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Albanians in Switzerland invent a device against the spread of Covid-19: What is CoronaSense?

Albanians in Switzerland invent a device against the spread of Covid-19: What is

Ardian Shajkofci is a boy of Albanian origin who lives in Switzerland. He invented an autonomous device called CoronaSense. This device enables accurate measurement of the temperature of employees or visitors who enter business premises, schools or various events. He says his device helps prevent the spread of coronavirus.

In Switzerland, he is known as the young scientist, and for Albinfo.ch, where he gave an interview, he gives more details and his ambitions for the future.

The full interview can be found below:

-Some days ago, you were invited to the show Forum to talk about your invention of the thermal meter for businesses. Before we get into the depth of the topic, can you briefly introduce yourself, which means talking about your experience but also about the origin and history of your family’s migration?

Adrian Shajkofci: After graduating from high school in Saint-Maurice (Valis, Switzerland), I completed a Bachelor in EPFL bio-engineering (Lausanne, Switzerland). Then I started a doctorate in electronics and signal treatment in the bio-medical field at EPFL and the Idiap Research Institute (Martigny, Switzerland). I plan to complete my doctoral thesis at the end of this year. I was born in Martigny to a father of Albanian descent and a mother from Friborg. The father settled in Switzerland in 1987 and has been here since 1987.

-What is your invention. Can you describe it to our readers?

Adrian Shajkofci: It is an autonomous device, called CoronaSense, which enables the measurement of the temperature of employees or visitors. The device is intended for businesses, schools or organizations to prevent the spread of Covid-19. It is presented as a small box, placed on the foot or against a wall to which the user presents the forehead. After a second, the device makes a diagnosis by comparing the data received in a database of other measures and parameters such as ambient temperature, weather, distance between the device and the user, and previous measurements. It is possible to integrate company entry fees for personal notifications.

-What are the innovations and benefits of your invention? Is it patented?

Adrian Shajkofci: it is a simple but efficient system which focuses on the most essential element, which is the accuracy of the diagnosis. The main innovation is the personalized tracking of temperatures. In fact, because of physiological differences, body temperature varies between individuals. My device enables the storage of a trace for each person and the setting of an individual temperature alarm level. Also, the device is connected via waves and can send notifications via email, sms, can open doors or send alarms. Furthermore, it is possible to extract daily or daily reports. More complex functions are programmable by a control base which is simple to use. I did not patent it because we are not dealing with a technical invention in itself but a reliable and affordable combination of existing technologies.

-Is your invention affordable from the point of view of price, for small and medium businesses?

Adrian Shajkofci: At a price lower than 800 CHF, it is very affordable if we compare this device with others that are available (insurance employees or thermal cameras that cost more than 4000 CHF.)

-What is the possible danger for the workers, if we measure their temperature against their will? Could there be a possible conflict with medical secrecy and personal data protection?

Adrian Shajkofci: The temperature is always measured voluntarily because you have to appear in front of the device and wait a second for all the measures to be performed. Although the measured data have no medical value of their own (not taken by a doctor), I insisted on the confidentiality of the data. In fact, they are stored inside the company and not in the cloud and all calculations are done by the device and not by any external service. Therefore it is not possible for the data to come out. Moreover, the data of a beige can be encrypted to guarantee anonymity. However, in some situations, for example in schools, it would be helpful to set a name for measuring temperature.

-Do you keep in touch with the culture and country of your origin?

Adrian Shajkofci: I keep them through my father and his connections. Also, we go on vacation to Kosovo and Albania to (re) discover the culture of the father's side.

-Do you believe that you can work for an Albanian company one day?

Adrian Shajkofci: I am certainly open to working with businesses of all nationalities.

-What is the future of your career?

Adrian Shajkofci: My priority, in addition to the production, development and maintenance of CoronaSense, is to complete my doctorate in September. Then, I think about orienting myself to the industry but I don't know if the wind will take me to the promising but ruthless universe of start-ups or to those of well-established companies.