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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

#171

Post by sureklix »

jffry wrote: post #156
AlexanderDhoore wrote: post #116

As a European: why are there chips in this? I just broke open mine and it looks like this: https://imgur.com/a/muz7FIy I bought 50 of these 2 weeks ago. Were 3-4 euro a piece.

For reference, this is one specific type of test available in the US, there are other more common tests which are electronics-free. There are some valid reasons for tests like this to exist. To quote later on in the linked Tweet thread [1]: BTW it's easy to say this is wasteful, and it probably is, but just like with the pregnancy test, you should consider that there's three main problems that can affect the accuracy…

> And making it bluetooth removes a source of e-waste!

wait, so bluetooth is cheaper than paper?

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

#172

Post by scotty79 »

Fnoord wrote: post #168
jffry wrote: post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For reference, this is one specific type of test available in the US, there are other more common tests which are electronics-free. There are some valid reasons for tests like this to exist. To quote later on in the linked Tweet thread [1]: BTW it's easy to say this is wasteful, and it probably is, but just like with the pregnancy test, you should consider that there's three main problems that can affect the accuracy…

Except the first 2 are examples of human error. You are supposed to follow the instructions, and the instructions tell you to carefully read the instructions which I have done with multiple 'manual' antigen tests. They're crystal clear. With regards to these 2 examples you can ensure decent lighting with a smartphone (torch) these days. Incorrect timing, can also be solved with a smartphone by setting an alarm (or ju…

While I was doing my test I read instructions carefully but then after few minutes of gathering courage to stab myself (surprisingly hard to do) in the finger I managed to mess the rest of the procedure up by putting buffer fluid, or blood, I don't remember, in the wrong hole.

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

#173

Post by SV_BubbleTime »

amelius wrote: post #146
new299 wrote: post #61

The Lucira test is in my opinion a bit more interesting: https://aseq.substack.com/p/inside-the-lucira-check-it-covid They include an STM32, but the instrument is performing an Isothermal PCR molecular test which makes the inclusion of a microcontroller a requirement. Obviously throwing out electronics like this seems quite wasteful. But overall our society is fairly wasteful when it comes to disposable electronics.

> They include an STM32 This might explain partly why they are all sold out :(

Hey man, cut me deep here. I need STM to get their stuff together and ship product. The next batch of product I ship is already at a loss because I’m buying from scalpers :(

I’m just lucky we’re a non-electronics business that shipes electronics parts. If we were an electronics company, I would seriously consider a year hiatus, or switch to software contracting for awhile.

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

#174

Post by SV_BubbleTime »

sureklix wrote: post #171
jffry wrote: post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For reference, this is one specific type of test available in the US, there are other more common tests which are electronics-free. There are some valid reasons for tests like this to exist. To quote later on in the linked Tweet thread [1]: BTW it's easy to say this is wasteful, and it probably is, but just like with the pregnancy test, you should consider that there's three main problems that can affect the accuracy…

> And making it bluetooth removes a source of e-waste! wait, so bluetooth is cheaper than paper?

Cheaper than paper? IDK.

But I have A product that I just did the math on. I was making a “dumb version“ that removed BLE and added two buttons. The BLE version would end up being cheaper. Of course this assumes that the Bluetooth software firmware is already completed, which for me it is.

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

#175

Post by SV_BubbleTime »

johannes1234321 wrote: post #142
mrunkel wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s for the Bluetooth piece. The optical sensor reads the result and the turns on the light and/or lets the phone know over Bluetooth. Seems unnecessary, but if people want to buy it…

> Seems unnecessary, but if people want to buy it… Considering that this is an article used once for a few minutes the environmental cost for production and deposition is high and society shouldn't tolerate ...

Once for this specific test. If you planned on buying a lot of tests and using them regularly, maybe you could find value in a BLE connection? IDK. That crosses into a different new normal line for me that I am uninterested in I think.

Otherwise, I agree, seems wasteful when you look at what had to happen to ship that product.

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

#176

Post by johannes1234321 »

SV_BubbleTime wrote: post #175
johannes1234321 wrote: post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Seems unnecessary, but if people want to buy it… Considering that this is an article used once for a few minutes the environmental cost for production and deposition is high and society shouldn't tolerate ...

Once for this specific test. If you planned on buying a lot of tests and using them regularly, maybe you could find value in a BLE connection? IDK. That crosses into a different new normal line for me that I am uninterested in I think. Otherwise, I agree, seems wasteful when you look at what had to happen to ship that product.

If you do mass testing the Bluetooth might be useful in theory, but you babe to make sure to protect the data well ...

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

#178

Post by tragictrash »

sureklix wrote: post #171
jffry wrote: post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For reference, this is one specific type of test available in the US, there are other more common tests which are electronics-free. There are some valid reasons for tests like this to exist. To quote later on in the linked Tweet thread [1]: BTW it's easy to say this is wasteful, and it probably is, but just like with the pregnancy test, you should consider that there's three main problems that can affect the accuracy…

> And making it bluetooth removes a source of e-waste! wait, so bluetooth is cheaper than paper?

Think how small they can produce chips now.

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

#179

Post by emteycz »

jeroenhd wrote: post #154
Nitrolo wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm wondering if they're subsidized, but the price in Germany at the supermarket hovers around 1€ each. I was really surprised to hear that these are not a thing in the US, any idea why?

Here in the NL they're about €2,50 each, so there may be some subsidizing going on in Germany (or we're getting ripped off for €1,50 per test). Schools and food banks can hand out free self tests so there is definitely some kind of subsidizing going on here, but in a different way.

Surely someone would import them and sell for €2 and then someone else would sell them for €1.5 and then someone else would sell them for €1.2 if you were just being ripped off. Is that really the only reason you could think of?

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

#180

Post by daneel_w »

belter wrote: post #169
daneel_w wrote: post #165

I can't believe even a fractional percentage of customers would find it useful to have wireless interaction with a disposable single-use test kit, compared to reading the result off of a passive testing strip. It would've been reedemable if they had sold the strips as a separate replacable product so that the electronic device could be fully utilized.

It might have its uses...If for privacy reasons, the testing subject is in a closed room and you want to make sure they report from the correct test.

What if the patient doesn't have a smartphone (or don't know how to pair/operate Bluetooth), or too many active test kits are lingering in the patient waiting room making it impossible to navigate all the devices? I don't see how this particular SKU would be a good fit for a clinic. Easier and cheaper to just give the patient a passive test strip they can use in their own privacy.
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