Always at the vanguard of technology and innovation, and given the global health crisis we are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, PARTTEAM & OEMKIOSKS innovated in Digital Billboards with the inclusion of automatic disinfection with ultraviolet light systems.
Taking into account the changes that the new coronavirus has brought to our daily lives, concerns about protection and disinfection have also grown, so the use of ultraviolet radiation is increasingly an option. Once again, PARTTEAM & OEMKIOSKS innovated in Digital Mupis with the inclusion of disinfectant protection through ultraviolet (UV) light.
This safe and powerful disinfection system eliminates most viruses and germs from the glass of the Digital Billboard. The AVENUXYS model – which was developed especially for the dissemination of content and for dynamic interaction, can display large displays, such as a mobile webcam – benefits from a new system. But that doesn’t mean that this disinfection system won’t be implemented in other models, because it is already being adapted to other kiosks as well. What happens in the AVENUXYS model, in particular, is the fact that it has a vertical sliding bar (SLIDE2BAR), which will have an ultraviolet ray system that will pass through the monitor automatically, disinfecting the display.
Ultraviolet radiation is applicable in several areas of engineering (and not only), mainly in the disinfection of liquids and surfaces. This ultraviolet disinfection technique has been used for more than a century to sterilize hospitals, laboratory equipment, airplanes, offices, factories and water. Due to its effectiveness, it can also be used in homes, schools, government buildings and hotels.
This radiation eliminates most viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms, as it can penetrate their cells and their DNA. Ultraviolet rays can also damage the amino acids and proteins that protect the virus and allow it to relate to and infect another cell. In China, for example, buses are already being sterilized with this technology, quickly and efficiently. In fact, the time required to immunize a bus has decreased from 30 to 40 minutes to just 5 to 7 minutes. Now, this technology is already starting to be tested even in the sterilization of personal protective equipment, such as masks and uniforms.
How does ultraviolet radiation work?
Ultraviolet radiation refers to the fraction of the electromagnetic spectrum that includes wavelengths below visible light. This fraction is subdivided into three types: UV-A, UV-B and UV-C. Taking into account the type of UV radiation that is emitted, there are several biological damages that can occur. UV-A radiation can cause changes in the skin, causing it to age. UV-B radiation, in addition to acting equally on skin aging, is responsible for causing genetic mutations that lead to the development of skin cancer. At last, UV-C radiation – for having the shortest wavelength and, consequently, the most energy – is considered the most destructive, that is, the one that covers the germicidal band. According to a report released by the Lighting Engineering Society (IES), this is a more effective reaction in disinfecting.
In this sense, UV-C radiation disinfection was developed to increase the efficiency of manual disinfection, more specifically in hospital environments. This system has been considered an effective technology to reduce contamination and the potential for infection, and it has also been proven to inactivate up to 99.9% of viruses, bacteria and fungi in the environment.
However, this type of disinfection system uses lamps that emit low and continuous doses of ultraviolet light, capable of killing most viruses and bacteria without harming the skin, eyes and other human tissues.
In addition, UV-C radiation has some advantages that should be highlighted. Tests carried out demonstrated that bacteria and pathogens don’t resist to this radiation and that it can even replace potentially dangerous chemicals. Most UV-C systems are also easy to use and many already have remote controls, such as disinfection robots that are beginning to be used in hospitals. Other systems are, in its turn, mobile, so they can be easily moved from room to room for use in various installations or departments. Researchers are currently testing it in the new coronavirus and the initial results are encouraging.