X-Message-Number: 27124
References: <>
From: David Stodolsky <>
Subject: Re: E-nose to sniff out hospital superbugs
Date: Sat, 24 Sep 2005 20:18:42 +0200

On 23 Sep 2005, at 11:31, John de Rivaz wrote:

>
>
>>>
>>>
> Each e-nose is about the size of a pair of desktop PCs and costs about
>  60,000. The food industry uses similar machines to root out rotten
> ingredients.
> <<
>
> Noting that a colour laser printer used to cost around  20,000 when  
> they
> first appeared, and now costs about  100. A similar reduction in  
> the price
> of this product is possible. There could also be a substantial  
> reduction in
> the size if it comprises mainly electronics.
>
> A time will come in the not too distant future where these can be  
> used in
> public facilities such as schools gymnasium and restaurants and so on.
>
> If mass produced they could be carried by individuals and used in a  
> manner
> analogous to Geiger counter avoiding radiation, to reduce the risk of
> infection. The analogy clearly isn't exact, and total avoidance  
> probably
> isn't practical. But risk reduction is certainly a good idea, and  
> if a lot
> of people practise risk reduction infections cannot spread nearly  
> as easily.
>
> Hopefully too, the range of equipment can be extended to include  
> viruses as
> well as bacteria. I would imagine that the terrorist threat  
> provides an
> ample supply of research funds from taxation revenues.

Personal risk reduction can be achieved with current technology:

http://hcva.secureid.org/about


Unfortunately, a lot of the money allocated to combat the "terrorist  
threat" has gone into the pockets of Bush cronies and Administration  
public-relations activities.


dss



David Stodolsky    Skype: davidstodolsky

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