Bristol teenager invents wearable gadget to reduce Covid-19 transmissions from face touching
A 15-year old school boy from Bristol has developed a wearable gadget to help reduce Covid-19 transmissions.
Max Melia's wristband vibrates to alert wearers every time they are about to subconsciously touch their face.
He began working on the project 16 weeks ago when both of his parents contracted coronavirus and he saw firsthand how ill it made them both.
The VybProWorn works by recognising hand movements towards the face and vibrates to alert the wearer.
the gadget can apparently also distinguish between predicted face touching and other hand motions, and can easily be turned off when eating and drinking.
Tech-savvy Max and his mother came up with the concept before the outbreak of coronavirus as a way to reduce the spread of cold and flu, but quickly realised the concept could help protect people from Covid-19 once the pandemic struck.
He has a working prototype and has just launched a crowdfunding page to raise £60,000 to bring the product to the mass market.
Max said: “The main priority of this project is not to make money but to get it onto the wrists of those it can help keep safe.
"Any profits made from early sales via the crowdfunding site will be reinvested into providing free devices to organisations that help people such as NHS staff and nursing homes."