Want to help further the study of air pollution? Yep, there's an app for that...

Photo by Graur Codrin

Android phone users can now help further the study of air pollution with only the click of a button. Created by computer scientists at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, "Visibility" allows users to contribute their own real-time snapshot of the air around them. Simply download the app, take a unobstructed photo of the sky and send it in. Each picture is then tagged with location, orientation, and time data and transferred to a backend server.

According to the L.A. Times' technology blog:

The USC team has devised an algorithm that uses the phone's location and the direction it was pointing to determine how bright the sun should be in your image. It then looks at your photo to see how much that theoretical sunlight has been obscured, and from that calculates how much gunk is in the air (it doesn't work yet on highly cloudy days).

For those Apple users (like me!) who feel left out of the loop - the researchers say an iPhone app is in the works.

If you're interested in learning more about how to combat all that air pollution in your home chat live with one of our AllerAir air quality experts or call us at 1-888-852-8247 for a dealer near you. 

 

Best Air Purifiers for Allergies and Allergy Relief

Are facial tissues becoming a hot commodity in your home? Seasonal allergies are taking sufferers by storm in 2010, with millions of American seeking some sort of allergy relief. Probably most surprising is the number of first-time allergy sufferers. According to experts, the pollen count has been hit record highs in some regions. In some parts of the country 6,000 pollen particles per cubic meter of air have been recorded – you only need 10 particles per cubic meter to trigger a reaction in some people.  

Best Air Purifiers for Allergies and Allergy Relief

You can’t control the pollen count outdoors, but you can control your indoor environment. Using a room air cleaner with the right filtration can help clean the air of airborne pollen, mold, chemicals, dust and other triggers which aggravate the respiratory system. Look for a room air cleaner with a medical-grade HEPA filter which can remove over 99% of airborne particles and an activated carbon filter which removes chemicals, gases and odors. Among our top sellers for allergy relief is the AllerAir Air Medic which is designed to be used 24/7 for continuously clean air. Other units which are best for allergies:


4000 Exec
5000 Exec
5000 HEPA

Additional Tips for Allergy Relief:

• For your medication to be most effective, take it 30 minutes before going outside
• Keep your doors and windows closed
• Dry laundry indoors
• Shower before bed
• Wipe down your pets when they come in from outdoors
• Leave your shoes outside or at the door to avoid tracking in pollen and mold

Allergy Information:
Outdoor Allergens
FAQ About Pollen
FAQ About Mold