Hacker Conference Installs Antivirus Monitoring System
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Kawaicon Attendees Used CO2 Monitors to Assess COVID-19 Risk
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Event Organizers Prioritized Attendee Safety and Informed Decision-Making
At Kawaicon, a technology-focused convention held in an undisclosed location, organizers implemented a system using carbon dioxide (CO2) monitors to help attendees gauge ventilation and potential COVID-19 transmission risk.This allowed individuals to make informed decisions about masking, distancing, and participation in different event activities. The approach was detailed in a report by WIRED on November 22, 2023.
The initiative stemmed from a desire to accommodate diverse risk tolerances within the convention’s community. “Everyone who occupies the con space we operate have a different risk and threat model, and we want everyone to feel they can experience the con in a way that fits their model,” the organizers explained on their website.”Considering Covid-19 is still in the community, we wanted to make sure that everyone had all the information they needed to make their own risk assessment on ‘if’ and ‘how’ they attended the con. So this is our threat model and all the controls and zones we have in place.”
How the CO2 Monitoring System worked
Attendees could check CO2 levels before arriving at the convention, enabling proactive self-protection. During the event,WIRED reported observing attendees actively monitoring CO2 levels on their smartphones,adjusting their masking practices based on the readings in different areas,and referencing a central dashboard displaying real-time data from all rooms.
Inside each conference session room, small, wall-mounted monitors provided a visual indication of air quality using a stoplight system: green signified safe levels, orange indicated a risky environment, and red signaled high CO2 concentrations and the highest level of risk. This system provided immediate, easily understandable feedback to attendees.
Accessibility and Implementation
Spout, a member of the organizing team, explained to WIRED that implementing the system was relatively straightforward due to the community’s technical expertise. “To be honest,it is indeed no different than having to consider other accessibility options (e.g., access to venue, access to talks, access to private space for personal needs),” Spout (@spoutgm) wrote in an email. “Being a tech-leaning community it is easier for us to get this set up ourselves, or with volunteer help, but definitely not out of reach given how accessible the CO2 monitor tech is.”
The affordability and availability of CO2 monitoring technology were key factors in the event’s success.Simple CO2 monitors can be purchased for under $100, making them a viable option for smaller events and organizations seeking to improve air quality monitoring. Amazon and other retailers offer a variety of models.
The Science behind CO2 Monitoring as a Proxy for Ventilation
While CO2 itself isn’t harmful at the levels typically found indoors, elevated CO2 concentrations indicate poor ventilation. Poor ventilation allows airborne particles, including those carrying viruses like SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), to accumulate, increasing the risk of transmission. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), maintaining good ventilation is a crucial component of indoor air quality and reducing the spread of airborne diseases.
Experts recommend keeping CO2 levels below 800 ppm (parts per million) to ensure adequate ventilation. Levels above 1000 ppm suggest insufficient ventilation and a possibly increased risk of airborne transmission. The Kawaicon system’s