EJK's no-contact thermometer

Japanese company EJK has developed a no-contact thermometer. Using infrared rays, the device is able to measure the subject’s body temperature in just 3 seconds to within 0.2 degrees centigrade. And because it’s contactless, the device is said to reduce the risk associated with the spread of disease possible when using traditional thermometers regardless of your, um, preferred orifice. It’s also likely to be loads of fun at your next kegger or for conducting random temperature experiments on other carbon based lifeforms like, say, slugs. The fun is only limited to the extent of your twisted imagination. Will drop tomorrow for about $213. Good times.

 [Via Akihabra News]

[Michael @ Jan 31st 2006 9:12AM]

A bit pricey. Think I'll wait until the rush is over before I run out and get mine...

[Jboy001 @ Jan 31st 2006 9:26AM]

ohh i thought that was the new apple mouse.... (if you saw the site this morning you would get this joke)

;)

no acutally, it's a pretty slick design, if thermometers were my thing i would totally own one

[Chris @ Jan 31st 2006 9:41AM]

This is nothing new, as temperature readers that use infrared beams have existed for some time and are often used in cooking. They are also less expensive than this one, but may not be as accurate.

[pud-box 360 @ Jan 31st 2006 9:42AM]

hmm ... if one could replace the ir with lasers .. could it be used to rip someone a new one? (ie ... a really annoying nurse or doctor)

[mark davis @ Jan 31st 2006 9:50AM]

you can get one for WAY les at a hobby shop TODAY.

[John @ Jan 31st 2006 11:14AM]

Ummm, an accuracy on 0.2 degrees C is pretty terrible for gauging body temperature. A temperature difference of 0.05 is significant for humans.

[Drew Streib @ Jan 31st 2006 11:20AM]

As others have noted, IR thermometers have been around for years, and are already used in 95+% of doctor's offices today, throughout the food service industry, and in many industrial applications. This is a pretty run-of-the-mill product announcement.

[Timerider @ Jan 31st 2006 11:44AM]

Umm...Is it just me or does that picture of a smiley face with a target on it's head make this look like some sort of death ray?

[Andrew @ Jan 31st 2006 12:13PM]

generally ir thermometers depend on a quantum mechanical effect. It's one of the few practical proofs. This is a relatively low price as most of these thermometers never get out of the hospital price range.

[Lordgarth @ Jan 31st 2006 3:57PM]

Does this just measure the temperature at the skin level? The IR thermometers for body temperature are touched to the forehead and give fairly accurate results based on the temporal artery being located there. If it's just reading surface temp then it's not worth the money.

[Eric @ Jan 31st 2006 9:57PM]

Maybe this is something different, but I've been using touch-free thermometers for a long time. I don't know the specifics, but I pull a trigger and point the red dot at what I want. Then the screen tells me how hot it is.

Unless this one doesn't require you to touch the thermometer, and is powered by brainwaves, it's no different than that one... except it's white instead of silver.

[south @ Feb 1st 2006 1:32AM]

*sigh*
there goes another one of life's little pleasures.

[Andrea Piergentili @ Feb 1st 2006 9:32AM]

This thermometer was developed by an Italian company (Thermofocus) more than two years ago, as a thermometer for infants. I have one myself, bought in 2003 for �80 (approx. 100 USD). It is not always reliable: sometimes it underestimate the temperature, and you can't use it if the forehead is wet. I counteproved it against a dear ol' mercury thermometer, and it measured 0,2-0,4 C� less. But this is very fast, anyway: 2-3 sec for a measurement.
I am pleased to know that for one time Italy defeats Japan on innovation. If you come to Italy, don't forget to buy one for a better price than the EJK one (as this is exactly the same object).

[DrDennis @ Feb 1st 2006 1:09PM]

I have one of these also. I bought it about a year ago and it is from the italian company that the poster above mentioned.
I find it very reliable when you measure the same area multiple times on a person. I have not measured it against a mercury thermometer.
What makes it so accurate is that you hold down the button and bring the two LED light to where they focus as one dot and let up on the button and it takes the reading.
Many other thermometers will very between readings. Which can be frustrating. I use it to measure the temperature on the left side and the right side of the patient. This helps to tell me how out of balance the nervous system is.
Low and behold they alwasy move closer together after they have had a chiropractic adjustment.

[lordgarth @ Feb 1st 2006 3:27PM]

Out of balance you say? OK.....

http://www.chirobase.org/