Scan De Microbes Using MIT App Inventor

Abstract

The idea of bacterial scanning is realistic not only in operating rooms but also everywhere around human because bacteria and viruses grow everywhere. It is the job of individual and the community to keep the environment hygiene at all times. Several devices such as sterilizers, ultraviolet (UV) and autoclave are helpful to clean door handles, toilets, washbasins, railings, keyboards, seats, etc. However, those devices require either physical intact or chemical exposure to disinfect the areas without initial identification whether the bacteria are presence or not. If bacteria can be detected at the earliest time possible, preventive and initiative action can be taken and harmful bacteria can be prevented from infecting towards any personal. Hence, the development of Scan De Microbes is intended to address this situation. This system was developed as a scanning device to indicate the accumulation of bacteria on user’s hand where most interaction between a person and the surrounding is done by hand (i.e. eating, opening door, etc). The developed device is able to capture image of the hand which was illuminated by UV light under dark surrounding. Due to wide range of smart phone camera specification, all captured images were converted to a standard size image that acceptable for the application to process. The captured images later were processed and the orange color spot that appeared on the hand was calculated due to reaction of the bacteria with the hand. Results showed the estimated percentage of the accumulated bacteria on the hand from the processed images. The result page in the developed application was then displayed. This data later on can be saved and share wirelessly using Bluetooth of any apps available on the smartphone. Multiple images with different percentage of accumulated bacteria were tested using the application. The finding is conclusive and can be used as a preliminary accessor tool to investigate or detect any potential bacteria that already accumulate on the user’s hand. This development may assist the user in global warfare with the invisible enemy known to man as germ or bacteria in order to improve the livelihood and well-being of humans.