News Hub | News Direct

Healthcare

Addiction Biotech Cannabis Genetics Healthcare Medical Devices Pharmaceutical Science Veterinary
Article thumbnail News Release

Paralyzed Veterans of America works to end handicapped parking abuse, marks 75th year advocating for accessibility

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/ulJa59_iS_w Accessible parking spaces designed specifically for people with disabilities are often misused, causing added difficulties for paralyzed veterans and others with disabilities. A survey found that 85% of Americans with disabilities struggled to find accessible parking in their communities, and over 50% turned back when they couldn’t find accessible parking. What can be done to combat this problem? Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) has launched the Honor the Spot campaign to encourage all Americans to do their part to keep handicapped parking spaces open for people who need them to be independent. The campaign reminds people that accessible spots are a civil right, and taking them means people with disabilities may not get to appointments and errands. The call to Honor the Spot comes as public spaces open up to larger capacities as pandemic restrictions ease, and as PVA marks its 75 th year as a voice for veterans with spinal cord conditions, and all people with disabilities. PVA is asking people to pledge to be part of the solution at pva.org/HonortheSpot, not to make excuses for taking accessible spots, and not to share handicapped placards for any reason. About Paralyzed Veterans of America: For 75 years, Paralyzed Veterans of America has been the only Veterans service organization dedicated solely to helping Veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D), and diseases like MS and ALS. Our team of legislative advocates, architects, medical professionals, lawyers, and other highly trained professionals strives to ensure that every Veteran regains the freedom, independence, and quality of life they fought for. PVA is a major support system for our nation’s paralyzed heroes, their families, and caregivers, through ensuring quality health care; securing earned benefits; fighting for disability civil rights; making America more accessible; helping Veterans find meaningful careers; empowering them through sports, recreation, and wellness programs; and funding both research and education in search for a cure and improved care and autonomy for individuals with paralysis. Operating more than 70 offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, PVA helps paralyzed Veterans and all people with disabilities live fuller, more productive lives. Learn more at pva.org. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

June 23, 2021 03:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Video
Article thumbnail News Release

Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit (HEPRU) at the University of Ottawa and Innovation Canada to work with SYMP2PASS by SmartCone on COVID screening enhancements

SmartCone Technologies, Inc.

Symp2Pass by SmartCone has partnered with the HEPRU in offering the first ever personal advanced COVID screening process using ScentsiBLE a patent pending smell test process. SmartCone Technologies, Canada’s leader in IoT (Internet of Things) solutions and developer of Symp2Pass is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Innovations Canada and Dr. Glen P. Kenny, Director of the HEPRU at the University of Ottawa, Canada to further develop technologies and proprietary processes to help strengthen the return-to-work solution for COVID-19. For the past 27 years, the HEPRU has been leading innovative and cutting-edge research on the assessment of the environmental and human factors affecting health and performance ( www.hepru.ca ). This includes the development of sophisticated heat protection technologies to safeguard health and safety in partnership with SmartCone Technologies. SmartCone Technologies and its strategic partners (like Disney SyncLink) have many valuable screening, monitoring and cleaning patents and processes that will be integrated into Symp2Pass and other processes to help in the prevention and spread of COVID-19 and protect the health and wellbeing of the general population and workers Symp2Passes by SmartCone is a personal and private advanced screening process that uses a patent pending smell test (ScentsiBLE) along with a key symptom survey and required government COVID questions to quickly test individuals for key symptoms of COVID. Symp2Pass is currently being tested by Disney, Ontario Tech University (funded by the Canadian Government) and a leading nuclear power company which, will increase safety for employees, site visitors and protect the assets (buildings, complexes etc.) so that everyone carry work responsibilities and socialize safely. “We are excited to work with Symp2Pass and SmartCone to help test, verify and finalize their COVID back-to-work screening process. In combination with a COVID self- assessment questionnaire, the system offers individuals a rapid screening test that can help stop the spread of COVID and keep individuals safe and workplaces open. “ Dr. Gen P. Kenny, Director of the HEPRU uOttawa” About SYMP2PASS Powered By SmartCone SYMP2PASS, developed in conjunction with doctors and researchers, is the first anonymous end-to-end advanced health screening web process. Using our patent pending ScentsiBLE scent test paired with multi-symptom survey, SYMP2PASS will help reduce the spread of COVID and save businesses and countries millions of dollars. Learn more at www.symp2pass.com About SmartCone Technologies, Inc. SmartCone Technologies Inc. (SCTI) is a unique data sensory company that commercializes new Internet-of-Things (IoT) technologies powering a wide array of sensors, edge computing, sensor fusion and artificial intelligence (AI). TheSmartCone™ solutions have been used most recently in “ Return to Work ” solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as securing dangerous work sites, controlling bicycle lane traffic, managing vehicle fleets, smart warehouses, crowd control, and more. Visit us at www.thesmartcone.com ### For more information, please contact Richard Harris 604-808-2124 ric@symp2pass.com Contact Details Symp2Pass Richard Harris CMO +1 604-808-2124 ric@symp2pass.com Company Website https://www.thesmartcone.com

June 23, 2021 01:56 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Image
Article thumbnail News Release

Phase 4 Services Adds “Science and Quality Powerhouse” Duo to Roster of Cannabis Testing Experts

Phase 4 Services

MCR Labs Director of Scientific Operations Scott Churchill and former ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) Accreditation Manager Matthew Sica have joined Phase 4 Services, a laboratory management and consulting firm looking to solidify its status as a leader in the marijuana and hemp testing space. Churchill, an analytical testing and pharmaceutical science expert with nearly a decade of cannabis industry experience, has been named Phase 4’s vice president of scientific development. Sica, a compliance testing and accreditation expert with 30 year of experience in the field, has joined the firm as vice president of regulatory compliance & quality. “Scott and Matt have both been integral to growing MCR Labs into a successful multistate organization,” said Michael Kahn, founder and CEO of MCR Labs, a cannabis testing lab operating in several legal cannabis markets. “Together, these two are an absolute science and quality powerhouse that bring critical knowledge and experience to Phase 4’s consulting team.” In their respective roles at Phase 4 Services, Churchill and Sica will assist the firm’s laboratory partners with method development, process improvement, regulatory compliance, and managing the challenges of scaling operations effectively. Phase 4 Services works with cannabis testing labs in both the marijuana and hemp industries to streamline management processes, advance testing capabilities, and implement business strategies designed for the evolving cannabis industry. About Phase 4 Services: Phase 4 Services is a scientific consulting and laboratory management firm dedicated to growing, supporting, and enhancing hemp and cannabis testing laboratories. Founded by experts in analytical testing, pharmaceutical chemistry, business administration, and development strategy, our team is equipped with the knowledge and experience necessary to ensure partner laboratories are successful in their pursuit of advancing public health and safety for cannabis patients and consumers. For more information visit http://phase4services.com. Contact Details Phase 4 Services Joe Crinkley +1 857-230-0839 PR@phase4services.com Company Website https://phase4services.com/

June 23, 2021 11:38 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Article thumbnail News Release

Comcast Business Helps Sabey Bring High-Speed Connectivity to Washington Area Data Centers and Offer Better IT Continuity

Comcast Washington

Comcast Business today announced it is investing in local Washington data centers in partnership with the Sabey Data Centers to bring better IT continuity and connectivity to businesses. Specifically, Comcast Business will integrate its connectivity into data centers located in Tukwila and Quincy, giving businesses a private connection to regional Sabey data centers. The collaboration will also help advance digital transformation initiatives and enable Washington state businesses to better support their employees working remotely. Most recently, Washington state has made a name for itself in the data center sector for hosting the digital assets of California-based enterprises. Thanks to these benefits, Washington is currently experiencing rapid growth across its data center market. Recognizing the benefits of hosting data in Washington state, Sabey Data Centers has brought to market a combined 2.2 million square feet of data center space throughout the state, and is providing tenants with access to reliable, price-stabilized affordable power via sustainable generation, superior connectivity and turnkey infrastructure deployment. As one of the largest privately-owned data center operators in the world, Sabey needs reliable, credible partners to help capitalize on the booming data center market in Washington. They have teamed up with Comcast Business for comprehensive solutions that support the broad connectivity initiatives data centers demand. “CIOs and IT decision makers are often challenged with managing connections to multiple data centers and cloud solutions, managing application performance as well as troubleshooting latency and throughput issues from their data center connections,” said John Ford, VP and General Manager, Sabey Data Centers, Seattle. “Comcast Business’ data center connectivity helps our customers simplify their workloads by providing direct access on a network that can be tied to a business’s physical location – this means great performance, reliability, and scalability, and ultimately greater network agility for businesses.” By integrating Comcast Business’ Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) system, Sabey Data Center customers will be able to take advantage of high network availability. Comcast Business has also built diverse 100 Gbps connections through separate network locations in its HFC system, so if there is an outage along one path, alternative paths are available for backup connectivity and support so Sabey customers can stay online. As part of the partnership, Comcast Business will also offer Sabey customers an “on-ramp” to popular cloud services like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and IBM Cloud via the Comcast Business Direct-to-Cloud platform, which connects customers to the cloud without going through the Internet. “Comcast Business is focused on empowering businesses with a choice in hybrid IT solutions and massive Ethernet network reach,” said Scott Woodard, Director of Sales Engineering for Comcast Business’ WA Region. “Our goal is to connect data centers and cloud services to more than one million Ethernet-enabled buildings and businesses nationwide.” In addition, businesses already using Comcast Business Ethernet and IP services will have efficient and secure access to Sabey’s data centers. Plus, workers with Xfinity internet who need to remotely access information or upload files will be able to send their information through Comcast’s statewide network. “We’ve already seen that the demand for digital transformation has the power to completely revolutionize how a business operates,” said Rob Brenner, Vice President of Comcast Business for Comcast’s Washington Region. “As a provider of comprehensive technology solutions for businesses, we are thrilled to partner with the Sabey Data Centers to help local businesses in Washington transform their backend operations and modernize in anticipation of a data-driven future of work.” For more information, please visit http://business.comcast.com. About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers a suite of Connectivity, Communications, Networking, Cybersecurity, Wireless, and Managed Solutions to help organizations of different sizes prepare for what’s next. Powered by the nation’s largest Gig-speed broadband network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and one of the leading service providers to the Enterprise market. Comcast Business has been consistently recognized by industry analysts and associations as a leader and innovator, and one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, call 866-429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social. Contact Details Comcast Nick McDonald +1 425-977-5565 Nick_McDonald@Comcast.com FINN Partners Chloe Huard +13132094957 chloe.huard@finnpartners.com Company Website https://washington.comcast.com/

June 23, 2021 05:58 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Image
Article thumbnail News Release

Cloudrise Closes Seed Round of Funding

Cloudrise

Cloudrise accelerates growth in 2021 by closing out their seed round of funding, recruiting new talent to their board of directors, fostering core partnerships, and delivering best-in-class data protection and automation services to their customers. Since launching the company in October of 2019, Cloudrise has delivered 100+ data protection services projects to over 60 customers globally, including several Fortune 50 enterprises. As they continue to exceed revenue targets and the momentum builds, Cloudrise is investing significantly to expand their service delivery and research and development teams, raising the bar for data protection and automation. In May, Cloudrise secured additional capital to help to fund further growth and innovation. Stormbreaker Ventures is a key investor that helped enable Cloudrise to close the seed round of investment funding. Said Mia, Managing Partner at Stormbreaker, commented: “Cloudrise’s vision of redefining data protection through automation is unmatched in this space and we are confident their innovative drive, coupled with Stormbreaker’s investment, will propel the team into their next phase of growth. We look to partner with high-velocity companies that build effectively and efficiently, and Cloudrise's approach to date has been the best of both." With success comes the need to add more talent to the Board of Directors. A Partner at Greater Colorado Venture Fund, Marc Nager also co-founded Startup Weekend, was CEO of UP Global, and Chief Community Officer at Techstars. Marc not only brings a wealth of experience to the board, but his passions for the Western Slope of Colorado align with Cloudrise’s drive to provide opportunities within their community. “I am honored and excited to join such a passionate and innovative team. I feel strongly that this team is at the right place, at the right time in the cyber security space, and we know the Western Slope startup community is going to rally behind the amazing team they're building in Grand Junction,” said Marc Nager. Cloudrise is committed to delivering high-value, innovative solutions to their customers. “We are extremely excited to welcome Marc to the board and Stormbreaker to our investment portfolio. These partnerships will enable Cloudrise to continue to innovate and provide world-class services to our customers. We founded Cloudrise on the premise that we want to provide value to our customers every day – and for us that means maintaining genuine culture, partnering with our customers, and driving innovation based on business needs”, said Rob Eggebrecht, CEO and co-founder at Cloudrise. About Stormbreaker Ventures Stormbreaker Ventures is an early-stage fund focused on capital efficient startups. The firm believes in a future where venture capital is more equitable, more efficient, and more genuine. Stormbreaker sees an opportunity within venture capital to be a true partner to its founders, not just a check that bides time until the next round. With a portfolio of more than 30 companies, Stormbreaker's partners operate from Silicon Valley, Denver, and Houston. About Marc Nager Marc is a Partner at the Greater Colorado Venture Fund and since 2009, Marc has been a leader of the startup movement around the world. He has built and scaled programs that have served more than 500,000 entrepreneurs in over 700 cities and 142 countries around the world. At UP Global he managed a team of nearly 75 people with offices in 5 international locations and oversaw Startup Weekend, Startup Next, Startup Digest, Startup Week, and Startup America. He's worked with grassroots and political leaders from around the world as well as executives at many FT500 companies around innovation and entrepreneurship. Originally from the small town of Mammoth Lakes, CA, Marc now lives in Telluride where he served as the Managing Director for the Telluride Venture Accelerator. When he is not working to change the state of rural economies, he can be found out in the mountains. About Cloudrise Cloudrise was founded by business and security entrepreneurs with experience in global markets, successful start-ups, and Fortune 500 companies. Combining decades of data protection expertise with automation, Cloudrise focuses on securing data wherever it resides. They assist organizations by assessing, enabling, automating, and managing their data protection and privacy programs. At Cloudrise, they are redefining data protection. Cloudrise can be found at www.cloudrise.com or on LinkedIn. Contact Details CLoudrise, Inc. Jodi Lewis +1 800-917-7619 sales@cloudrise.com Company Website https://cloudrise.com/

June 22, 2021 11:11 AM Central Daylight Time

Article thumbnail News Release

How AI is Helping the Fight Against Breast Cancer

YourUpdateTV

Breast cancer recently surpassed lung cancer as the number 1 diagnosed cancer in the U.S., excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer. Additionally, the National Cancer Institute recently predicted an almost 10,000 excess deaths from breast and colorectal cancers over the next 10 years as a direct result of the pandemic, making it now more important than ever for women to take control over their breast health. Recently, Randy Hicks, MD, MBA, Co-Owner and CEO of Regional Medical Imaging (RMI) in Michigan, participated in a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss how new technology is helping the fight against breast cancer. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/7nWf973J1ww The COVID-19 pandemic brought routine health screenings, such as mammograms, to a screeching halt, declining up to 92% in some areas last year, according to a study in the Journal of the American College of Radiology. Now, with Americans getting vaccinated and infection rates decreasing around the country, many women are playing catch-up on these vital health screenings, which leads to another issue — a drastic increase in workload for doctors, who must face a surge of patients who need to be screened. Fortunately, an innovative new tool is available to help clinicians cope with this sudden demand, which at the same time provides them a higher degree of accuracy than ever before. ProFound AI ® uses the latest in deep-learning artificial intelligence (AI) and is clinically proven to help radiologists read mammograms more than 50% faster - and with more accuracy - while also reducing false positives and unnecessary callbacks, which can be stressful for women. ProFound AI was the first 3D tomosynthesis software using AI to be cleared by the FDA. For more information, visit icadmed.com About Randy Hicks, MD, MBA, Co-Owner and CEO of Regional Medical Imaging (RMI) in Michigan: Dr. Hicks is a distinguished practitioner, thought leader, and published researcher in women’s imaging for breast cancer, with additional interests and expertise in parathyroid and thyroid imaging, and in developing interventional breast biopsy procedures and products. A committed advocate for women’s healthcare, Dr. Hicks has worked closely with colleagues in the medical community to encourage multidisciplinary, best-practice approaches, having collaborated to establish local tumor boards that pool expertise from leading healthcare organizations in the region. He has also served as a catalyst for expanding the role of information technology and the use of artificial intelligence in enhancing the quality and efficiency of healthcare. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

June 18, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Video
Article thumbnail News Release

American Kidney Fund Applauds Introduction of the CARE for All Kidneys Act of 2021

American Kidney Fund

The American Kidney Fund (AKF) applauds Reps. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) for introducing the Coordination, Accountability, Research and Equity for All Kidneys Act of 2021, also known as the CARE for All Kidneys Act of 2021 (H.R. 3893). The bill would create a national action plan to address kidney disease in historically underserved populations, including minority and rural communities. LaVarne A. Burton, president and CEO of the American Kidney Fund, today issued this statement: “Kidney disease is one of the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States. Communities of color are disproportionately impacted by kidney failure, and underserved and rural communities face issues accessing health care. This important bill will pinpoint the issues that have created such a burden of kidney disease in these communities and will develop steps needed to prevent kidney disease, delay progression to kidney failure and increase the number of kidney transplants. “People living in underserved and rural communities have long faced challenges accessing health insurance, primary care, preventive care and pre-dialysis nephrology care. AKF is proud to have worked closely with Reps. Blunt Rochester and Wenstrup to develop a bill that aims to improve the health care delivery system, making it more equitable, accessible and inclusive, and to ensure high quality care for all kidney disease patients. “The CARE for All Kidneys Act of 2021 would create a national action plan that brings together key stakeholders, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at NIH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to address health disparities in kidney disease. The bill would support initiatives like expanding ongoing kidney disease research and addressing lower kidney transplantation rates in underserved communities. “This legislation is vital in addressing health disparities, improving the social determinants of health in the U.S. and ensuring that all kidney patients have access to the care they need. The introduction of this bill is just the first step. AKF is urging other members of Congress to cosponsor this important legislation to help it advance.” About the American Kidney Fund The American Kidney Fund (AKF) fights kidney disease on all fronts as the nation’s leading kidney nonprofit. AKF works on behalf of the 37 million Americans living with kidney disease, and the millions more at risk, with an unmatched scope of programs that support people wherever they are in their fight against kidney disease—from prevention through transplant. With programs that address early detection, disease management, financial assistance, clinical research, innovation and advocacy, no kidney organization impacts more lives than AKF. AKF is one of the nation’s top-rated nonprofits, investing 97 cents of every donated dollar in programs, and holds the highest 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator and the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. For more information, please visit KidneyFund.org, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Contact Details American Kidney Fund Elissa Blattman +1 301-984-6644 eblattman@kidneyfund.org Company Website http://www.kidneyfund.org/

June 17, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Article thumbnail News Release

Cyvatar Raises an Additional $9 Million in Series A Round

Cyvatar

Cyvatar today announced that it has raised $9 million as part of its Series A financing to help scale and serve its rapidly growing customer base and continue to drive the adoption of its innovative cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) model. Escalating cybersecurity breaches and the need to address vulnerabilities across systems, networks, and apps fuel the security services market, expected to reach $193 billion by 2028. Additionally, the growth in hybrid and remote workers coupled with unsecured and unpatched BYOD devices further underscores the need for on-demand cybersecurity resources that include human talent, proven processes, and best-of-breed technology delivered from a single intuitive platform. Cyvatar has grown more than 200% since its debut in October. ATX Venture Partners led the round with additional participation from existing customer CORTEC and longtime Cyvatar investor Bill Wood Ventures. Cyvatar closed a $3 million seed round late last year, bringing the total amount raised over the last eight months to $12 million. “We’ve seen fundraising explode in the security space, in part as a result of the raft of ransomware, email compromise, and phishing attacks that have made people more aware of the problem and increased the need to fix it quickly and effectively,” said Chris Shonk, partner at ATX Venture Partners. “Cyvatar is an exciting addition to our dynamic portfolio and a natural fit alongside our other rapidly growing organizations. No other company we evaluated solves the problems of cybersecurity like Cyvatar. With Cyvatar CSaaS, security becomes as effortless as turning on the lights. There’s no better value for customers.” Cyvatar CSaaS offers security in a box for organizations of any size and any level of cybersecurity expertise--already more than 150 platform members have started the security journey with Cyvatar. Its mature sales and marketing engine makes it easy for new members to join and offers ongoing education and support for existing customers to continuously remediate evolving threats, safeguard critical systems, and boost compliance scores. "I can tell you that after implementing just three Cyvatar solutions, our security confidence is a lot stronger than it was before and our company as a whole is far more secure,” said Brent Fanguy, vice president of technology at CORTEC. “We applaud Cyvatar for pricing by employee count because it’s so easy to calculate and fit into our budget -- no counting servers or workstations, which is a nightmare. Cyvatar has delivered consistent value from our security spend, and we look forward to continuing to grow our partnership with them.” Whether customers need to speed their sales cycles, remediate after a breach, prevent future incursions, or respond to a third-party risk assessment, Cyvatar helps them achieve superior business outcomes every day. Click HERE to get started free and learn more about how Cyvatar is making cybersecurity effortless for every business. About Cyvatar Cyvatar is committed to effortless cybersecurity for everyone. As the industry’s first subscription-based, cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) company, it’s our mission to transform the way the security industry builds, sells, and supports cyber solutions. We empower our members to achieve successful outcomes by providing expert advisors, proven technologies, and a strategic process roadmap to guarantee results that map to their business drivers. Our approach is rooted in proprietary ICARM (installation, configuration, assessment, remediation, maintenance) methodology that delivers smarter, measurable security solutions for superior compliance and cyber-attack protection faster and more efficiently, all at a fixed monthly price. And because we’re a subscription, members can cancel anytime. Cyvatar is a global organization with operations around the world. Begin your journey to security confidence at cyvatar.ai and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. About ATX Venture Partners ATX Venture Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm specializing in the South-Central US. The firm’s seed and Series A investments focus on software-as-a-service, IoT, e-commerce, AI, frontier commercial technologies and mobile applications. ATX Venture Partners brings institutional-grade funding, process and rigor to early-stage venture capital investments, and is the partner to propel portfolio companies forward to larger growth capital. The firm was founded in 2014 and is based in Austin, Texas. Visit www.atxventurepartners.com, and follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Contact Details Cyvatar KC Higgins +1 303-434-8163 kc@cyvatar.ai ATX Ventures Meg Brigman +15127666462 meg@atxventurepartners.com Company Website https://cyvatar.ai/

June 17, 2021 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image
Article thumbnail News Release

New high-tech health screening technology to detect COVID-19 symptoms

Ontario Tech University

As a research leader in the ethical deployment of new technologies, Ontario Tech University is working with data sensory and ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) company SmartCone Technologies to test a high-tech system capable of real-time multi-symptom screening for COVID-19. Making sense of scent loss Loss of smell is a common indicator of COVID-19 infection. Various research studies show loss of smell affects anywhere between 80 and 96 per cent of COVID-19-positive patients. U.S. agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health recognize and recommend smell testing for COVID-19 screening. SmartCone’s anonymous, two-step web-based health-screening process, dubbed SYMP2PASS, combines COVID-19 sense-of-smell testing with smart kiosks, thermal scanners, and other technologies to provide private, speedy, and reliable COVID-19 screening without accessing personal information: At home: In the privacy of their own home, a person uses their smart device to scan the QR code located on the company’s SYMP2PASS scent test packet, completes the smell test, and answers additional screening questions. They receive immediate confirmation of test results. In public spaces: If the person passes the at-home pre-screening, they will receive another QR code that provides a 24-hour ‘Day Pass’ to enter a SYMP2PASS Smart Kiosk set up at the entry point to the public venue they wish to access. The kiosk has a thermal camera with a sensor that tests for fever. The kiosk also uses mask-image recognition to ensure anyone entering a location is wearing a mask. SmartCone has a federal research contract with Innovation, Science and Economic Development's (ISED) Innovation Solutions Canada Sector to develop the technology. SYMP2PASS benefits SmartCone estimates onsite point-of-entry screening can reduce COVID-19 spread by up to 75 per cent, making the system ideal for any business or high-traffic location, such as professional sports stadium or a major amusement park. SYMP2PASS will: Help organizations follow current and future screening requirements mandated by various levels of governments and health authorities. Collate data from all access points and in-home measurements to ensure employers meet all privacy regulations. Support workplace contact-tracing capabilities. Warn participants of positive test results. Provide access control for visitors/guests and employees. Quotes “A crucial role the Ontario Tech University research enterprise plays is supporting lab-to-market initiatives. Our collaboration with SmartCone and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada is an exemplar of this role and will be a model for future product research, testing and validation of new technologies.” - Dr. Les Jacobs, Vice-President, Research and Innovation, Ontario Tech University "Innovation, Science and Economic Development was instrumental in being able to demonstrate our ability to fight COVID. They were very professional, organized and easy to work with. SmartCone is now selling to U.S. companies as a direct result of the demonstration." - Jason Lee, CEO, SmartCone Technologies About SYMP2PASS Powered By SmartCone SYMP2PASS, developed in conjunction with doctors and researchers, is the first anonymous end-to-end advanced health screening web process. Using our patent pending ScentsiBLE scent test paired with multi-symptom survey, SYMP2PASS will help reduce the spread of COVID and save businesses and countries millions of dollars. Learn more at www.symp2pass.com About SmartCone Technologies, Inc. SmartCone Technologies Inc. (SCTI) is a unique data sensory company that commercializes new Internet-of-Things (IoT) technologies powering a wide array of sensors, edge computing, sensor fusion and artificial intelligence (AI). TheSmartCone™ solutions have been used most recently in " Return to Work " solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as securing dangerous work sites, controlling bicycle lane traffic, managing vehicle fleets, smart warehouses, crowd control, and more. Visit us at www.thesmartcone.com Contact Details Tenille Houston +1 613-617-7467 tenille@thesmartcone.com

June 16, 2021 02:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Image
1 ... 199200201202203 ... 230