This post and podcast are for informational purposes only, and are not intended as medical or safety advice. Please contact the appropriate professionals with any questions you may have in these or other areas.

(Headshot by Mary Rice Photo, and used with permission.)

Immersive technology is ready to revolutionize our world, says Cleanbox Technology Co-Founder and CEO Amy Hedrick.

Areas in which nongaming uses of VR and XR are blossoming, include education, medicine, retail, and transportation , among other fields.

But widespread adoption of virtual reality or other new technologies often requires willingness to engage with shared devices: headsets, laptops, even phones.

One possible barrier to that implementation: the fear of spreading germs through shared devices.

Accordingly, Nashville-based Cleanbox Technology has engineered and patented technologies which can disinfect a surface in 60 seconds–using UV light! Cleanbox’s website says that their products can eliminate 99.999 percent of all contagions on surfaces, in a safe and environmentally-friendly process.

Cleanbox Technology offers products which can sterilize any shared device: headsets, VR or AR hand controls, respirator masks and more. And their products aren’t for technology alone.

Cleanbox’s newest device, the Omniclean 2, can sterilize any frequently-touched object placed in its chamber. A recent company video shows the UV light technology decontaminating markers, a purse and small office items.

Amy shared the story of Cleanbox, discussed some of the ways she’s seeing the use of immersive technology change the world and offered a preview of what’s next.

On this edition of Over Coffee®, we cover:

• How Amy first realized the potential of virtual reality to make an impact on the world;
  

• The story of Cleanbox;
  

• One of the most memorable ways she saw VR being put to use in a safety application, during her travels as she acquainted immersive-technology users with Cleanbox;
  

• How she makes the practical consideration–hygiene–behind the technology, appealing;
  

• An imaginary “unboxing” of one of Cleanbox’s products and how it works;
  

• What UVC light is, and how it works in sterilizing surfaces;
  

• The safety mechanism used to make Cleanbox safe for general use;
  

• Why the technology is environmentally friendly;
  

• What most people don’t know, about traditional sterilization procedures.
  

• And, what’s next!