Cork software technology firm Digisoft and international leisure and attractions technology provider accesso Technology Group have teamed up with the Irish Defence Forces to introduce a smart wearable device to manage COVID-19 protocols among its troops.
By partnering with the technology firms, the Defence Forces are currently testing this novel approach to COVID-19 risk management, including routine military training and the deployment of troops to Peacekeeping Missions Overseas.
ProximityBand is a collaboration between Digisoft and accesso using proven wearable technology developed initially for amusement parks and re-adopted for COVID-19 mitigation purposes. It uses Bluetooth connectivity to identify, measure and track interactions between wearers in a GDPR compliant manner to a secure administrator information hub. The patented wristband also provides social distancing guidance via on-screen and vibration alerts in the workplace.
The device was initially trialed with members of the 96th Cadet Class in The Curragh, who have already been deployed to assist the HSE in fighting COVID-19 as contact tracers. It was subsequently rolled out to overseas units undergoing pre-deployment isolation requirements in both Kilworth Camp and Coolmoney Camp with the 62nd Infantry Group that deployed to UNDOF mission in Syria in October 2020 and the 117th Infantry Battalion recently deployed to UNIFIL in Lebanon. The requirement for isolation and pre-deployment testing is a U.N. requirement in a bid to curb the potential spread of the virus.
Lt. Bryan Dwyer, engineer officer with the 117th Battalion about to deploy to Lebanon said, “The goal is to ensure that as a group, we are as close to risk-free from COVID-19 as possible as we enter the mission area and are fully operational to carry out our peacekeeping mission on arrival. For the individual user, our soldiers, it provides useful feedback including behavior modification alerts to maintain 2m separation distance during the isolation phase, as well as updates on the number of close contacts made during the period of isolation.”
Fearghal Kelly, CEO of Digisoft said, “We are very proud that we have had the opportunity to partner with the Defence Forces on this project and in turn help to manage COVID-19 in the force. This partnership has proved hugely successful for both parties and we look forward to rolling out this technology further.”
“Our Prism wearable has been a resounding success in the theme park industry, but the unique challenges presented by the COVID-19 crisis have revealed a whole new realm of possibilities for the application of the technology,” said accesso CEO Steve Brown. “We are thrilled to partner with Digisoft to provide the technology for such an important project.”