Firms roll out sensors to detect vaping amid surge in use among students

Devices pick up vaping aerosols, can be placed overhead in toilets or classrooms

- Zaihan Mohamed Yusof

Tech companies are rolling out sensors to detect vaping, amid a sharp rise in the seizures of electronic vaporisers in Singapore.

Communications and security company Motorola Solutions has, since September, been marketing its Halo Smart Sensor at organisations here, including at schools that have seen a spike in students caught vaping.

Each sensor, which is about the size of a saucer, retails for about $2,000. It is usually placed overhead in toilets, classrooms or offices.

Schools in the United States have placed similar devices in bathrooms, which have little adult supervision.

The device monitors 16 data points including particulates, carbon monoxide and the number of people in the room. It is able to monitor the quality of air and detect dangerous vaping chemicals.

When triggered, Halo sensors send an alert via SMS to a security control centre or teachers, who can then look around for e-vaporisers and the offending students.

Said Mr Choong Kit Soon from Motorola Solutions: "In its generic form, Halo looks at three aspects environmental health, safety and movements in a room... (Halo) provides the ears and nose to give another level of sensing." Apart from detecting vaping aerosols, Halo sensors monitor cannabis use, aggression or screams for help, gunshots, nitrogen dioxide, humidity and temperature.

A teacher in Singapore, who recently caught a Primary 4 pupil vaping, said vaping detection sensors could be a "game changer".

The discipline master from a primary school in the west declined to be named, as he was not authorised to speak for the school.