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Author: Sulagna Chatterjee

#PositiveCorona: Inventions at the face of adversity: electronic gadgets, man’s best friend in combatting the 2020 pandemic

Our world is facing a really grave situation, namely the uncontrollable spread of a never known before virus that Is capable of killing. The situation is at its worst and is reminding us of the World Wars. But as history has always shown, the vivacity and splendor of life always wins over the forces of evil. Accordingly researchers from all over the world are coming up with various efficient solutions to combat this unseen enemy. In such a noble venture science and technology is posing as our best friend. Though this deadly situation has handicapped humankind in various aspects, yet life saving technological creativity and innovation is attaining unprecedented heights in these hard times. Below is presented an overview of a collection of wonderful gadgets that are acting as magic wands in detection and prevention of coronavirus. Several viable solutions are being proposed to combat this spread of pandemic. Among such solutions electronic device based equipments are playing a major role. Several such acceptable and cost effective solutions are being proposed by various research groups from all over the world.

Of the several detection devices, the following stand out due to their efficiency and accuracy.

  1. Real time in situ detection of COVID-19 viruses may be possible using quantum tunneling based nanogap sensors. Such quantum tunneling based detection is expected to be 1000 times more accurate than thermal or other detection methods. The sensitivity of such detectors are expected to be unprecedented till date.
  2. For successfully combating Sars2 Covid 19 viruses proper comprehension of their behavioral evolution is necessary. Researchers have proposed polymide nano fibre based technologies for nano scale capture of aersols.
  3. Deactivation of virus using copper is a traditional method. Yet the process is necessarily a slow one. However, researchers have come up with new promising technology. And chemical free inactivation of Covid 19 virus has been made possible. Such technology may be used in N 95 masks as well. Copper is being used in the form of electroactive nano particles. The technology can be used to disinfect Covid 19 virus present in the atmosphere in a room or cabin etc.
  4. Other technologies such as the use of disinfecting nanobubbles have also come up to combat this pandemic situation.  Such nanobubble based disinfecting is even suitable for hospital cubicles.

Next a review of recently invented gadgets and devices for arming humankind against coronavirus is provided.

  1. Steve Brooks, a London based inventor, has come up with ‘hygiene hook’ which is a device or rather a gadget that enables us to open a door without physically touching it. Moreover the gadget is made up of non porous material and therefore is user friendly and easy to clean. To top this, the gadget is 3D printable as well, therefore, industry level manufacturing is easy and is cost effective.
  2. Multi functional UV sterilizers and wire free chargers have been introduced for our smart phones. Therefore, contamination and disease spreading from our mobile phones, which are not so easy to clean, will no longer pose a threat. Apart from smart phones, gadgets like watch, earphones etc may also be disinfected with the help of this device.
  3. Another important invention is the self cleaning water bottle. This also uses UV protection against contamination and therefore, the users may rest assured that not just Covid 19 viruses but other harmful disease spreading bio elements will also be destroyed from the drinking water present in these bottles. Such bottles are made of 18/8 food grade steel which is heat preventive and rust free. And UV-c light is used for disinfecting the liquid present in the bottle. Further an UV nanotechnology plating is also used.
  4. Several other UV based technologies are playing their part in the fight against Covid 19. Amongst them UV sanitizer bar and UV sterilization box deserve a special mention. Both of them belong to the affordable price range and are expected to be satisfactorily effective in preventing the spread of this harmful virus as well as other possible contaminations. Besides both are lightweight and easily portable.

The sanitizer bar uses UV-c light to sterilize the object or the spot on to which it is focused. It is hardly the size of a television remote and maybe easily got it in once pocket.

The UV sterilization box also uses the same principle of disinfection. But unlike the sterilizer bar, this comes with the chamber that is capable of entirely bathing the product from all directions and therefore complete sanitization is possible. Apart from simply sanitizing, these sophisticated gadgets also offer luxuries such as added aromatherapy chambers that in turn would result in a pleasing fragrance to be bestowed on the sanitized product. Moreover, almost all variations of UV sanitization chambers are equipped with extra ozone disinfection.

  1. Another important invention is the mini oximeter. This is non invasive and easy to use. This monitors the oxygen level in human body and reverts if some abnormality is noticed. This is also an optoelectronic gadget that sense beams of light belonging to various frequencies through the users finger in order to sense pulse oxygen content.
  2. Our country is not behind as well. Our engineers end inventors have come up with several valuable technological weapons to fight back this unseen enemy. that includes disinfectant drones, ultraviolet guns, air evacuation pods etc.

Therefore, even in these dark times, we should not lose hope. Every cloud has a silver lining and together we will try our best and overcome this killer virus, equipped with our wonderful inventions and ingenious technologies. Let’s keep safe.

#PositiveCorona

July, 2020, the world is facing an unprecedented situation, the Covid 19 pandemic. This has struck us hard. Yet as is said every cloud has a silver lining. The human race is perhaps trying to cope with the toughest situation ever. Despite of so many negative aspects, these dark times have introduced us to some wonderful qualities and capacities of mankind. And of course not to forget electronics and telecommunication technology. That has proved itself to be one of man’s best inventions and his most trusted friend. In these odd times, seclusion from society and isolation have come up as acclaimed safety measures. But humans are social beings by instinct and love to thrive in communities. Therefore, we have denied detachment from our job, our duties and above all our friends and fellow beings. And in this anti-seclusion movement, electronic communication has offered an unwavering support. Herein lies a significant positive outcome of the world-wide pandemic. Electronic communication was already there from the last few decades. However, it was never this strong. The pandemic challenge has assisted digital communication to attain unprecedented height and flawless efficiency. Various new career aspects and employment opportunities have opened up based on this. Social sites such as Facebook, Twitter etc and official communication platforms such as Google mails, Microsoft, Outlook etc. are principally governed by efficient computer programming. These days such soft communication happens to be the only fuel that has kept the world running. Therefore, programming skills are being sought after. Huge man power is required to meet such growing demand. This has opened up new horizons of employment for programmers and engineers. Besides, though physical fabrication of electronic devices and subsequent equipment in labs may be suffering a bit, yet simulation based research is on a boom. Software development ideas are widely welcome by the companies. Creating sources of employment for talented engineers who can think out of the box. Such wide acceptance and necessity are encouraging people to actually implement software start-ups.

There are other new positive aspects as well. On-line courses are steadily gaining popularity. In developing countries like India, many students are not able to access renowned institutes and universities in person. But on-line courses are offering them wonderful opportunities to actually be a part of those institutions and learn from them. And this has been possible because of this pandemic crisis. Otherwise our society has never heartily accepted on-line education despite of its huge potential.

The other important positive aspect of Covid pandemic and subsequent lock down is the healing of Mother Earth. Reduced plying of vehicles,  no industrial waste, no mining of earth’s treasure and the temporarily frozen urban civilization have resulted in a purified atmosphere. There is no denying the fact that the air around us is more pure, the sky is clearer than ever, the water bodies are back to their pristine states. Yes, Mother Earth has recovered from the insufferable loss that this unreasonably fast paced urbanization has caused. We all hope that we have learned our lesson and would not repeat the same mistakes.

Moreover, forced isolation has made us realise the importance of acquaintance and personal company. We now know, how much we miss our friends and associates and how much we care for them. Last but not the least these lock down periods have successfully reminded us the glories of family time. Let’s care, let’s communicate, let’s support each other and let’s be human. The combined strength of mankind’s heartfelt emotion and brain stormed innovation will definitely overcome this pandemic crisis.

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