Media
Back
Led by Professor C F Lee, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of HKU, the research team includes Dr L S Chan, Department of Earth Sciences, Professor C R Kumana and his assistant Giselle Cheung, Department of Medicine and Dr I J Lauder, Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science. They have been testing the temperature of about 200 patients in Queen Mary Hospital and two clinics using the infrared technology. Using two different models of the infrared thermographic camera, the research team tested the temperature of different parts of face in different angles and from different distances. The highly sensitive thermographic camera consists of over 70,000 sensing points in an image.
The research team initially found out that the readings of the face temperature might not reflect accurately the actual body temperature when using infrared technology. The readings varied from different angles or different distances. Environmental factors also affected the readings. For example, the readings of women who wore make-up were different from those who didn't. The readings were also different before and after sports activities or with or without perspiration. The research team found out that on different parts of the face, the readings of the temple and the area around the ear recorded the most accurate readings compared to the body temperature. HKU has put forward the initial findings to the Department of Health for their reference.
Dr L S Chan, one of the members of the research team, said, "We have already designed an automatic temperature testing system using infrared technology. We will continue to run more tests using this system. Collecting more samples can help us to establish the accuracy of the technique and optimize the layout of the system in actual applications. However, I have to emphasise that this system only serves as a screening test and it cannot replace the traditional ways of testing body temperature using thermometer."
For media enquiries, please contact Miss Polo Leung at HKU's External Relations Office at 2859 2600 or the Information Office of the Department of Health at 2961 8540, 2961 8564).
HKU Carries Out Research on Infrared Technology to Test Temperature
23 Apr 2003
Researchers at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) are studying on infrared technology to test the body temperature.
Led by Professor C F Lee, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of HKU, the research team includes Dr L S Chan, Department of Earth Sciences, Professor C R Kumana and his assistant Giselle Cheung, Department of Medicine and Dr I J Lauder, Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science. They have been testing the temperature of about 200 patients in Queen Mary Hospital and two clinics using the infrared technology. Using two different models of the infrared thermographic camera, the research team tested the temperature of different parts of face in different angles and from different distances. The highly sensitive thermographic camera consists of over 70,000 sensing points in an image.
The research team initially found out that the readings of the face temperature might not reflect accurately the actual body temperature when using infrared technology. The readings varied from different angles or different distances. Environmental factors also affected the readings. For example, the readings of women who wore make-up were different from those who didn't. The readings were also different before and after sports activities or with or without perspiration. The research team found out that on different parts of the face, the readings of the temple and the area around the ear recorded the most accurate readings compared to the body temperature. HKU has put forward the initial findings to the Department of Health for their reference.
Dr L S Chan, one of the members of the research team, said, "We have already designed an automatic temperature testing system using infrared technology. We will continue to run more tests using this system. Collecting more samples can help us to establish the accuracy of the technique and optimize the layout of the system in actual applications. However, I have to emphasise that this system only serves as a screening test and it cannot replace the traditional ways of testing body temperature using thermometer."
For media enquiries, please contact Miss Polo Leung at HKU's External Relations Office at 2859 2600 or the Information Office of the Department of Health at 2961 8540, 2961 8564).
Facebook 
HKU IOS App 
HKU Android App 
Social Media and Apps