A breathalyzer connected to a smartphone has been created

A third of fatal car accidents and many tragedies are due to abuse

alcohol. These dismal numbers could be reduced if everyone had access to a breathalyzer anytime, anywhere.

The breathalyzer built into the phone can becomea solution to the problem of people's reluctance to carry a separate device for this purpose. Scientists from the Center for Optics, Photonics and Lasers at the University of Laval (Canada) have developed a similar device that is embedded in a smartphone and analyzes the evaporation rate of microdroplets formed during breathing on the screen.

In fact, when the glass fogs up,thousands of microdroplets are formed on the surface. If the fog is formed by a person who has consumed an alcoholic beverage, the microdroplets begin to evaporate faster. This is because alcohol evaporates faster than water, which is present in the breath of a sober person.


</ img>

It is on this phenomenon that the built-insmartphone alcohol tester. Now experts have created a prototype breathalyzer in a smartphone case, powered by a phone battery and controlled by an application installed on a mobile device, and tested it in real conditions.

For a new technology to work, it is necessaryadd a photodiode to the side of the screen in a smartphone. It is also worth noting that the breathalyzer has a significant drawback &#8211; Readings vary depending on environmental conditions.

Given these features, it is unclear whetherthe invention is commercialized soon, but the researchers hope to create a fully working device. If this happens, alcohol testing will become much easier and more widely applicable.

Source: mdpi

</ p>