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Just thinking out loud: Wouldn't it be possible to get much more accurate temperature readings by having people open wide and imaging the backs of their throats

by wtracy 6y ago

Just thinking out loud: Wouldn't it be possible to get much more accurate temperature readings by having people open wide and imaging the backs of their throats? This could still be done at a reasonable distance. Of course, that would require people to stop long enough to take a reading, and would be useless for the products trying to scan crowds with an unattended camera and AI. And, of course, nothing is really going to help you if the thermometers are inaccurate to begin with.

LeifCarrotson 6y ago
Yes, it does get much better accuracy. My company is developing temp screening/survey answering entry kiosks, we've put a lot of effort into getting higher accuracy than the generic imported kiosks. Forehead temperature is highly variable with ambient conditions - sweating while walking in reduces surface temperature, but sitting in a low-humidity air-conditioned car with your face in the morning sun increases it. After as little as 60 seconds in a conditioned space, though, skin surface temp is pretty much normalized. The camera scanners are using Flir microbolometers, which have a huge amount of noise/calibration variation, even on a per-pixel basis. The handheld guns and kiosks which require alignment are using thermopile sensors work much better for employee check-in, they have like a 1:10 spot size so you need to be within a foot or so of the sensor and intentionally align yourself with the sensor. The reading takes about 2 seconds to align and measure, which is fine for clocking in but, as you said, doesn't work in a crowd.
knodi123 6y ago
> Wouldn't it be possible to get much more accurate temperature readings by having people open wide and imaging the backs of their throats Old-fashioned oral thermometers warn that they'll be inaccurate if you've drunk a hot or cold beverage recently. I imagine back of the throat thermometers would have the same flaw?
mindslight 6y ago
Most people put their masks on well before the entrance. Removing them at a choke point, in the presence of screeners who come into contact with hundreds of people each day, would be stupid. I would only submit to this if it were done outside in open air (not an enclosed lobby) from 10+ feet away.

by wtracy 6y ago

LeifCarrotson 6y ago

Yes, it does get much better accuracy. My company is developing temp screening/survey answering entry kiosks, we've put a lot of effort into getting higher accuracy than the generic imported kiosks. Forehead temperature is highly variable with ambient conditions - sweating while walking in reduces surface temperature, but sitting in a low-humidity air-conditioned car with your face in the morning sun increases it. After as little as 60 seconds in a conditioned space, though, skin surface temp is pretty much normalized. The camera scanners are using Flir microbolometers, which have a huge amount of noise/calibration variation, even on a per-pixel basis. The handheld guns and kiosks which require alignment are using thermopile sensors work much better for employee check-in, they have like a 1:10 spot size so you need to be within a foot or so of the sensor and intentionally align yourself with the sensor. The reading takes about 2 seconds to align and measure, which is fine for clocking in but, as you said, doesn't work in a crowd.

knodi123 6y ago

> Wouldn't it be possible to get much more accurate temperature readings by having people open wide and imaging the backs of their throats Old-fashioned oral thermometers warn that they'll be inaccurate if you've drunk a hot or cold beverage recently. I imagine back of the throat thermometers would have the same flaw?

mindslight 6y ago

Most people put their masks on well before the entrance. Removing them at a choke point, in the presence of screeners who come into contact with hundreds of people each day, would be stupid. I would only submit to this if it were done outside in open air (not an enclosed lobby) from 10+ feet away.