Professor Developing Warning App To Locate COVID Hot Spots On University Campuses

A professor at Ball State University in Indiana is working with researchers at the University of California at Irvine to create a new software that can alert users to COVID-19 issues in a building or campus.

The software is called TIPPERS. It compiles data from ambient devices such as mobile phones, WiFi system usages, thermostats and motion sensor lights. Then it alerts users if a room has too many people in it to social distance or if an infected person was there.

"You can learn a lot about people by virtue of their ambient technologies," Associate Professor of Computer Technology Chris Davison tells CBS affiliate WTTV.

TIPPERS was originally created to allow the U.S. Navy to monitor the health and location of its crew members. Davison worked on a specific aspect that would alert crew members if a person fell overboard on a ship.

"They immediately said, 'Hey this TIPPERS system, with a little bit of tweaking, can mitigate COVID-19," said Davison.

Davison said users can choose to opt-in as much information as they want the system to have.

"We can provide you privacy but yet still provide your institution information," he said.

The system can also alert users if someone in their area has tested positive for the virus. Additionally, an area of infection may be identified as a hot spot for people to avoid.

Currently, UC Irvine and UC San Diego are utilizing the software on their campuses. Davison is trying to get it instituted at Ball State.

"Personally, I would use it," says Ball State Senior Braydon Stutzman, who has already battled COVID-19. "If I looked at my phone [and saw] that the library had a ton of people in it during finals week, I'd walk around it."