I ordered an infrared temperature sensor. My idea is to build a prototype of a low cost device that a merchant can use to show to customers that their staff is healthy, or at least does not have a fever. The idea is that when a staff member handles something, they quickly get their temperature taken, which prints out a sticker with their id, the time, and the temperature, and then they affix that to whatever they were handling. So, when the customer is handed their package, there is some evidence that the staff is not sick.
An added feature could be a back end that alerts if a staff member begins to show signs of a fever.
Currently, there seems to be a shortage of low cost infrared temperature sensors. I'd also love to find a very small and low cost printer that supports this. So far, I have found some label makers that could work.
I like the ingenuity but this has a host of problems:
1. You can’t actually get an accurate read. Unless you are shining the IR beam into their rectum, surface temp means nothing. If you’ve ever had cold hands while the rest of you is warm you will know that you can’t read surface temps. This is why medical professionals only trust two temperatures: oral and rectal.
2. Even if you managed to do this, fever is a pretty late symptom. People are contagious far sooner than fever sets in when it comes to COVID-19.
3. This dehumanizes service workers. I would see this as a huge negative and would never patronize a business that required its workers to use a device like that.
Again, I admire the ingenuity, but I think this is a dead end project at best and will lead to lowering quality of life and service at worst.
I actually got this idea watching what they are doing in China, it looks like a very widespread practice. In fact, it looks like there are cities that are also taking the temperature of patrons going into store, getting on buses, etc...
So, in response to your points:
1. I see many devices in use that take a temp very quickly. I'll see how my sensors works, though.
2. While it is true that not everyone who is sick has a fever, pretty much, whoever has a fever is sick.
3. I am thinking about a different world than we have today, one where patrons will not shop in stores if they do not have some reassurances that the owners are taking care of the staff, and doing what they can to ensure that they are not a vector for spreading whatever virus is currently worrying everyone.
To be clear, I am not designing for a world that goes back to the pre-coronavirus status quo, and I am also not designing a system meant to stop the spread of a pandemic virus.
Again, thanks for your feedback. I'll see how the prototype goes, and I will keep you posted. Let me know if you have any more thoughts.
An added feature could be a back end that alerts if a staff member begins to show signs of a fever.
Currently, there seems to be a shortage of low cost infrared temperature sensors. I'd also love to find a very small and low cost printer that supports this. So far, I have found some label makers that could work.