[ad_1]
SINGAPORE: More “smart” thermal scanners for mass detection may soon be deployed in Singapore, helping to minimize congestion in popular locations while providing fast and accurate temperature readings.
This software also allows thermal scanners to examine up to 10 people at a time and identify those who are not wearing masks, the Government Agency for Technology (GovTech) said on Thursday (September 17).
To meet public demand for an affordable, accurate and effective automated temperature sensing solution, GovTech said it has licensed the software for its SPOTON smart thermal scanner to four Singapore-based distributors.
READ: Digital venues and virtual booths: How hybrid MICE events can be put to the test
Distributors will be tasked with commercializing and scaling thermal scanning systems. The companies comprise three small and medium-sized companies: ADERA Global, Scanmed Technology and SmartScan Machine, and one non-profit organization, Extra.Ordinary People.
The SPOTON smart thermal scanner was first developed by GovTech’s Smart Nation Platform Solutions team in February. SPOTON’s deep learning-based software was integrated with low-cost standard hardware to develop a cost-effective temperature sensing solution, GovTech said.
A thermal scanner using software developed by GovTech can examine up to 10 people at a time.
The smart thermal scanner, which can work both indoors and outdoors, is accurate to between 0.3 and 0.5 degrees Celsius within a range of 1.5 m to 2 m.
When a person’s temperature exceeds a predefined threshold of 37.5 degrees Celsius, SPOTON will trigger an alarm and send an email alert to the operator on site. The person will be color coded as “red” on the SPOTON screen and a snapshot will be taken and saved automatically.
The SPOTON scanner system is compact enough to mount on a tripod or laptop.
READ: STB will begin accepting applications to hold trade events for up to 250 people starting October 1
GovTech first tested SPOTON at NTUC Club’s Eat Box event in February, which was attended by 32,000 people over two weekends.
Since April, GovTech has worked with government agencies to deploy 50 SPOTON units in various locations, including the Supreme Court, the Ministry of Education headquarters, Our Tampines Hub, the Changi Exhibition Center Community Isolation Facility, the branches of the Housing Board and the mosques.
A thermal scanner using software developed by GovTech can scan up to 10 people at a time.
Under the software license agreement, GovTech will provide SPOTON version 1.0 software free of charge and provide training and technical support to the four distributors.
The dealers will then purchase the necessary hardware according to GovTech specifications, hire their own staff to assemble the thermal scanners, and provide after-sales support to their customers. They are also allowed to set their own sales prices.
Extra.Ordinary People said it is committed to providing work for people from low-income groups and people with special needs, and will train them to assemble SPOTON thermal scanners.
READ: TraceTogether tokens will be issued to Singapore residents; some SafeEntry points will require visitors to use TraceTogether to register
Smart Nation Platform Solutions Senior Director Lim Chinn Hwa said GovTech decided to license the SPOTON software to private and non-profit companies in order to commercialize and scale it to meet the urgent demand.
“By doing so, we also hope to grow the capacities of our SMEs, foster a more dynamic local ICT industry, and at the same time strengthen public-private partnerships to collectively keep citizens safe from COVID-19. “.
GovTech said it will also consider licensing the SPOTON version 1.0 software to other companies interested in distributing the thermal scanners. Interested companies can send an email to [email protected].
READ: Low community prevalence of COVID-19, 0.03% of people with acute respiratory infection test positive: Gan Kim Yong
Adera Global Group CEO Anthony Ong said that as Singapore opens up slowly, market demand will focus on mass screening.
Although some mass scanning devices are already in use, Mr. Ong said he anticipates that SPOTON will be “highly sought after” due to its superior features.
GovTech said that it is currently working on a second version of the SPOTON software that will include more advanced features such as pose recognition, heart rate, and oxygen saturation measurements. This version is expected to be ready in the first quarter of next year.
CHECK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments
Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
