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Science: Health: Hygiene
Social Distancing Alarm   (+2, -1)  [vote for, against]
Introducing the SODIAL to stay safe

While I prefer the term physical distance alarm, my invention is called a social distancing alarm “SODIAL” to conform to the popular term used to describe the need to stay separated from others in order to reduce the rate of contamination of airborne diseases by infected persons to the naïve or uninfected person. A SODIAL is presently needed to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, a dangerous and deadly viral disease having a variety of names from SARS-2, covid19, china virus and just virus depending upon the person expressing the term. Six feet or two meters distance is now considered the minimum safe distance for social intercourse without spreading the coronavirus.

The battery operated SODIAL features a flexible antenna to measure distances to other persons attached to a central control unit and audio and visual alarm unit. The antenna securely wraps completely around a person at about the chest level with lights and a unique SODIAL color pattern along the outside of the antenna to clearly indicate to others that the persons is protected by a SODIAL. The central control unit features a distance adjustment means and distance indicator to adjust the distance at which the alarm and lights are triggered. The SODIAL color pattern and loud audio alarm with verbal warning in harsh language will advise others that the safe distance between the user and others has been breached. The distance measuring electronics within the central control unit can be configured using a variety of common distancing measurement methods such as radar or ultrasound echoing.

It is contemplated that the SODIAL will eventually be universally used by everyone who desires to stop the spread of airborne diseases.

el dueno
-- el dueno, Jul 26 2020

The Wells curve https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wells_curve
"later studies demonstrated that the droplet size at which evaporation outpaces falling is smaller than that described by Wells, and the settling time is longer" .. except the real world isn't like that. [8th of 7, Jul 26 2020]

Amazon social distancing tech https://blog.abouta...-distance-assistant
[doctorremulac3, Jul 27 2020]

// minimum safe distance //

There is no "safe distance". The statistical theory on which the concept is predicated is only marginally valid in a very narrow range of conditions, and for droplet infection only. <link>

In real world conditions, with air currents and moving bodies and wind and air conditioning, and given that the virus can (allegedly) be transmitted by surface contamination - not just droplet transmission, hence the abjurations to "wash hands and disinfect surfaces" - the whole "social/physical distancing" procedure is pointless.

There are as yet no rigorous, credible peer-reviewed studies, with an acceptably large sample size, that support the concept in this situation.

[-] bad science, Ju-Ju, cargo-cultism.
-- 8th of 7, Jul 26 2020


I think it's quite good but only if it has an '8th' setting, to warn of any proximity to the ultimate toxin.
-- xenzag, Jul 27 2020


You say such lively things, [xen]. We're flattered.

<preens/>
-- 8th of 7, Jul 27 2020


//wraps completely around a person at about the chest level with lights// I'd say this alone would be pretty effective at prompting social distancing in most contexts.
-- pocmloc, Jul 27 2020


Aren't they doing this at Amazon locations?

Yea, see link. So not a bad idea, but already know to exist albeit in a different form. [+] anyway.
-- doctorremulac3, Jul 27 2020


I don't like Amazon's take where it just shows up on TV - it needs to be with you, to keep you informed, rather than just chiding you later.

My preference would be for a constant light-saber hum to remind you; so quiet as to be almost subliminal; louder motion sounds when you or others are moving relative to each other, and that squeaky/clashy noise when you bump into somebody's personal space.
-- lurch, Jul 28 2020


No klaxon and red navy emergency light?
-- RayfordSteele, Jul 28 2020


If either of you have sneezed in the last 4 hours, then, yes.
-- lurch, Jul 28 2020



random, halfbakery