Iron Wearable Technologies Design · 2021
Czero Reducing Viral Infections
by Sophia Neill
- A' Design Award 2021 Iron Winner in Wearable Technologies Design
- Awarded April 15, 2021
- CLIENT: Victoria University of Wellington
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 37,971
- Verification code DCE8AA458D · Verify this award
About Czero Reducing Viral Infections
Czero is a wearable device made to reduce the spread of infections. The ring vibrates when the hand of the wearer comes near the face, giving a reminder not to touch it. An earring or pendant communicates wirelessly with the ring to sense this distance. Inside the ring are a transmitter, a receiver, a vibrator, an optical blood flow sensor, a temperature sensor, a microcontroller and a battery. Health data is sent to a linked application, which also gives reminders to wash the hands. The accessories are small and discreet.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Czero is a wearable device that vibrates when your hand is near your face reminding you not to touch it which would reduce transmission of infections notably. The ring is linked to an app that tracks your health and also alerts you to wash your hands before turning off.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Sizes vary between accessories.
- Tags
- Ring, technology, travel, safety, health, app, covid 19
- Production Technology
- Inside a ring is a transmitter, receiver, vibrator, Photoplethysmography sensor (PPG), Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) sensor, Arduino and battery. The earring/pendant transmits and receives information wirelessly to the ring. When the ring and earring/pendant are close, the vibrator in the ring is activated until moved away. The PPG sensor tracks the blood flow under the skin. Body temperature is monitored through a NTC sensor. The Ardunio and transmitter sends this information to the app.
- Design Challenge
- This project began when challenged at university to create a new interaction that had some relevance to the Covid 19 pandemic. Sophias solution to this challenge was to remove the interaction of touching the face as 80% of infections are spread this way.
- Project Duration
- This project was completed by a third year Industrial design student with Victoria University of Wellington during the Covid 19 lockdown period in New Zealand.
- Operation Flow
- Czero utilises pre existing technology in a revolutionary way, with the power to significantly reduce the spread of Covid 19 and other threatening infections that may arise in the future. This concept has considerable relevance to the current global crisis, increasing the demand for innovative and feasible designs. The ring and accessories are discrete, small and aesthetically pleasing which is rarely seen in healthcare products. Not only does this product break the dangerous habit we have of touching our faces, it also tracks the state of the user and informs them when they may have contracted an infection.
- Research
- Sophia began research by looking at Covid 19 and understanding the root of the issue. As Covid 19 is not predicted to be the only pandemic, Influenza is posing an increasing threat as we are expected to enter a post antibiotic era, where life threatening infections are deemed untreatable. To be able to successfully reduce the spread Covid 19 and other infections, Sophia chose to design an affordable product for a large target audience but majority travellers.
- Inspiration
- Covid 19 and Influenza viruses have a rapid transmission rate which causes a huge threat when we are without vaccinations or cures. Although washing our hands has been encouraged during this time 80% of infections spread from touching our faces. Czero is a prevention tool intended for travellers. This diminishes overseas transmission and reduce a potential pandemic down to an endemic.
- Image Credits
- Chat Roulette, Single Friend, 2019
Colors of Czero Reducing Viral Infections
Design Interview about Czero Reducing Viral Infections
This concept came about when in lockdown as Covid-19 entered New Zealand for the first time. I sat in my room puzzling how I could change behaviours to reduce the spread of the virus through our interactions with ourselves and other people.
My goal what to create a device that is something people want to wear rather than feel they have to. This concept is meant to look like any other piece of jewellery, however have the function like no other. The function of the ring is quite the opposite, it changes behaviours and tracks the health of the user, reducing the spread of viral infections.
I think this design has a huge potential for impact, especially with the virus not going away anytime soon. However, I am still studying my Masters and do not intend to produce this product for market unless a unique opportunity arrises.
From start to finish, this concept took me around 3 months part time.
This was a University assignment, where I was asked to change ones interactions or behaviours. I took the opportunity to focus this on the pandemic to make the assignment more worthwhile.
I would be interested in selling the concept to be produced as it would be a shame to waste the opportunity, especially when it surrounds a very topical issue being the global pandemic.
I was mentored by my lecturer, Prof. Edgar Rodriguez as this was a university assignment.
The people who have the privilege of traveling during a pandemic.
Technology in rings has been done before but only for the purpose to track fitness. This ring changes behaviours and prevents a virus from spreading.
Czero. 'C' meaning Covid/Corona. 'zero' meaning none of it. So 'No Covid'.
I created this concept on a CAD program, Fusion 360.
The Czero ring has the power to save lives if you look at the larger impact of the function. The spread of viruses will always be a relevant issue when traveling which means this tiny device holds exponential power.
Victoria University of Wellington, a design school that encourages design innovation.
The technology in this design offers the ability to collect information from the ring and transfer that to a phone which calculates ones health.
All I researched for this design, was the capabilities of technology on this scale.
It is a shame that I never made the concept in real life as this is a crucial part of design development. However, ironically I could not do this while in lockdown.
I entered this award after receiving a nomination ticket from being a winner of the 'War on Virus' Design category, by A'Design. As a student, entering awards of such value like A'Design, is typically not within the student budget, so I am extremely grateful to have received this opportunity.