How Technology is Helping Humans to Survive a Pandemic?
Application of simple technology like making fire, to the most advanced of launching artificial satellites was all in to improve the way we live. Recent years have seen application technologies such as social media platforms taking the world by storm. The likes of Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, as well as WhatsApp being some of the most widely used platforms for socializing.
Google, the most famous giant search engine, has the highest daily visitors due to its sophisticated algorithm. However, do such technologies help humans to survive pandemics? This article explores the question in depth, focusing on some technological strides that have been done slowing down coronaviruses’ spread.
Fighting Misinformation
Some people spread false information on things such as many fatalities, diagnosis and treatment options, vaccines, medicines, and government policies during a pandemic. The results of this are an increase in the spread of the pandemic, mass panics which trigger panic buying leaving shops empty, and chaos resulting from violence on the streets due to frustrations.
The likes of Google, youtube, as well as Facebook, have made it a mandate to provide legit information and news. This includes information published by WHO and governments on precautions to be adhered to. Whatsapp with their IFCN chatbot provides a human like interaction to verify how legit some information concerning covid 19 is.
That is without saying that the same technology. Elderly people can also benefit from using residential chair lifts, a luxury that only people in 2022 can afford.
Finding Drugs
Whenever a pandemic strikes, there is a race to come up with a cure or vaccine. Technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) provide a major role in coming up with probable components for a covid 19 vaccine by analyzing viral protein structures. A collaboration by a team from Allen Institute for AI and Google DeepMind created the analysis tools. They also share research data with scientists. Google DeepMind was the brainchild behind AlphaFold, an advanced system for predicting the 3D structure of a protein-based on the genetic sequence.
Increasing Traceability and Transparency By Sharing Data
The sharing of real time information meant to keep the masses safe and curb the spread of a pandemic is critical. Microsoft Bing has been on the leading row after launching an interactive covid 19 map to provide widespread disease news. More so, Tik Tok collaborates with WHO to share legit information as well as timely facts concerning covid 19.
Tracking People With Facial Recognition and Big Data
Big data analytics speed up the identification of infected people. Facial recognition can identify a person even with a mask on. This can be used to monitor movement, track quarantined people, and track those who have been in contact with those infected. China effectively uses it during the covid 19 pandemic.
Remote Working Technologies Support Social Distancing
An eruption of pandemics calls for less human to human interaction by social distancing. It is through this way that most pandemics are halted from spreading fast. This can be problematic when it comes to running a business. Technologies that allow virtual meetings like video conferencing platform Zoom have made it possible for some everyday business work. This prevents a negative impact on some deliverables.
Final Verdict
To summarise it all, technology helps humans survive a pandemic to a more considerable extent, as discussed above. That is without saying that the same technology can be abused by some characters seeking relevance. This has been the case with that group, which linked the Covid19 pandemic to the erection of 5G towers. Such falsehoods need to be dismissed fast before chaos erupts. Thus still more work has to be done concerning real time detection of fake facts as well as news.