Wearable Sanitizer: Design and Implementation of an Open-source, On-body Sanitizer

During the pandemic, wearables such as face masks and face shields have become broadly adopted, these solutions do reduce infection but do not eliminate infectious agents from surfaces and objects the person may touch. Therefore, regular disinfection of hands and frequently touched surfaces is a critical factor in preventing the spread of infectious diseases ranging from the common cold and flu to SARS and COVID-19. This activity of frequent disinfection requires a high degree of discipline and leads to increased cognitive and physical effort involved in frequent washing of hands or use of a pocket sanitizer. We present an open-source, wearable sanitizer that provides just-in-time, automatic dispensing of alcohol to the wearer’s hand or nearby objects using sensors and programmable cues. We systematically explore the design space aiming to create a device that not only seamlessly integrates with the user’s body and behavior but also frees their physical and mental faculties for other tasks.