[Courtesy of Gyeonggi Province]
The COVID-19 pandemic that hit South Korea in 2020 has called for the enhanced hygiene of public facilities. Antibacterial films and similar materials are widely used to cover elevator buttons, door handles and other objects that are frequently touched by many random people. The fear of coronavirus infection has triggered the spread of a contactless culture that prompted the fast adoption of antibacterial materials and non-face-to-face services such as digital kiosks used at restaurants and coffee shops.
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government said in a statement on October 25 that the world's first contactless elevator button sensor, developed by Korea Aerospace University, can detect three-dimensional (3D) movement information such as the direction and speed of hand movements. It takes less than five milliseconds for the sensor to recognize hand movements. Because there is no physical contact involved, maintenance costs can be also reduced.
The sensor was jointly developed by Smart Store, a domestic company specializing in contactless elevators, and RND Plus, a company that develops contactless screens. The two companies signed supply contracts with various domestic elevator companies including Hyundai Elevator and TKE Elevator. The developers also secured a supply deal with Spanish company Vastek & Orona Elevator.
"It is very meaningful that contactless technology has been developed when non-face-to-face and contactless lifestyles have become the new normal due to the prolonged coronavirus pandemic," Gyeonggi Province Assistant Governor for Economy Ryu Gwang-yeol was quoted as saying. Gyeonggi Province said the city will continue to support companies to increase sales of the new technology.
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