Contactless thermometer helps monitor student health
Using the contactless thermometer, like this one installed at a UW–Madison residence hall, requires just one person paying attention to the proximity sensor to position their forehead. Credit: University Housing
When Lennon Rodgers visited the dentist in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, he had a moment of inspiration. The receptionist awkwardly reached around the plexiglass barrier to take his temperature, which seemed to negate some of the safety precautions.
An automated, contactless thermometer, he thought, would be a much better solution.
“I knew there had to be a way to develop a low-cost solution to take forehead temperatures hands-free,” says Rodgers, who already has played a role in several COVID-19 protective equipment innovations. “I looked online and found some existing products, but they were all pretty expensive and/or looked poor-quality.”