Technologies That Are Helping Us Weather the Pandemic
If you do think a bit deep about the current situation we are in, you will realize how technology has come to save us in a big way. After all, the WFH model is successful only because of technology, online entertainment and education and more are all boons of technology. Read with us how technology has come to our the most in time of this pandemic.
If there's one defining trait that can be affixed to the modern individual, it's that we are all dependent on technology. Whether it's the cars we drive, the heating systems that keep our homes comfortable, or even in the way we use the internet as a means of communication, entertainment, and shopping, it's easy to see that we rely on technology for our daily lives.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many communities to adopt new standards as a measure to cull the spread of the virus. Beyond the stringent physical distancing rules and the stay-at-home orders, the new normal has also forced technology to be utilized more often. These are some of the technologies that have seen much more use in light of the pandemic:The Internet
As previously mentioned, many communities have instituted stay-at-home orders, leading to people being confined to their homes, unless they had an urgent matter to attend to. With not much to do at home, many people have turned to the internet, not just for information and entertainment, but also as a means to market their businesses, attend online classes, and to purchase goods and services that would otherwise not be available due to community restrictions. QR Code Readers
QR code readers are important in a world that discourages physical contact and has a dire need for contact tracing. QR codes and QR Code Generators are some of the most convenient ways to eliminate the need to touch surfaces.
There are various implementations for this technology, including presenting hotel guests with menus, room availability, or amenities. They can also be used as a digital ID which, in turn, allows people to avoid queuing up to secure a quarantine pass or other important documents.Thermal Cameras
Thermal cameras have also seen a spike in usage. Rather than using hand-held contactless thermometers, many businesses have opted to use thermal cameras which are used to detect if someone has a fever. This technology isn't new by any means, especially when most modern airports around the world already use them. However, businesses that use thermal cameras are able to scan patrons entering their establishment without the intrusiveness of manual scanning and without the inherent danger of queuing up.Chatbots
One bottleneck in the healthcare sector is that of triaging. The danger in not having an efficient means to determine the risk levels of patients lies in time being wasted, along with the possibility of high-risk patients potentially mingling with others who do not have the virus, thus increasing the risk of infection. Chatbots can help automate the process by asking website visitors key information regarding any symptoms that they might have. Even when a user does not necessarily have symptoms, a chatbot can help provide vital information instantly.Remote Monitoring Wearables
Devices such as smartwatches have seen a massive increase in popularity since the shift to virtual and remote care. As we all know, one of the worst effects of COVID-19 has is that it can easily overwhelm the healthcare sector, thus depriving others of much needed aid.
Because of this, remote programs have been incredibly helpful in ensuring that patients don't risk their health by taking a trip to the hospital, instead being monitored by their physician in the comfort of their home. One example of how this works is by allowing a remote monitoring program to transmit data from a patient's wearable device. This information is then uploaded to a dashboard that healthcare providers can use to monitor their patient. This allows healthcare providers to intervene when they need to, ensures that patients can still be monitored even when they aren't in the hospital, and frees up valuable hospital space for in-patients with more serious illnesses.
Technology will always be our primary tool to survive. This pandemic has not only illustrated this, but it has also shown that today's novel ideas may be tomorrow's lifeline.
This article has brought out very nicely the applications of latest technology in helping in fighting with the present pandemic. It is true that technology is a great enabler in such pandemic situation. I was going through the Aarogya Setu app of Ayush department of Govt of India for finding out the affected Corona patients nearby and found it quite effective. It was conforming to the daily bulletins being published by the local administration. Today internet has made many things possible to do which were earlier a dream only. Data compilation and their use in predicting for precautionary and safety measures have become a common thing. Medical data from all over the country is reaching instantaneously at a central location to give the latest trend of the spread of the disease and it is so helpful for the authorities to take a decision of any kind. Technology has much more potential in this regard if we use it in these effective ways.