Using Calliope Mini to id Phones with Corona Contact Tracing

Google and Apple have created an API that allows approved apps to enable Corona Contact Tracing.

Of course it would be interesting to see if other people around you are using this. And because Corona Contact Tracing requires sending out clearly defined Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons, it is possible to look for the beacons if you have a device that "speaks" BLE.

The BBC micro:bit and the Calliope Mini do!

And yesterday I came across this great little project by hunz on GitHub which implements such a scanner for micro:bit.

And because I know that the Calliope Mini and the micro:bit share a common set of hardware, I just dropped the latest release.hex file on my Calliope Mini and... it just works(tm)!

So now you know and you can look for Corona Contact Tracing beacons, too!

Ideas for using this in class/with students/pupils:

• real world application example for BLE
• BLE power consumption measurement
• privacy implications (Identification of individuals is not possible, but people could see if you have contact tracing enabled and this could lead to social pressure...)
• Android/iPhone distribution in your area (see GitHub documentation)
• use in a field trip
• ... (feel free to add in the comments)