Top 5 Tech Solutions to a Global Pandemic

During this COVID19 pandemic, we've all had to adapt; how we learn and teach, how we work, how we care for one another. We've had to be innovative in how we respond to our changed circumstances.

Various industries have been forced to come up with novel responses and, like in times of conventional war, technological solutions have come to the fore. There's been no end of industrious and inventive individuals and organisations providing solutions to problems we didn't know existed three months ago. Here, in no particular order are some of my favourites (and sadly no, I'm not including Netflix!).

Hands-free door opener/Lift button presser

These have been popping up everywhere; many of them inspired by existing designs for less-abled people. Given how door handles are one of the most frequently touched surfaces around and not all can be automatic, there's a growing market in commercial and business situations. A number of companies like Materialise not only let you order online, but also provide the 3D design files for free to enable anyone with a 3D Printer to make their own.

I'm also rather fond of the small, pocket-sized variants that you can take with you anywhere you go and also have the added bonus of being able to be used as a "button-pusher" for lifts and pedestrian crossings, though you'll still need to clean them regularly.

3D-Printed ventilator parts

Yes, 3D-printers crop up again; they've really been proving their worth of late, what with applications in providing parts for PPE such as face shields, door handles, you name it, but I particularly like this specific application as it provided an immediate solution to a critical and life threatening situation.

A hospital in Chiari, Italy was running low on venturi valves, a key component that connects a ventilator to the patient's face mask. These are disposable as they need to be changed for each new patient. They were unable to source fresh supplies quickly enough but turned to locally based Isinnova, an independent Italian research institute, who were able to reverse engineer the valves and successfully 3D-print them at volume to the necessary medical grade - no mean feat, given contamination of the final product could lead to further complications in already very sick people.

COVID19 Tracing Apps

These have been springing up all over the World, and with them have been the expected concerns; will it be secure? what about my privacy? what will it be used for? is this just more government control? can we trust agencies not to abuse the data or use if for other purposes? Right through to those who think that this was the end-game all along (I'm lumping those people in with Flat Earthers, Antivaxxers and the COVID19 spread by 5G crazies.

In Australia the Government recently released the COVID Safe App which relies on an always on Bluetooth connection to enable a virtual tech handshake with those you come in to contact with who also have the App enabled.

"When you download the app you provide your name, mobile number, and postcode and select your age range (see Privacy). You will receive a confirmation SMS text message to complete installation. The system then creates a unique encrypted reference code just for you.

COVIDSafe recognises other devices with the COVIDSafe app installed and Bluetooth enabled. When the app recognises another user, it notes the date, time, distance and duration of the contact and the other user’s reference code. The COVIDSafe app does not collect your location.

When someone is diagnosed with COVID-19, state and territory health officials will ask them or their parent/guardian who they have been in contact with. If they have the COVIDSafe app and provide their permission, the encrypted contact information from the app will be uploaded to a highly secure information storage system. State and territory health officials will then... ...use the contacts captured by the app to support their usual contact tracing"

I'll leave you to decide how much you trust your Government to look after such info, but if 48 Privacy and Tech lawyers think it's okay, then it must be, as we all trust a lawyer.

Anti-virus snoods

I remember Snoods being a hit in the 80's, but now they are making a comeback, and it's not just a fashion thing. They've been technologically dragged in to the 2020's, courtesy of the scientists at biotech firm Virtustatic in the UK. The manufactures claim the fabric coating has a similar formation to the carbohydrate structures on the surfaces of the cells that cover the oesophagus. They created the technology by attaching glycoproteins to carbon cloth, then to other cheaper materials such as cotton and that it traps 96% of “enveloped influenza viruses”.

Apparently they are easier to wear and much more comfortable than traditional masks and suggest that they are also good for children to wear. It also brings in to play the apparent cultural differences that have become apparent with mask wearing - it's common to see them used in many Asian cultures, yet their uptake in the the West has been much slower; perhaps those who don't want to be seen wearing a traditional mask may feel more comfortable wearing these?

Drones - of course!

Were you really expecting something else? While drones have become commonplace in a wide range of industries of the last few years (from mining to agriculture and everything in-between), and plenty of people have been flying them for fun, is this the time that drones truly come in to their own?

We're seeing agricultural spray drones repurposed to fight COVID19 and disinfect large areas quickly.

Drones have been adapted in China, Asia, Europe and Australia to spray disinfecting chemicals in public and private spaces and on epidemic prevention vehicles

Compared with hand spray, it has many advantages in terms of efficiency, consistency, and importantly speed, with coverage at up to 5.3ha/per hour; that's up to 6,000m2 per 10mins.

In Australia, the Institute for Drone Technology have been leading the way, utilising this tech to safely, quickly and cheaply disinfect large areas for industrial clients.

Throughout Europe, the US, Australia and Asia, Police have been using drones to help enforce lockdowns, ensuring people are not gathering in public spaces and are maintaining social distancing.

In China we are also seeing them used for assessing individuals temperature in crowds using thermal imaging technology, and of course, this is could be the boost that delivery of all manner of things by drone, from medicine to books and food could finally take-off....

#drones #UAV #dronesforgood #COVID19 #coronavirus #Police #Security #Disinfection