Kolkata, Apr 16 () Two start-ups by IIT Kharagpuralumni have developed technologies to offer assistance towardssurveillance, sanitisation and dissemination of officialinformation related to novel coronavirus.
In one such initiative, alumnus Debayan Saha hascollaboratively developed Airlens Minus Corona, a device whichmay help sanitise large areas.
Saha said, the device can be of great help to sanitiseand disinfect a large area where many people may gather.
"Alcohols (like ethanol or IPA) are known tode-activate viruses by making their protein coating inactive.But the alcohol-based hand sanitiser is useful for individualsor for sanitising surfaces on a smaller scale (home, offices).
"However, it is insufficient in such an emergency asit is impractical to use alcohol for sanitising cities," saidSaha.
The device is designed to look like a 'Robo Sapien'(human-like) machine that operates on the mechanism of chargedwater droplets which are ionised "using corona discharge". Theionised water in turn oxidises the viral protein reducing itto a non-harmful molecule, he explained.
In another initiative, alumnus Souva Majumder has madea device where people can record their queries on the platformdengueboat.in, which are answered by an AI application.
There can be queries regarding the lifestyle to followbeyond social distancing and hygiene guidelines, and hisVoicebot has integrated information provided by the WorldHealth Organization, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,Govt. of India, and 'My Gov' platform to answer any suchqueries, Majumder said.
To a question, an IIT Kharagpur spokesperson said,"We don't endorse or validate the alumni start-up claims, weonly ask if alumni, faculty or student of IIT Kharagpur areworking in some areas, they can share their story onmedia@iitkgp.ac.in status which we carry in our in house webbulletin with a disclaimer."
Varadarajan Seshamani, president, IIT KharagpurAlumni Foundation said, any effort in the application oftechnology for combatting the spread of coronavirus is a bigstep.
"Every such step is laudable," he said.
The developments can have a significant impactin the fight against COVID-19, he said.
"These young innovators have shown their mettle bycoming up with amazing, inventive and cost-effective ideas injust a few weeks," he said. SUSMM MM
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