Technology takes on the novel Coronavirus.
As coronavirus continues to spread its wings all across the world, the scientists are kept busy finding solutions to minimize the effect from it. This has been the reason for the deployment of many resources.
Using big data to understand the virus’ genetic tree
It is important to identify the behavior of a virus before taking measures to stop its spread. Nextstrain is a project which could provide data, sequencing, and visualizations depicting the evolution of viruses such as the coronavirus. This information is extremely helpful to understand how the virus could spread in different countries.
The open source project has provided the genetic sequencing of 700 cases of the virus with the scientific community and the data has proved that the severity of the virus does not change with the spread to other countries.
Let the machines find the therapies
AI could be extremely useful if accurate data is provided to predict the future trend of a disease as well as looking for cures for it.
AbCellera which is a biotechnology company is using a machine learning model in developing therapies for the patients based on anti-bodies from the cured patients. As a result of analyzing more than 5 million immune cells using AI technology they have discovered 500 antibodies which are usable in COVID-19 therapies.
An app will give a break for the hotlines.
The regional government of Madrid has launched an app named ‘Corona Madrid,’ through which the people are able to conduct themselves a physical self-assessment when they are in doubt of infected with Corona. Analyzing the results of the assessments, the people are advised with what to do next. Corona Madrid was inspired by a South Korean app and was developed with in a record time having the motive of reducing the call congestion for the regional coronavirus hotline.
3D printers making breathing easy.
When a patient is getting critical, the ventilator becomes a necessity. With the increase in number of patients, ventilators are running out. In order to discuss and solve this issue, the “inventors” across the world have established network communication platforms and channels using the technologies like ‘Telegram’. Via this they are sharing information about open-source design for manufacturing ventilators with 3D printers. So now, anyone can collaborate by printing the necessary respirator components with a 3D printer.
The process has become a success story as the members of Spain’s Reesistencia Team have been able to manufacture an open-source respirator prototype and it was tested successfully on a pig at the Central University Hospital of Asturias in northern Spain. The manufacturers are receiving a massive support from Asturias’ Council of Science, the hospital’s medical professionals, and the University of Oviedo and they are keen on testing the device on human.
Chatbots.
WHO’s chatbot is now available to provide information about coronavirus and to answer the FAQs. One could get information about the infection rates and he necessary precautions. This bot doesn’t use languages. The users can inquire on different topics by sending numbers and emojis. If you send number 1, you can get the latest figures of the virus. Inputting number 5 provides information about travel. The chatbot is operated on WhatsApp which is a part of the Facebook. Moreover, Facebook has added a social media Coronavirus Information Center and that appears at the top of a user’s news feed. Facebook’s Coronavirus Information Center is an official source of information and this removes the pages spreading fake news.
The video conferencing apps are busy like never before.
The video conferencing apps have been the saving grace for many who were stuck in homes during this pandemic. The New York Times reported that the popular video conferencing apps, Skype, WhatsApp, Google Hangouts, Duo, Webex and Zoom saw 600,000 downloads approximately within a single day when the virus started its community spread. Facebook’s messenger has witnessed a 70% hike in activity since the pandemic started.
The applications have been critical in both our personal and professional lives as our loved ones could keep in touch with us via the apps and they were what kept the meetings of workers conducted through. The netizen extended the boundaries of creativity when they went on to host concerts, get togethers, birthday parties, workshops and even weddings through various video conferencing apps.
Contact Tracing Apps utilizing Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
Covid-19 has shown the whole world and the public entities how important the process of contact tracing is to combat highly infectious diseases. Digital Contact Tracing systems are mostly based on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) which is a medium range wireless technology available on most smartphones. The whole idea is to share information between the nearby smartphones to keep track of status of the people around you. With the outbreak of the Corona virus, many countries including Singapore, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and etc. introduced contact tracing applications. Check out the contact tracing application homegrown in Redot Global, “TraceMe” here.
