Technology has played an important role in responding to the novel corona virus (SARS-CoV-2) and subsequent COVID-19 pandemic. Technology cannot prevent the onset of the pandemics; however, it can help prevent the spread, educate, warn, and empower those on the ground to be aware of the situation, and noticeably lessen the impact. With the convergence of technologies such as mobile, cloud, analytics, robotics, AI/ML, 4G/5G, and high-speed internet, it is now possible to explore a variety of groundbreaking pandemic response approaches.
How technology helped in COVID-19?
Misinformation regarding the number of
deaths, diagnosis and care options, vaccinations, medications, government
policies, and other topics increases public fear and anxiety. 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. A straightforward scenario can be
generated by making correct information accessible to all, and people can be
told about the proper steps to take.
The world is desperate to find a way to
slow the spread of the corona virus and find a cure that works. Technology is
becoming an enabler to make the process faster. Microsoft Bing launched an interactive COVID-19 map to provide
widespread disease news.
In India, telecom operators like Jio,
BSNL, Airtel, and more, are using the caller tunes to spread awareness about
the pandemic. Mobile apps are increasingly used to
maximize awareness as well as tracking. In India, the government has
recommended downloading the Aarogya Setu app to keep a watch on potential hotspots
of the virus growth. The app is available in 11 regional languages. And a
toll-free Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) has also been implemented
for citizens who do not use smartphones. The Indian government is also using
railway reservation data and airline booking records to monitor the
quarantined.
Contact tracing apps have proven highly effective at
identifying and tracking people who may have come into contact with someone
infected, helping to control the spread of the virus in countries like Germany.
Even if people are disguised, facial
recognition systems combined with data will reliably recognize them. 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. CCTV cameras
along with facial recognition technologies can help in identifying infected
people who break the rules and step out despite being quarantined.
Self-driving cars, drones, robots can all
help at a time when the need is to avoid human contact. Autonomous vehicles can
safely move patients to and from medical facilities without endangering the lives
of healthy people.
The most critical medical equipment used
at checkpoints in offices, airports, hotels, hospitals, train stations, stores,
and other public places is wireless thermometer guns and other similar infrared
body temperature measurement devices. The method is being
made quicker and more efficient thanks to automated thermal control and facial
recognition.
In this worldwide outbreak,
technology is bringing video conferencing and networking together for digital
interactions. Virtual events have replaced the in-person ones. Remote working is a blessing that comes due to technology and
is of one the greatest solution that helps us in social distancing.
Schools and university campuses have
opted for online tutoring mode. Many institutions are using video
conferencing tools like zoom. BYJU’S, an online tutoring platform in India,
reported a 200% increase in new enrolments.
Without any outdoor entertainment, the lockdown has led to
more people inadvertently realizing the convenience of OTT, which has already
created a shift in the way content is consumed on a day-to-day basis.
During the lockdown period, leading OTT platforms like
Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video, Zee5, AltBalaji, Voot
Select saw a substantial rise in viewership and app downloads.
Since people were afraid to go out during the spread of the
highly contagious COVID-19 Corona virus, the online grocery market has
exploded, owing to rising customer demand.
During the COVID-19 outbreak,
technological advances have provided major benefits to day-to-day operations.
Technology in business plays an important role in decreasing human
interference, rising efficiency, and reducing errors.