- App for managing children's temperature changes all at once, with automatic transcription.
- Measure and record in just 3 seconds. No discomfort for children.
- Many childcare facilities have experienced a reduction in the burden associated with temperature inspections.
In 2020, the importance of temperature testing has increased and the need to reduce opportunities for human contact has become more important. The news that thermometers in stores are in short supply is still fresh in our memories. What role does the "hugsafety Smart Thermometer Service," which was launched in 2019, play in Corona Vortex's childcare services? Continuing from our previous interview, we spoke with Megumi Honda of the Marketing and Service Planning Department, Planning Supervisor, hugmo Inc.
(We spoke to...)
hugmo inc.
Planning Supervisor, Marketing and Service Planning Department, Ms. Megumi Honda
Smart thermometer" and dedicated app work together to record temperature results
Editorial:Please tell us about the features of the hugsafety Smart Temperature Sensor Service.
Honda:The "hugsafety Smart Thermometer Service" is a service that links the non-contact IoT thermometer "Smart Thermometer" with a dedicated application to streamline temperature taking and recording operations. The dedicated application features a cloud-based management of temperature results measured with the "smart thermometer," so the results can be shared throughout the childcare facility. The application can display a graph of average values for each child on a weekly or daily basis, making it easier to grasp trends in the child's physical condition.
Editorial:I can notice small changes in the children.
Honda:There are individual differences such as higher or lower normal body temperatures for each child. By setting a certain threshold body temperature in advance, the system alerts the childcare staff when the temperature exceeds the threshold. For example, if a child has a history of febrile convulsions, the temperature alert can be set a little lower so that the child's temperature is noticed earlier. Of course, the homeroom nursery teacher is fully aware of the constitution of such children, but due to shifts, it is not always the same teacher watching the children. It is a great advantage to be able to smoothly share the children's physical condition no matter which childcare worker is watching them.
Editorial:How many people can temperature data be managed?
Honda:The contract is made on a per facility basis, so there is no limit to the number of users. The information of preschoolers is also linked to "hugnote" introduced in the previous issue, so temperature results can be transferred to the contact book application.
Editorial:How many childcare facilities have adopted the service so far since it was launched in the fall of 2019?
Honda: As of the end of November 2020, the system has been installed in approximately 1,200* childcare facilities. About 4,000 "smart thermometers" are in use.
*Total of hugsafety Noon Sleep Monitoring Service and Smart Temperature Monitor Service
Editorial:The fact that it is a non-contact thermometer may have been a factor in its acceptance by childcare facilities.
Honda:In addition to the non-contact and quick measurement, the "Smart Thermometer" can also record measurement data in combination with an application and link to a contact book application, which we believe is a major factor in its popularity.
A 3-second beep and temperature check! Children can easily respond to the test.
Editorial:What kind of feedback have you received from childcare facilities that have introduced the system?
Honda:Some customers say that it is hygienic because it is non-contact, and that it saves them from having to disinfect the thermometer every time they take a measurement. In addition, the "Smart Thermometer" takes only 3 seconds to measure a child's temperature, compared to about 30 seconds for a thermometer that measures the child's temperature at the side. It is quite stressful for small children to hold the thermometer under their arm and keep it still, but since the measurement is done in a fraction of a second, more and more children are willing to comply.
More inquiries than expected, and a savior for childcare in the Corona Vortex.
Editorial:The need for temperature sensing has spread not only to childcare facilities but also to society as a whole.
Honda:Yes, we did. In February 2020, when the effects of the coronavirus were becoming more serious, we ran a campaign offering free cloud usage of the hugsafety Smart Thermometer Service for a certain period. The "Smart Thermometer" sold out in no time at all. Even those facilities that initially decided to use the service for the free cloud usage fee period seemed to realize the convenience of the service as they used it, and many of them continued to use the service.
Editorial:What is your outlook for the future?
Honda:The theme of "hugsafety" is health management and disease prevention. We would like to continue our efforts to make the service even more useful for children's health management. In the future, we would like to contribute to society in the form of online pediatric care by utilizing information and data on children's health accumulated in the cloud through the "hugmo" service.
After the interview
Before Corona, there were a certain number of preschools that used thermometers that measured temperature from the side, but Corona has drastically changed the mindset of preschools," says Mr. Honda. The Corona system has also provided an opportunity for us to take a fresh look at what we had believed to be the norm. The detailed services provided by "hugmo," including the "hugsafety Smart Temperature Monitor Service," from the perspective of the field, will continue to bring improvements and innovations to the field of childcare after Corona.
hugsafety Smart Temperature Sensor Service
https://www.hugmo.net/hugsafety/
