Technology to Support Hygiene in the Home

The highly contagious, airborne coronavirus has made us hyper-sensitive to potential infection in confined indoor spaces. The Future of the Home trend report, produced by Aritco and Springwise, explores the latest innovations that embrace technology to support hygiene in the home including devices that can purify air and keep surfaces germ-free.

The report includes three cutting-edge innovations for ventilation – an invisible air purifier disguised as a piece of art; a low-energy bladeless fan that kills microorganisms; and a ceiling panel that removes pathogens with ultraviolet light. As some scientific research suggests that the Covid-19 virus can live for days on certain surfaces, The Future of the Home also includes three innovations that can help us keep our domestic spaces free from microbes – modular, antibacterial room dividers; a sanitisation station by the entrance to the house that can disinfect smartphones and keys; and a system that adds touchless technology to lift panels.

Although there is still extensive scientific debate around the transmission of the coronavirus, there is broad consensus that people are infected through exposure to respiratory droplets through breathing, speaking, singing, coughing or sneezing. Fresh air in confined spaces is key, although according to the World Health Organization, over half the world’s population now lives in cities, so simply opening a window is sometimes not the best option. Technology that supports hygiene in the home through ventilation has evolved rapidly since the onset of the pandemic, cleaning the air of microscopic germs as well as particles of pollution and dust.

The latest innovations include clever designs that streamline and disguise these devices so they are silent, safe and invisible as well as effective. They have also embraced the powerful effects of germicidal UV (GUV) light which is scientifically proven to destroy genetic material in viruses and other pathogens, making it hugely effective as a way of sterilising any space.

Whilst public transport systems including the New York subway and the Hong Kong metro are already using GUV light to sterilise trains, and robots use it to routinely clean offices and hospitals, it has been embraced by innovations that use technology to support hygiene in the home on a smaller, more discreet scale beyond ventilation systems. Government bodies have confirmed that domestic lamps that use GUV are safe as long as you avoid direct eye contact or long exposure to skin.

Another way to reduce exposure to germs in the home is to avoid touching surfaces at all, particularly those that are used by many people living in the same building like lift buttons. Aritco’s research and development team is constantly exploring the possibility of incorporating the latest innovations into the design of its lifts and touchless technology is currently top of the list.

Click here to read more about the high-tech innovations that are using design and technology to support hygiene in the home.