Anders tells us how to block transmission by touch
Summary
Our response to the pandemic offers many examples of how our ingenuity helped combat the crisis: we saw leading high-tech companies quickly refocus their resources on developing cost-effective ventilators to aid treatment, our biotech developed protective vaccines extremely quickly, and contactless payment technology showed its effectiveness as a means of blocking transmission. New equipment could be designed around interaction through personal mobile devices, perhaps using NFC, Bluetooth, or a QR code, to avoid touching surfaces that are publicly accessible. But there are limitations: what if your mobile is inaccessible to open that door or use an elevator; isn’t it frustrating when you are asked to install an app when you want to do a simple task? In applications like building security, this technology could be combined with biometric sensing such as facial recognition to manage access privileges and automatically open the door for authorised users. Gesture control is an exciting concept for automotive designers, who see the opportunity to simplify interaction with the vehicle and improve safety by allowing drivers to do things like change radio station or adjust the temperature setting by waving a finger without averting their eyes from the road.