Or Maybe That Mobile Phone Will Protect You From Germs

from the ah,-technology dept

Fri, Feb 10th 2006 9:06am — Mike Masnick

The great thing about technology is that, even when it causes problems, new technologies come along to help solve them. Earlier today we posted a story about mobile phones carrying germs as being a risk -- and now we find out about new research that can make use of mobile phones to help prevent it. It's about using sensors to monitor things like germs or other dangerous health issues, and then having those sensors use the mobile phone to alert the person, or a doctor or a potential problem. While the article focuses on sensors that would go on your clothes, there's no reason the same sensors couldn't also be put on the mobile phone -- though, it does seem a bit circular to have your mobile phone telling you that your mobile phone has germs. The sensors could also be used for other things, such as suggesting the person needs a nap or to drink more water. However, as with so much mobile these days, it also brings back that moronic and repeatedly discredited idea that it could tie these sensors into location-based ~~spam~~ advertising.

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8 Comments

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Kane82, 10 Feb 2006 @ 10:14am

Sensors...or your mom at 4 years old

A sensor that tells you to drink more water, wash your hands because of germs, and take a nap...that sounds like my mom when I was 4 years old.
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SmallTwig, 10 Feb 2006 @ 1:03pm

Smenshors
Well, thats great, only they most likely won't end up in cell phones, rather they will be installed into the bullet proof helmets that people will wear everywhere they go :)

~SmallTwig
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Anonymous Coward, 10 Feb 2006 @ 11:19pm

No Subject Given
It's curious how people that lives in a planet called Earth are so concerned about germs. I mean, it's unavoidable. People still don't realize that the slighest of the breezes can trasport millions of bacteria directly to your nose, eyes and mouth without any need of touching anything. The size of bacterias range from 0.2 to 5 microns and viruses from 0.005 to 0.1 microns, so I sincerelly have no idea what can we do to avoid them. Well, you can always wrap yourselves in duct tape. :) Germs lately are huge business heh?
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SmallTwig, 11 Feb 2006 @ 7:47am

Re: No Subject Given
Most hurtful germs and virus have to be transported in some sort of medium (water for example) otherwise their shell just breaks down and they die. That's why people don't fear those beeze's. A cell phone could technically take a sample of your skin and see what is on it, however for an accurate reading, it would need to take a blood sample as well. Therefore, the whole cell phone thing is BS. (A micro sensor implanted into your leg would be far more practical.)
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Feb 2006 @ 10:35pm

No Subject Given
I want a cellphone that can feed my fish... damn they keep dying.
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SmallTwig, 12 Feb 2006 @ 9:49am

Re: No Subject Given
I can build you one :) I will hook up a remote receiver to a robotic arm, so when you call it it will automatically feed your fish...

~SmallTwig :D
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Matt, 10 May 2006 @ 12:31am

interested in the automated fish feeder
Hey, I would love a way to feed my fish by using my cell phone. Do you have any instructions on how I could set up an automatic feeder?

Thanks
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Debt Help, 24 Mar 2009 @ 7:00am

Madness surely? I love the way that a lot of new phones actually make it more and more complicated to make a call... that's like having a cooker that keeps food chilled but struggles to actually cook anything!??!

Frank Polenose
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