Suzette Cook
The Alachua County Library District is utilizing the latest in touchless temperature taking technology to screen visitors.
When you enter each of the libraries throughout the County you pause for a few seconds within three feet of an Android that sits atop a stand. Within seconds, your temperature will register with the device and if it reads below 100.5 as per CDC recommendations, you are given the greenlight to enter.
“It’s part facial recognition and with temperature taking ability technology,” said one of QuickTemp’s owners President Gary Saklad. QuickTemp is a division of PiF Technologies based out of New Hampshire.
The small, privately owned company has been in business for 25 years and focuses on business software and data management.
But the latest endeavor offers touchless temperature devices that are supported by a help desk.
“It’s unfortunate that we are really dealing with this,” Saklad said about the COVID-19 pandemic.
To be part of the solution, Saklad and his partners created QuickTemp and distributed the devices to businesses such as school districts, manufacturing companies with hundreds of employees and housing authorities throughout the United States.Â
That’s how the Alachua County libraries ended up with devices which sell for about $2,000.
Saklad said the Gainesville Housing Authority uses them as well.
The device uses facial recognition software not to identify anyone but to trace the outline of the face for the infrared light to focus on the forehead for the temperature reading.
Saklad said there are 16 QuickTemp devices spread out throughout Alachua County and the software management systems allows device owners to receive a report from all 16 locations when they collect the data.
The devices are pre-set based on 100.5 degree CDC recommendation.
“Anything over 100.5, and the device gives a red signal and advises you to return to your car (or a message set by the business) and sends an email notice,” Saklad said. That email alerts that a visitor entered the building with temperature above threshold.”
The QuickTemp device can read temperatures from a range of 12 inches to three feet away with 99 percent accuracy, Saklad said.
The company started sending out the devices starting in April and Saklad said they are available in stock and ready to go.
“We’ve been lucky enough that we have them in inventory,” he said.
Alachua County Library District’s Public Relations and Marketing Manager Rachel Cook said the library district learned about the QuickTemp temperature scanners from the Ocala Housing Authority and began to explore products and vendors.
“We also looked at the temperature scanners used by the Gainesville Housing Authority,” she said.
The stations were purchased with CARES Act funds and have been in place at all 12 library locations throughout the County since Nov. 4.
“We’ve been very satisfied with the temperature scanners so far,” Cook said. “Patrons have liked the new technology and share positive feedback.”
For more information on the QuickTemp kiosks click here.Â
The company offers full-sized kiosks that are placed beside a business entrance. They stand 4 feet tall to read the average adult but are adjustable for all heights as well as wheelchairs. They also sell a desktop version.