Uvision: a lightweight portable UVR detection system

摘要

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun can cause major damage to the skin if it is overexposed. The damage can be minor, from a sunburn to accelerated skin aging, to major with the development of detrimental skin cancers. UV photons that are able to bypass the natural defenses of the skin, melanin and DNA, can cause mutagenic damage to DNA, which can result in a range of harmful effects. Relying solely on the skin's natural defenses against the sun is ill advised. The use of sunblock decreases a person's chances of skin damage, but changing overall behavior through education is healthier. In this paper, we propose a lightweight portable UVR detection system, UVision. It consists of a wearable UV sensor for collecting real time UVR data and an Android application for displaying the sensor's results. The sensor will connect to the mobile application via Bluetooth and provide the user with awareness on UVR damage and suggestions to stay protected. With nearly five million Americans being treated for skin cancer each year and medical expenses for skin cancer costing about $8.3 billion annually, modern educational tools are needed. UVision looks to do just that in a cost-efficient manner.