With governments around the world scrambling to contain the spread of the coronavirus and with scientists frantically trying to come up with a vaccine, some individuals have thought of their own answers to the pervading threat that COVID-19 poses.
Architect Dayong Sun came up with a novel concept he calls Be a Batman, a wearable fiber frame that is shaped like bat wings and is worn like a backpack. The thermoplastic material stretches to encase the wearer and therefore prevent the person from getting the coronavirus.
UV lights are fitted inside so that the temperature can be heated to a level that would kill any pathogens in the air and maintain an enclosed sterilized environment.
One should note that the World Health Organization has cautioned that UV lamps shouldn’t be used on the skin because irritation can occur.
“The coronavirus will be killed by temperatures of 56 degrees Celsius (133 degrees Fahrenheit),” Dayong told Dezeen.
“The PVC film [the thermoplastic material] cover is like our car windshields – there are heater wires in between the glass to heat the ice and snow in the winter.
“But sure we still need to do a lot of work with engineers for the real production.”
We can thank the fictional superhero Batman because the character provided the inspiration for Dayong to mold his concept around. He added that the “superhero pushes the limits of human capabilities and the fact that bats are one of the wild animals that could be the source of Covid-19 (coronavirus).”
“Bats belong to mammal species the same as human beings, with diverse varieties and long life that make for the ideal host of coronavirus,” said Dayong.
“Their body temperature can rise up to 40 degrees Celsius when flying due to accelerated metabolism and fall back to normal when taking a rest.
“Such change of body temperature enables them to carry the virus while curbing its spread in the body.”
Dayong is keen to have investors take up his concept to make it into reality and is even willing to offer his services for free just to make it happen.
While Be a Batman was conceptualized for the outbreak, once the crisis is over it can still be used as a “unique private mobile space for people.”
While experts are still trying to determine exactly how the coronavirus is spread, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is of the opinion that transmission is done “person-to-person.”
In particular, touching an infected person or something that an infected person touched and then touching one’s eyes or mouth will surely transmit the virus.
While the Be a Batman is not airtight, since it doesn’t seem that the coronavirus is transmitted through the air, then the fact that it limits human-to-human contact could prove somewhat beneficial.
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