Some of you have contacted me because you wanted to know my opinion on uHoo’s latest update. Since June 2020, uHoo has implemented a Virus Index which is a patent-pending technology that uses the power of air quality data to help you know how suitable your close environment is for a virus to survive and spread.
uHoo is an air quality monitor that features nine environmental and pollution sensors. If you want to learn more, read my review here.
There are a lot of scientific studies that have found the right conditions for pathogens to thrive or cease. Temperature and humidity play an important role, for example, we know that it is much less likely for a virus to infect someone in a room when the temperature is at 20°C/68°F. Similar logic applies for the relative humidity (RH) as low RH (less than 30%) in a room may cause dry nasal which raises the chances to catch a cold virus.
uHoo doesn’t stop there as it takes into account the Particulate Matter (PM2.5), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) concentrations. PM2.5 it is known to carry even smaller pathogens from its size (see image below), CO2 indicated poor ventilation, which can lead to headaches, and finally, NO2 can irritate your airway and lungs similarly as the SARS-COV-2 virus.
The algorithm behind uHoo’s Virus Index takes into account all these parameters and gives you a simple color-coded scale from 1 to 10. Mine is ranking between 2 and 3. It is too hot here and I don’t like running the A/C.
The Virus-Index is available for all Home and Business costumers. Below you can see the Business Dashboard and how easy is to understand the information even when you are not an expert in air quality data.
The Virus Index is already available for home consumers on Android. The iOS app is ready, but it is pending approval on the App Store. Soon Apple will release it.
Conclusion
It makes sense to see these kinds of services in a product as this is the future. The pandemic of COVID-19 has pushed companies towards this direction, and we can’t deny the value of the right information.
See The Air 
In general, I think this is a good idea but I wonder if there is not the danger that it gives a false sense of security. Especially when looking at their website they define:
Good: COVID-19 survival is low and airborne transmission is unlikely.
If for example, somebody would put a uHoo into a shop or restaurant and get this “Good” rating for the virus transmission, visitors might think that social distancing and mask-wearing is not required.
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I see your point, but mask-wearing and social distancing are mandatory, the device will only help you understand if the indoor conditions are statistically likely or unlikely for a virus to survive for an extended time.
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[…] You can find the full review here. […]
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