VANCOUVER — Imagine being able to use an elevator without ever pressing a button – all you have to do is point, or wave.
It sounds like something out of Star Trek, but a Vancouver medical technology company has developed a touchless control system for elevators called HoverTap, that can be retrofitted onto traditional elevator button panels.
It’s made by NZ Technologies, which specializes in touchless equipment for surgeons who work in sterile operating rooms. The sensors the company designed allow surgeons to manipulate the equipment, without touching it, thereby reducing infection. HoverTap uses the same kind of technology.
“It has a screen that has sensor, so when you bring your finger near its surface… the system recognizes where your finger is,” explained NZ Technologies CEO Nima Ziraknejad.
The company began developing a prototype early in the pandemic, and it was ready for testing by late August.
“During COVID, we noticed that there is a need for this technology to be adapted for the general public,” Ziraknejad said, referencing the desire for people to avoid high-touch surfaces as much as possible, thereby reducing the spread of the virus.
HoverTap has been installed in the main elevator at Ronald McDonald House in Vancouver, a home away from home for families with children undergoing treatment for life-threatening illness.
“Families love it,” said Richard Pass, CEO of Ronald McDonald House British Columbia and Yukon.
He said the safety factor is paramount for families of seriously ill children, many of whom are immunocompromised. The threat of COVID-19 adds another layer of stress.
“Not touching things is a good thing,” Pass said, adding that the HoverTap was provided as a donation to the house.
The device is fun to use, according to Pass, who said he doesn’t take the stairs as much anymore. “It’s still a novelty for me to go in and not have to touch something and be able to use the elevator,” Pass said.
As for future applications of touchless screen technology, Ziraknejad said elevator controls are just “the tip of the iceberg.”
“You go to a bank machine, gas station pumps, airport check-in kiosks,” he said, “this will lead to new means of interactions in our everyday lives.”
The HoverTap demo video can be found here.
Reported by: Nafeesa Karim
Nima Ziraknejad, NZ Technologies CEO demonstrates HoverTap
Share
Pranav Saxena is the Chief Technology Officer of NZ Technologies and is here to tell us about touchless elevator buttons and the technology that can go way beyond elevator buttons because we can look at getting gas, opening doors, pushing buttons.
Imagine a world where guests can call the elevator with a simple gesture and without needing to push unsanitary buttons. Customer service is a vital part of the travel and hospitality industry, and hotels are upping their game to deliver on commitment and guarantee safe, clean, and germ-free environments.
Touchless solutions gain acceptance, expected to expand
Touchless solutions have gained acceptance during the pandemic, but more customer education is needed as the technology continues to evolve beyond hygiene benefits.
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated to our offers and deals!
We are committed to protecting your privacy
NZ Technologies Inc. (NZTech) is a technology innovation and electro-mechanical device production firm, focused on revolutionizing modern Human Machine Interfaces (HMI).
Ph.D., P.Eng. Founder and CEO
An inventor by nature, I have devoted my life to technological innovation, taking sector-specific problems and transforming them into practical, commercialized solutions.
As CEO, I am responsible for leadership and operations at NZTech, which includes securing and managing the financing, and making decisions on all strategic activities. My role also extends to cultivating relationships in business, technological and financial spheres to grow business development and productivity.
Creating transformative change in the healthcare sector is my passion. I am constantly exploring new horizons and connecting the technologies we have invented to more practical applications in the medical field.
My passion and drive to develop new technologies – achieved by understanding users’ unmet needs – ensures that we attract highly-skilled experts to our team who have an important contribution to make and who know that something tangible will result from our collaborative efforts.