CES 2021 features masks, sensors and other technologies to help combat COVID-19

This story is part of CES, where our editors will present the latest news and the hottest gadgets from CES 2021 entirely virtual.

The coronavirus pandemic has affected lives around the world in the past year, forcing changes in how we live, work and even eat. At this week’s annual CES fair, technology companies are discussing a variety of ways to fight COVID-19 through masks, disinfectants, air fresheners and touchless technology.

Companies understand that no technology can win the battle against the virus, which is why many of them are positioned as part of the new normality that life is becoming. One such company, Plott, built a doorbell called Ettie, which measures people’s temperature before they can enter. Other, Alarm.com, created a non-touch video bell in an effort to reduce the transmission of bacteria and viruses that we normally leave in places we touch.

It is “another way to stay vigilant and protect each other,” said Alarm.com.

There are robots that radiate ultraviolet light to disinfect areas of high contact and traffic in a corporate office, retail store or restaurant. There are sensors that attach to your body to detect flu-like symptoms with near hospital precision. And there’s a mask with a built-in microphone so you can answer a call and be heard easily when you’re wearing the mask. Its name, appropriately, is MaskFone. “MaskFone is an essential daily product that protects you and anyone you come across from harmful bacteria, viruses and pollution.”

These new coronavirus-fighting products are just the latest way in which technology is becoming an important part of modern life. Last year, countries around the world instituted health blocks, forced workers to work remotely, and asked families in different homes to be separated. Since many people followed these guidelines, they turned to video conferencing, social networking and messaging apps to help keep in touch.

They used phones equipped with software from Apple and Google to help warn each other when they may have been exposed to the virus. And governments have created websites to help people avoid getting sick and to identify when it will happen.

Many technology companies see this as an opportunity to prove their worth, despite years of privacy and political scandals that have damaged their reputation and eroded trust among their customers.

Armed with more power and money than almost any sector in history, the technology sector says it sees a call to help.

“Our mission is to create products that play a significant role in people’s lives,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook in one of the company’s live presentations in November. For 2021, he proclaimed that Apple will do even more.

It is important to keep in mind, however, that new products shown at CES are generally still in their development stage. Health products in particular may not have independent studies to support their claims.

Still, these new products offer a look what’s to come and what can help to make life a little easier during this crisis.

More masks

Although MaskFone offers practicality for those who work, there are other mask technologies created around health as well.

One of these masks is AirPop Active +, a smart mask that comes with a sensor that tracks your breath and mixes it with local air quality data to identify when you need to replace your filter. AirPop, the company behind the mask, said its masks will be offered this month for $ 150.

Another, Amazfit, built a transparent disinfectant mask that claims to clean its filters with integrated ultraviolet lamps in 10 minutes.

Perhaps the most eye-catching mask in the exhibition came from computer and gaming accessories manufacturer Razer. That company announced the Hazel Project, a transparent mask with a built-in microphone, lights and speaker that help people see and hear more easily when you speak.

It has other details like silicone edges to help create an airtight seal and a sterilization case. Razer did not say when it would be available.

If standard filtering is not enough for you, LG can put an air purifier on your face. The PuriCare mask has an integrated HEPA filter, fans to move the air and sensors as well. It is battery operated, lasts up to eight hours and takes about two hours to charge via USB-C.

The device also comes with a case that sanitizes the mask with ultraviolet light in 30 minutes. So far, it is only sold in Asia and the Middle East, and LG has not said when the mask will hit US markets or how much it will cost when it does.

Up in the air

Another way that technology companies think they can help fight coronavirus is through air filtration. The Luft Duo, for example, is a battery-powered air purifier that claims to clean the air around it. It does this with a combination of disposable HEPA filters and UV light. It’s the size of a bobble head for your car dashboard.

Another, CleanAirZone, built an air filter that uses “biotics and natural enzymes derived from nature” instead of traditional filters. If it really does anything significant, it remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, Airthings built a sensor called Wave Plus, which tracks the levels of carbon dioxide, humidity and temperature, which can help identify how much more likely the virus is to be transmitted. The Wave Plus was developed for offices, while the smaller Wave Mini was designed for home use.

All of these technologies alone are not sufficient as a defense. The Environmental Protection Agency said it cannot protect you against COVID-19 on its own. He says people need to use it in addition to “other practices recommended by CDC and others”.

Light the way

Robots and masks built with ultraviolet light as a disinfectant. There are also refrigerators, which use ultraviolet light to disinfect water as it is dispensed.

That’s the idea behind LG’s InstaView line of refrigerators, which – as the name suggests – have a semi-transparent glass window in the door that lights up when you tap the glass twice. And the new models announced during CES received a some COVID-19 updates.

In addition to the ultraviolet light disinfectant, the refrigerator also has a microphone and a speaker now, so you can say “open the refrigerator door” and it will do just that. LG did not say how much they would cost, but previous LG premium refrigerators cost up to $ 4,000.

The companies also offer ultraviolet light products for automobiles. Automotive supplier GHSP announced a Grenlite UV system for ordinary cars. It is already used in emergency service vehicles, public transport and commercial vehicles.

“The GHSP Grenlite system aims to provide drivers with greater peace of mind that their car is safe and germ-free,” said the GHSP in a statement.

Throne without touch

Pandemic technology has already hit our face, our phones, our food and our air – it was only a matter of time before it appeared in our bathrooms too.

Kohler built a bathroom that blushes with a wave of the hand, for example. You can live your dreams of fighting the Jedi pandemic for up to $ 1,000 starting in March.

The company also has a $ 3,100 bathroom with some extra features, including automatic opening and closing, a remote control and a sophisticated bidet.

We will be looking for more COVID-19 combat technology throughout the week. So stay tuned to CNET for more news from CES.

The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended for medical or health advice. Always consult a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health goals.