THE INTERNET – From the COVID-19 tests to a variety of technology-applied face masks, the coronavirus pandemic has changed the landscape of this year’s Consumer Electronics Conference.
CES, one of the biggest tech events of the year, will draw thousands to Las Vegas, but the pandemic forced operations online with the first 100% virtual conference hosted this week.
The pandemic not only changed the way the conference was conducted, but it also influenced the exhibitors to create and exhibit technology created to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here are some products designed at CES 2021 this year with the pandemic in mind.
Face mask with Bluetooth enabled
After the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recommended masking to limit the spread of new coronavirus this past spring, it has become a part of everyday life.
But many have since noticed that there may be some annoying parts to the face covering, such as talking on the phone, which becomes a problem because sounds can be muffled under the mask.
Enter MaskFone, a face mask with built-in Bluetooth earbuds that lasts up to 12 hours on a single charge.
The dust mask is washable (remove the headphones first) and can also fit in a filter.
It comes in different sizes and prices start around $ 50.
Automatic temperature scanner
At the age of COVID-19, temperature controls became the standard used. Usually an individual takes the temperature of each person before they are allowed to enter a business or event. The creators of GateDoc, a touchless and automated temperature scanner, wanted to streamline the process so that they could design a machine that scans a person’s temperature before they can access a business or event.
The machine recognizes when someone is approaching it and measures body temperature via the forehead so that it can be used with or without a face mask. It completes the temperature scan within 0.05 seconds.
If the person’s temperature meets the threshold, they may enter; If this is not the case, the machine will beep and alert the driver via an app.
A more expensive version of the machine also comes with a touchless dispenser for the hand cleaner.
Prices start at about 300 euros, or about $ 365.
COVID-19 Portable Tracker Sticker
The BioButton, a health monitoring sticker created by BioIntelliSense, sticks to a person’s chest and can screen a person for COVID-19 months.
The portable technology for disposable coins is designed to track the user’s vital signs – such as heart rate, respiration rate and skin temperature – with the accuracy of the user. The sticker can monitor a person for 90 days via an app that sends the readings via Bluetooth.
The button can collect and use data to determine if someone has symptoms of a possible new coronavirus infection.
The technology is used by UCHealth in Colorado to monitor healthcare workers who have received COVID-19 vaccines, and BioIntelliSense recently announced its collaboration with the American College of Cardiology. The College of Cardiology will allow conference participants in May to test out the BioButton.
The sticker is not available for individual purchases, but organizations can apply online to purchase the buttons.
Related stories
Lauren Bennett