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There's an ARM Cortex-M4 with Bluetooth inside a Covid test kit

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Re: There's an ARM Cortex-M4 with Bluetooth inside a Covid test kit

#101

Post by hnaccount_rng »

justinc8687 wrote: post #79
sudosysgen wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, that is what I mean. I dont think the freedom argument makes sense since you already have to carry your Vax card with ID, so if you're going to be a bit authoritarian why not just do it right?

I think the argument (which to be clear, I don't agree with) is that there isn't a big federal database of vaccinations. Now mind you, if people understood how the EU QR codes work (public/private key), they'd realize this wasn't an issue, but if people are staunchly anti-vax / anti-science, this is probably a big ask...

But also, just to be clear: This doesn't prevent "forgeries" from circulating. Those aren't home-made, but you can just copy a QR code from someone else. And next-to-noone is checking the ID (which in theory would be required to close that point). And even if the ID were to be checked, all you need to find is one doctor or pharmacist, that is willing to misread your yellow book (WHO vaccination booklet).

I'd still say: There isn't much use in the proofing system. Just do vaccinations Israel-style. I.e. have the option to get vaccinated literally everywhere and without our "but you need an appointment" and "but your last dose needs to be 6 month ago" (the latter is getting better).

Re: There's an ARM Cortex-M4 with Bluetooth inside a Covid test kit

#102

Post by geonic »

aspyct wrote: post #92
throwaway4good wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Europe a COVID19 quick test is 1-2 USD. This is 20-40 USD? For a device you only use once. Why is there any kind of market for this?

Quick self-test is 8€ here in Belgium. Are we being ripped off?

Prices have gone up sharply since the fourth wave in Europe. I remember seeing self-tests for 0.85 in summer. Now they‘re going for 3.00 bucks or so.

Re: There's an ARM Cortex-M4 with Bluetooth inside a Covid test kit

#103

Post by throwaway4good »

geonic wrote: post #102
aspyct wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quick self-test is 8€ here in Belgium. Are we being ripped off?

Prices have gone up sharply since the fourth wave in Europe. I remember seeing self-tests for 0.85 in summer. Now they‘re going for 3.00 bucks or so.

It is the new toilet paper ...

Re: There's an ARM Cortex-M4 with Bluetooth inside a Covid test kit

#105

Post by [deleted] »

[deleted] wrote: post #104
ip26 wrote: post #22

This is depressing. Single use disposable. Full of copper, gold, tungsten, halfnium. Will leach poison into the ground. Some of the most advanced technology of our age. Use it once, toss it in the trash. Meanwhile the paper versions work just fine.

[deleted]

[deleted]

Re: There's an ARM Cortex-M4 with Bluetooth inside a Covid test kit

#106

Post by tjoff »

evan_ wrote: post #67

I wonder why they didn’t use NFC. They could get away with a much simpler chip, or even a fully analog solution if they didn’t need the complexity of Bluetooth. Seems like you could just about accomplish the same thing with a pair of NFC tokens, a photodiode, and some transistors. Basic components. Connect one of the two NFC chips to the coil depending on how much light is reflected off the test strip. When you scann…

Because of apple.

Re: There's an ARM Cortex-M4 with Bluetooth inside a Covid test kit

#107

Post by kristopolous »

dmix wrote: post #98

US paid $230M to have this device built. https://www.cnbc.com/video/2021/02/01/us-231m-deal-ellume-at...

I can't help but imagine a parking lot full of Ferraris at their offices

Maybe I'm Elizabeth Holmsing it, but I'm thinking it could have been done for 1/50th that price while still paying people well and providing them the resources they need.

Am I missing something?

Re: There's an ARM Cortex-M4 with Bluetooth inside a Covid test kit

#108

Post by jakzq »

thebigman433 wrote: post #78
Reichhardt wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quoted post unavailable.

1. What powerful political and economic interests WANT those things to stay in place? They are mostly bad for both politics AND economics. 2. Its crazy to me that one of the things coming out of all of this is that we should get rid of quarantining. I wish the conclusion people came to was "wow, we should definitely have people quarantine when theyre sick instead of going to work and getting coworkers sick"

https://qz.com/1968215/covid-lockdowns-are-supercharging-ama...

Re: There's an ARM Cortex-M4 with Bluetooth inside a Covid test kit

#109

Post by lanternfish »

kristopolous wrote: post #107
dmix wrote: post #98

US paid $230M to have this device built. https://www.cnbc.com/video/2021/02/01/us-231m-deal-ellume-at...

I can't help but imagine a parking lot full of Ferraris at their offices Maybe I'm Elizabeth Holmsing it, but I'm thinking it could have been done for 1/50th that price while still paying people well and providing them the resources they need. Am I missing something?

Money is remarkably adept at reducing red tape to ribbons.

I think this is a timeframe/certainty axis more than an efficacy/cost one.

Re: There's an ARM Cortex-M4 with Bluetooth inside a Covid test kit

#110

Post by varjag »

viraptor wrote: post #17
colechristensen wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cost, power, board complexity, reliability. Embedded development is much different than what a lot of developers are used to.

Also availability. The more basic the chip, the easier / faster it is to get 1k of them. (or to find a perfect/close match requiring minimal changes)

That's only a recent thing really.
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