How AI and Robotics may fight the next pandemic?
Ever since the Spanish Flu which wrecked havoc in the world in 1918, medical science have come up with impressive technologies to tackle the once-in-a-century pandemic out of which Covid-19 is the best example.
Unlike the Spanish Flu which was more devastating, technology enabled a breakthrough by discovering a vaccine in record time. In fact, many countries with lower population have already managed the second wave well even as populous countries like India struggle.
As there is clear evidence of effectiveness of the vaccine, it can be safely concluded that the virus will be defeated eventually. The question is what will the next pandemic be like and whether technologies like AI and Robotics will shoulder responsibilities a few years from now. The answer is in affirmative:-
AI has already reached a stage where wearable devices can track your personal health information and make recommendations to patients. For example: AI can track glucose levels and determine vulnerabilities to various diseases. AI in future can be trusted to monitor oxygen levels, heart beating patterns and respiratory pattern to notify about symptoms much before patient turns critical.
Robotics can take up a lot of work which our healthcare workers are doing today. Tasks like restocking supplies, disinfecting hospital rooms at regular intervals and similar work which are today done by nurses or ward boys can be automated. It will set aside valuable time for healthcare workers and prevent exhaustion.
As per a study, robot assisted kidney surgeries are seeing a 52% success rate. A Robotic assistance can significantly reduce the work load of doctors in future pandemics and save valuable lives even when hospitals are working on excess capacity.
UX which will make AI and Robots usable and accessible while also providing pleasure and ease of use will act as a cornerstone for adoption of technology.
At ImaginXP, we skill student in future technologies like UX, AI and Robotics. It can't be denied that Covid-19 will inflict less damage compared to Spanish Flu due to advances in technology today which saw a vaccine rollout in record time. The pandemics of future will be fought primarily by AI and Robots guided by humans.