COAST FIRM AT FOREFRONT OF TEMP DEVICES
THE co-founder of a successful international photography business is back taking images of people in tourist hot spots but this time he’s not interested in capturing memories.
Virtech general manager Stuart Norris co-founded Magic Memories more than 25 years ago with John Wikstrom in Queenstown, New Zealand.
The business, which captures photos and videos of people’s experiences at tourist attractions, operates in 10 countries at 180 attractions and in 2017 recorded revenue of
$174 million.
Mr Norris is now based on the Gold Coast where he leads a small team of developers working on a product called TempSafe.
The technology, which Mr Norris said is based on Chinese-assembled devices and Australian software, uses artificial-intelligencepowered thermographic imaging devices to monitor the temperature of up to 45 people at a time.
Mr Norris said he came up with the idea for TempSafe when he was thinking of ideas to help theme parks reopen. He then connected with his friend Brett McCallum, who runs IT company Virtech, for help developing the product.
“The whole idea … is all about getting businesses back, customers to feel safe as well as staff,” he said.
“Australia has dodged the COVID-19 bullet. But I am originally from England so I am having conversations with my family there and it is a different environment.”
A fever is known to be one of the more common symptoms of coronavirus.
TempSafe works by combining facial recognition software, thermal imaging and artificial intelligence to check individuals and groups for signs of elevated temperatures.
Mr Norris said it was not a medical device but simply intended to act as an “early warning indicator”.
He said it enabled business to avoid invasive, close-contact temperature testing and the associated queues while still ensuring a safe, comfortable environment for guests and employees.
He said COVID-19 and temperature checking of staff and customers is here to stay.
“We think the new normal will be businesses, schools or workplaces taking the temperature of employees and guests before entry to prevent the spread of COVID-19,’’ Mr Norris said.
So far more than 160 of the devices, which sell for $3000, have sold mostly to gyms, swimming pools and health clubs as well as building managers to use at access points.