Heightened awareness for the COVID-19 pandemic has sparked efforts to reduce its impact. Many countries are under stay-at-home orders, intending to minimize infections and slow down the virus, at least locally.
In just a couple of weeks, people have had to adjust to a new lifestyle, one that calls for working, living and leisure time all spent at home. Businesses scrambled to provide remote tools to workers to see how they can ” or can’t ” operate entirely off-site.
The situation has led to a movement where, above all, technology is taking center stage. Modern innovations make it possible to operate remotely, communicate with friends and family and even fend off the virus in hospitals. Is it our tech fighting coronavirus or us?
Here are some ways technology is minimizing the impact of COVID-19 today.
1.
Telemedicine
Telemedicine has been around for quite some time, mainly in the form of mobile apps and similar online services. However, it’s never been more critical than it is now. Since COVID-19 is highly contagious, the best way to prevent its spread is to mitigate contact with others, including avoiding visits to a doctor or hospital unless things are serious.
Several telemedicine apps and services have allowed physicians to check in on patients virtually. Remote healthcare providers can even prescribe medications for a multitude of problems. As a result, people can still get the medical attention they need without ever leaving their homes.
Telemedicine achieves two things. First, it prevents those who are infected, including silent carriers, from further spreading the illness. Second, it protects those already vulnerable by reducing their need to leave home, even for life-threatening health issues. This disease severely affects those with underlying health issues, so they must stay isolated as much as possible.
2.
Cashless Payments
Reducing contact is priority number one, and that includes during even the most basic of transactions. Online purchases have always used digital or cashless payments, so it’s not entirely new or innovative. However, just about every business or operation is now taking advantage of contactless options.
From restaurant and food delivery to grocery orders and beyond, digital payment solutions are the norm. Even hospitals and physicians are taking contactless payments through various services.
It might seem silly to state that modern payment solutions qualify as tech fighting coronavirus, but that’s what’s happening. They’re helping prevent direct contact, especially between those infected or carrying the virus.
3.
AI and Cloud Health Research
As part of the race to find a vaccine and treatment, several cloud technology providers have stepped up to offer computing power as part of the process. Amazon‘s AWS Diagnostics Development Initiative is helping with the detection and testing of the virus.
Meanwhile, Google is working closely with the government to utilize its DeepMind AI platform to boost understanding of the illness for the scientific community. IBM and the White House Office of Science and Technology have also teamed up to launch the COVID-19 High-Performance Computing Consortium.
Essentially, these major organizations are furthering awareness about the virus in several different ways. As a result, the scientific community should be able to collectively further the search for a vaccine, proper treatments and better reactions to it.
4.
Modern Networking
It doesn’t matter whether you’re talking about local Wi-Fi networks inside homes and businesses or mobile systems that support smartphones and other wireless devices. We’re using nearly every form of modern networking more than ever before as humanity spreads out and stays locked inside. The technology allows for remote communications, streaming and entertainment, online shopping and even telemedicine. Without the internet, we would all be at a complete standstill.
Modern networking technology is propping up just about every business still open and active today. Everyone has had to shift to remote operations and telecommuting services as a result of the virus.
Managing a global workforce has never been more challenging. Luckily, society has the internet to fall back on. In particular, the business world can rely on advanced networking solutions, both on-site and off, to support its evolving workforce.
5.
Service Robots
In the epicenter of infections ” China, Italy and New York ” Doctors and nurses still have to provide healthcare while minimizing contact with sick patients. It makes the entire process that much more difficult. Intel has deployed smart, platform-based robots to handle various tasks, like carrying equipment and supplies to patient rooms.
There are many other robots helping volunteers and survivors, too. Patrol robots in Shenyang, China, check nearby body temperatures to find potentially sick people and disinfect surfaces. They’re also being used to dispense hand sanitizer, cook foods, spread awareness about the virus and much more.
6.
Respirators and Medical Supplies
Despite conflicting reports, one thing is clear. When the virus progresses to a point where patients need external help to survive, mainly breathing, healthcare providers turn to Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRs). However, the disease exposed a severe shortage of supplies, and many hospitals don’t have enough equipment to deal with an influx of sick people. No one prepared for a pandemic, certainly not this one.
Technology companies across the world are stepping up to produce essential supplies. Companies like Apple, GM, Ford, 3M, GE and UAW have all begun producing respirators to help in the fight against COVID-19.
3M has doubled its production of N95 face masks, while several breweries and smaller companies are making hand sanitizers, gloves and other supplies. Organizations all over the world have switched focus, nearly overnight, to help fight the virus.
While this entry isn’t specific to one piece of tech for coronavirus, it does highlight how many companies can restructure and repurpose existing operations to help in the fight. Ford and GM, for instance, have temporarily restructured vehicle production lines to create respirators.
Tech
for COVID-19
Technology has made it possible to survive in the new world, and make no mistake about it, this is a completely new world. Five or six months ago, no one could have predicted this, but here we are. If we want to mitigate the spread of this deadly disease, we all have to remain at home.
This pandemic has forced the business world to embrace remote work opportunities. It has completely changed the face of many industries, with the food and beverage sector a prime example. Many restaurants, bars and similar establishments have had to close their doors or restructure how they operate. In Florida, for instance, residents can order alcoholic beverages and have them delivered to their homes.
COVID-19 is also changing the way healthcare providers operate, as even doctors and nurses cut down on direct contact with patients. As a result, these professionals rely on advanced robots and similar technologies to do the bulk of their services.
The scientific community is also using tech for COVID-19 to research and discover more about the virus, which will eventually lead to proper treatments, vaccines and more. Currently, technology is our world’s lifeblood.
