Potential of Digital Technology to Combat a Pandemic

Potential of Digital Technology to Combat a Pandemic

During recent pandemic digital technologies are being harnessed to support the public-health response to COVID-19 worldwide, including population surveillance, case identification, contact tracing and evaluation of interventions on the basis of mobility data and communication with the public. To tackle the same, digital tools like Aarogya Setu are being deployed to perform tasks like contact tracing, hotspot recognition. Let’s discuss how digital technology help us to combat a Pandemic?

Fighting misinformation

In order to reduce false information, companies like Google, Facebook, and YouTube are working tirelessly to guide people to the right, verifiable information such as that published by WHO or local authorities and government. By making accurate information available to everybody, a transparent scenario can be created and the people can be informed about the right steps to take.

Finding Drugs

The world is now desperate to find ways to slow the spread of the coronavirus and to find an effective treatment. Technology is becoming an enabler to make the process faster. AI is playing important role in suggesting components of a vaccine by understanding viral protein structures, and helping medical researchers scour tens of heaps of relevant research papers at an unprecedented pace. AI also Can Help Scientists Find a Covid-19 Vaccine

Increasing traceability and transparency by sharing data

During a pandemic, clear messaging to the populace is critical to make sure they are informed and reminded to use appropriate precautions. Several groups are using the trending technologies like mobile, AI, ML and more, to provide visibility on the outbreak.

Tracking people with facial recognition and big data

Facial recognition technologies along with data can accurately identify people even if they are masked. Such technologies can help in monitoring movement and tracking of people who are quarantined. It can also help in keeping a tab on people and ascertaining whether or not they have been in contact with an infected person.

Risk assessment and forecasting through artificial intelligence

AI-based data analytics and predictive modelling are enabling medical professionals to understand more about a lot of diseases. With the use of AI, more accurate forecasting about disease spread, medication, treatment, etc., could be done. Using AI platforms, it has become easier for researchers to quickly find relevant studies that can potentially lead to new insights or approaches to address the COVID-19 outbreak.

Contact-less movement and deliveries through autonomous vehicles, drones and robots

Robots can be used for delivering grocery, cooking means, sterilizing hospitals and patrolling the streets. Drones can be used for food deliveries, tracking population, carrying test kits and medicines to quarantine locations, thermal imaging to identify infected people, spraying disinfectant, and more. Many new areas and use cases are coming up where drones, robots and autonomous vehicles are being used.

Drones and Autonomous Robots used to fight Coronavirus in China

The wireless thermometer guns and other similar infrared body temperature measuring devices have become the most important medical equipment that are being used at checkpoints of offices, airports, hotels, hospitals, train stations, shops, and other public places.

Remote working technologies to support social distancing and maintain business continuity

As pandemics or other calamities keep threatening the business world, working from home ensures business continuity as well as facilitates social distancing. In such a scenario, technologies that enable secure access to data, enterprise applications, virtual meetings, cloud conferencing, and virtual/mixed/augmented reality are the forefront leaders to ensure deliverables are not impacted.