App helps us ‘see’ UV rays

A CANCER Council Victoria survey has found more than a third of Victorians don’t know the correct indicator of sunburn risk — putting themselves and their families at risk of sun damage and, ultimately, skin cancer.

The survey showed 22 per cent of Victorians aged 18-39 incorrectly selected temperature as the most useful measure to calculate sunburn risk for the day. Eight per cent thought cloud cover, wind conditions or humidity were sunburn indicators, and 9 per cent didn’t know which measure to use.

Just 61 per cent were able to correctly identify sun protection times or ultraviolet (UV) radiation levels as the best measure of sunburn risk.

SunSmart manager Heather Walker said it was important to think about UV — not heat — when making decisions about sun protection.

“UV radiation is the major cause of skin cancer, but the problem is none of our senses can actually detect it,” she said.

“It’s not like sunlight, which we can see, or the sun’s heat, which we can feel.

“As a result, we usually don’t realise how strong the rays are until the damage has already been done.

“By incorrectly using temperature as a gauge, you are unwittingly leaving yourself exposed to increased skin cancer risk.”

In the wake of the research, SunSmart has launched an app to address misconceptions about the cause of sunburn and encourage users to protect their skin.

Developed by Deakin University’s Software and Technology Innovation Laboratory (DSTIL), the ”seeUV” app uses augmented reality to allow users to take an image of their surroundings anywhere in Australia and view the hidden intensity of dangerous UV rays in their environment.

DSTIL software engineer and lead developer of the app Tanya Frank said augmented reality experiences allowed users to immerse themselves in environments to which they would not normally be accustomed.

“We have collaborated with Cancer Council Victoria to create a visual representation of what people expose themselves to when standing in the sun,” Ms Frank said.

“Our application also tracks the sun position in the sky, so the UV beams change direction depending on the time and location of the user.”

The seeUV app has a “selfie mode”, which also uses augmented reality technology to generate the long-term consequences of UV damage on a person’s skin, such as premature ageing, wrinkling and sunspots.

Ms Walker said the image could be shared on social media to reinforce and extend the message that sun protection was worthwhile.

“While a sunburn or tan fades, UV damage remains. With the seeUV app, we’re asking users to think about how that damage might present in five, 10 or 20 years down the track,” she said.

DSTIL director Professor Kon Mouzakis said his team was proud to deliver the technology behind the app.

“It’s exciting for us to be part of projects like these that can have a practical and positive impact on the communities we serve.” The seeUV app is available as a free download from the App Store and Google Play.