Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

PullClean: Door handles as sanitizers

pullclean.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–57 of 57 posts

Re: PullClean: Door handles as sanitizers

#51

Post by alexvr »

Clever idea, but I think I would prefer automatic doors and conveniently located motion-sensing sanitizer dispensers. And as much as I like embedded software, I don't think it's particularly useful or worthwhile in something like this, with the exception of monitoring the amount of remaining sanitizer in individual handles.

Also, from what I've heard, hand sanitizers aren't great for you. Placing them on doors, encouraging (or perhaps pressuring) people to use them frequently, might do more harm than good. It would be vastly more practical and effective to strategically place motion-triggered sanitizer dispensers after doors, especially in patient rooms and on the way out of certain sections of the hospital.

It's respectable that you're thinking outside the box and looking to solve a real problem, but this needs more thought.

Re: PullClean: Door handles as sanitizers

#52

Post by Malus »

chdir wrote: post #35

Slightly related: I wish door handles, taps, bathroom flushes, up/down lift buttons etc. are mostly foot operated everywhere. There's really not much advantage of interacting with all these knobs with your hands.

This doesn't work well for those who are wheelchair-bound or in crutches.

Re: PullClean: Door handles as sanitizers

#53

Post by escapologybb »

dragonwriter wrote: post #49
escapologybb wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're absolutely right, my evidence is anecdotal. But I'm 36 years old now, and I've been in and out of hospital probably thousands of times and had medical care each day in one form or another. So yes, anecdotes for sure. But that's one hell of a lot of anecdotes. :-)

The difference between anecdote and systematically gathered data to resolve a question isn't one of how extensive the anecdote is, its about how representative it is. (And, of course, there's other issues with anecdote about what other people think , since what that really is is is one persons inferences about what lots of other people think.)

Absolutely, and I would imagine that once I'd made my mind up about this there was a fair degree of confirmation bias thrown in as well. Along with a whole host of other Things One Mustn't Do When Collecting Trustworthy Data™.

Re: PullClean: Door handles as sanitizers

#54

Post by DanBC »

escapologybb wrote: post #19
JoeAltmaier wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That would be very cool. Could do it every time, instead of only when the operator remembers to.

I think it would be a great idea to do that, as well as somehow showing up how many germs are left on your hands. Sort of like when you throw white paint around at a rave and everybody has got their hands in the air, glowing white skin and…

There are handwashing demonstration soaps that include an ingredient that fluoresces under UV light. You wash your hands normally using the soap then a UV light shows you how bad you are at washin your hands.

Re: PullClean: Door handles as sanitizers

#55

Post by DanBC »

HNJohnC wrote: post #14

Another solution in search of a problem. How about posts about truly interesting things like beneficial microbial populations etc. The days of "sanitizing" are rapidly coming to a close in the face of modern science.

This is a baffling post.

Sanitizing is more important because modern science is losing anti-biotics.

Hospital acquired infections kill a reasonable number of people and make quite a few others miserable (vomiting bugs are not fun).

Re: PullClean: Door handles as sanitizers

#57

Post by bradknowles »

evanb wrote: post #34
muxxa wrote: post #24

The handles on inward opening doors are a vector for bacteria because there is no way of physically interacting with them without using your hands and touching the same place as everyone else. This product does not solve this problem, but instead tries to insert itself into the users' task flow at precisely the time when their goals are focused elsewhere (on opening the door). This is a rude interruption and will lik…

I've seen things along this line in restaurants before: http://footpull.com/

Doesn't work. That requires you to pull a door open with your feet, using the strongest muscles in your body but in a way in which they are weakest.
Post reply on HN