-ieee/the-institute/ieee-member-news/doctors-can-track-patients-covid19-symptoms-with-this-app
Those who have been infected by the coronavirus can display various symptoms. These include fever, difficulty breathing, and extreme fatigue, which can also be symptoms for several other illnesses. This can make it difficult for doctors to determine if a person is infected without a test, which sometimes can take days to find out the results. Many people suspected of being infected are quarantined at home, and they don’t have access to the specialized equipment doctors need to track their symptoms.
João Sanches and Hugo Silva are leading a team that has developed a mobile app that collects data about symptoms from users who either have been confirmed or suspected of having COVID-19, and monitors their health. The project is partially funded by the Portuguese National Science Foundation.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.mwrf.com/covid-19/article/21141032/bluetooth-modules-help-wearables-track-and-trace-covid19?utm_source=RF+MWRF+Today&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS200902069&o_eid=7211D2691390C9R&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C7211D2691390C9R&oly_enc_id=7211D2691390C9R
Tomi Engdahl says:
Proximity Sensors Enable Smart Social-Distancing Applications
STMicroelectronics’ FlightSense technology sees a demo in Aura Aware’s devices for retail counters and check-in desks.
https://www.mwrf.com/technologies/semiconductors/article/21141466/proximity-sensors-enable-smart-socialdistancing-applications
Technology comes to the pandemic rescue again: ST Microelectronics’ high-accuracy FlightSense proximity and ranging sensors are helping prevent disease transmission in products being developed in response to the global pandemic situation.
One example is Amsterdam-based startup Aura Aware, which is using ST’s FlightSense Time-of-Flight (ToF) technology in a smart distance-awareness portable device suitable for use at retail counters and check-in desks. The easy-to-setup device displays a green OK signal that changes to red if a person crosses a safe minimum-distance threshold.
Aura Aware devices integrate ST’s VL53L1X compact ToF sensor, which has an operating range of up to four meters and very low power consumption. Signal processing built into the sensor simplifies design and provides sophisticated features such as crosstalk compensation that maintains measurement accuracy even if the sensor window becomes obscured by foreign material.
Tomi Engdahl says:
COVID-19: Why We Need Transparency . . . in Face Coverings and PPEs
https://www.designnews.com/industry/covid-19-why-we-need-transparency-face-coverings-and-ppes?ADTRK=InformaMarkets&elq_mid=14379&elq_cid=876648
Smile like you mean it has always struck me as good advice — good song, too — but what’s the point if no one can see your pearly whites? That’s one of the problems with face coverings. It’s not a trifling matter — exchanging smiles is part of what makes us human and brings us together. For the deaf community, which relies on seeing our mouths form words to engage in communication, and those with special needs who may feel threatened or uncomfortable interacting with masked folks, the issue is far more acute. Transparent face masks, shields, and other personal protective equipment (PPE) remedy this problem while protecting us from being infected or infecting others with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. In this slide show we highlight some designs, including one that was recently cleared by FDA, that make transparency a priority. And I would be remiss as editor of PlasticsToday if I didn’t note that the enabler of transparency and safety in most of these products is, yes, a plastic, often polycarbonate.
Tomi Engdahl says:
COVID-19 Medical Device Shortages and What the Industry Is Doing About It
FDA provided a list of medical device shortages during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
https://www.designnews.com/industry/covid-19-medical-device-shortages-and-what-industry-doing-about-it
Medtech has really stepped up this year to respond to medical device shortages brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these impressive efforts, there remains a growing list of medical device shortages.
FDA maintains a publicly-available, up-to-date list of the medical device shortages tied to the pandemic. This list is part of FDA’s obligation under the CARES Act, which was signed into law on March 27.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Lorraine Underwood has created a light-up face mask, powered by a Raspberry Pi, that converts the wearer’s speech into scrolling text to improve accessibility.
Lorraine Underwood’s Raspberry Pi-Powered Speech-to-Text Mask Tackles a Key Accessibility Issue
https://www.hackster.io/news/lorraine-underwood-s-raspberry-pi-powered-speech-to-text-mask-tackles-a-key-accessibility-issue-7fb3ed812c71
Designed to assist those who struggle to hear speech when someone is wearing a mask, this project is more than a fashion accessory.
https://www.element14.com/community/docs/DOC-95462/l/episode-463-raspberry-pi-speech-to-text-led-face-mask?CMP=SOM-YOUTUBE-PRG-E14PRESENTS-EP463-RASPBERRY-PI-TEXT-LED-FACE-MASK-COMM
Tomi Engdahl says:
14-year-old Nikolaos Babetas created an Arduino-based accessory that can easily attach to most hand sanitizer/soap dispensers, making them completely automatic and touch-free.
Automatic Hand Sanitizer
https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/Nikolas550/automatic-hand-sanitizer-c22fcc
This accessory can be attached to most hand sanitizer/soap dispensers and make them Completely Automatic and Hands-Free!
Tomi Engdahl says:
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, hand sanitizers have become a sought-after staple of life in a Covid-19-afflicted world.
Why Your Hand Sanitizer May Be Ineffective Or Tainted By Cancer-Causing Chemicals
http://on.forbes.com/6183Gt8dz
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, hand sanitizers have become a sought-after staple of life in a Covid-19-afflicted world. But supply chains have been turned upside down in our new normal, and some sketchy suppliers have at times stepped in to fill the vacuum. The result for consumers could be hand sanitizer that doesn’t work as advertised and might even be filled with impurities that can cause cancer.
He called Brian Coutu from Rolling Still’s regular alcohol supplier, Greenfield Global, who warned him away from what he says is fuel-grade ethanol potentially loaded with chemicals that are known to cause cancer.
“They send us a sample and it’s just God awful…it’s got acetaldehyde and benzene and all kind of nasty stuff in it; it’s not pure,” Coutu told me over the phone. “What (fuel producers) are trying to do is dump it off to these companies that run it through charcoal and try to do a million other things to make it USP grade (safe for food, drug or medicinal use), which it’s still not.”
And this is the big question for right now. How much of the sanitizer that made it to warehouses, store shelves and ultimately into our homes, cars and hands was produced from industrial fuel-grade ingredients rather than safe medical or food grade alcohol?
For its part, the FDA has recently made public guidance on a testing method to detect impurities in hand sanitizers like those seen by Greenfield and Sante Labs.
“The agency’s investigation of contaminated hand sanitizers is ongoing,” the FDA said in an email. “Producing, importing and distributing toxic hand sanitizers poses a serious threat to the public and will not be tolerated.”
The FDA maintains a list of hand sanitizers to avoid because they’ve been found to contain dangerous amounts of methanol, or an insufficient amount of its actual sanitizing ingredient, such as ethanol or isopropyl alcohol. However, the FDA’s enforcement powers are limited. A new waiver program created in response to the pandemic makes it easier for manufacturers to get around substantiating their label claims.
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-updates-hand-sanitizers-consumers-should-not-use#products
Tomi Engdahl says:
Start-up-yritys teki miljoonakaupat puhallustestistä – Korona-aika on synnyttänyt uutta terveysteknologiaa
Suomalaiset diagnostiikka-alan yritykset ovat joukolla kehittäneet uutta testausosaamista
https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11537679
Tomi Engdahl says:
Quixplained: Face shields, valved masks vs regular cloth masks, which works best?
Masks act as filters and capture the droplets and particles we expel. But, should you be wearing a cloth mask, N95 mask or the papery medical-style one? What about masks with valves? Or face shields?
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/coronavirus-mask-face-shield-valved-mask-cloth-face-covering-quixplained-explained-6584973/
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Distanced Pawn © LGPL
Playing chess with casual opponents, enjoying the game and playing safe, keeping the social distance in the post-Covid era
https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/balearicdynamics/the-distanced-pawn-d4db7a
Tomi Engdahl says:
Blync Is a Virtual Reality Cycling System to Cure Your Quarantine Blues
https://www.hackster.io/news/blync-is-a-virtual-reality-cycling-system-to-cure-your-quarantine-blues-12326fe518fb
Blync lets you ride your bicycle through beautiful virtual reality environments, even if there is bad weather or a pandemic outside.