Tech
forefront of computer vision
and AI technology for many
years, Moutafis warns that
‘thermal cameras are not
a reliable way to screen for
Covid-19’.
Products focused on using
facial recognition cameras
combined with temperature
check functionality are also
unreliable for temperature
checking. A recent study by
EU scientists revealed that
environmental conditions
can affect the relationship
between skin and body
temperature. A 10°C
difference in air temperature
may cause a 2°C difference
in skin surface temperature.
According to the World
Health Organization,
Covid-19 can be passed on
without showing symptoms
so it may not be wise to
just rely solely on this
technology.
Social Distancing Bracelets
My favourite, and probably
one of the most effective
technologies that can be
used on the show floor, are
social distancing bracelets.
A very simple Bluetooth
sensor within a ‘watch like’
wrist unit is used to sense
the proximity of other units
in a space.
All exhibitors and visitors
would need to wear one
for the technology to
work effectively. As soon
as someone comes with
two metres – or whatever
proximity measurement
is programmed into the
units – of another person,
the bracelets will either
emit a buzz, flashing light
or vibration. The more
sophisticated applications
come with software
packages where the number
of incidents, spatial choke
points and other data is
recorded in real-time.
Bracelet prices start at
around $3 a piece for a basic
unit if purchased in the
thousands. But beware of
price gougers.
Tsingoal manufactures a
slightly better bracelet at
around $7 which can trace
who you have had contact
with.
Low Touch Technologies
In the new low-touch
world, we are hesitant
to touch public surfaces.
Door handles, chip and
pin machines, and all sorts
of other surfaces used by
other humans are now seen
as potential hot beds of
infection.
Checking in to a show by
having to touch a screen is
something that most will
be wanting to avoid. Preprinted
registration badges,
“UV light is one of the most
effective technologies that
can be used to sanitise a
physical space”
RFID bracelets and the
even more secure biometric
technologies such as facial
recognition will allow
visitors low contact access.
While these technologies
and their uses are not within
the purview of the venue
owners, show organisers
will be looking at their
access processes and what
is best to make sure that
their visitors feel confident
about attending a show.
Reassurance is important.
Using facial recognition not
only reassures visitors that
no contact is needed; they
also have peace of mind in
terms of their security. Only
those that should be at the
show, are in the room.
UV Light
Professor Hans Kolmos, from
the University of Southern
Denmark, has developed
an ultra-violet robot that
is pre-programmed to
clean hospital rooms in
conjunction with UVD
Robots.
The cost of a robot starts
at around €60 000. UV light
is one of the most effective
technologies that can be
used to sanitise a physical
space. UVC rays can destroy
genetic material but the rays
are harmful to humans. UVC
is used already in hospitals
as a sterilisation method,
but can only be used when
humans are not present. This
could work for venues.
However, the bot needs
to be pre-programmed so
would work well in public
areas such as hallways, toilet
facilities and cafe spaces,
where spatial configurations
remain the same. But, in
exhibition halls with the
variances in floor layouts,
regular pre-programing
would have to be a
continuous process for each
new show. There is a cheaper
alternative. UVC lights can
easily be installed in the
ceilings of the exhibition
halls. After the build-up,
when contractors have left,
the UV lights could be left
on overnight to sanitise the
show floor.
Myriad technologies
are available to improve
protection as well as reassure
exhibitors and visitors is
something that both venues
and organisers will have
to have to budget for. The
threat we are living through
right now is now at its end.
The future of our industry
will make use of new health
technologies to create
greater resilience in how
we manage shows in the
future as well as convince
governments that we are safe
to proceed.
40 — June