Data apps join fight against pandemic

How sensors are being adapted to battle the health crisis

Location: Tokyo, Japan

This tech is being used to monitor customers

aiming to reduce the risk of infection in stores

It was originally designed for sales data

But it can:

- Help enforce distancing

- Check customers' temperatures

- Ensure face masks are worn

(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) LEADER FROM SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT TEAM OF HITACHI-LG DATA STORAGE, NORIMOTO ICHIKAWA, SAYING:"After the sensor emits a laser beam, it can measure the distance by calculating the time for the laser beam takes to return. Since the distance can be measured completely without human contact, it is possible to grasp the information of people's movement. The process is completely without human contact. So we can also measure things such as how close people are to each other, whether it is overcrowded or not, and how many people are in the store."

This wearable sensor was designed for sport

but may now be used for patients in quarantine hotels

(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) CHIEF OF UNION TOOL'S SALES AND MARKETING DEPARTMENT, NAOKI JIMBO, SAYING:"When the heart beats, it generates an electric signal. By catching the weak electric signal from the heart that flows to the surface of the body, we can get the heart rate information."