Governments and businesses are relying on various technologies to help fight the coronavirus pandemic and in reopening the economy. At Intellizence, we monitor various business impacts due to coronavirus pandemic. Here we are highlighting a few top technology trends that emerged in the last few weeks.
Contactless Deliveries
Hospitals, e-commerce companies, groceries, and restaurants all are turning to the drone, robots and autonomous vehicles to offer fast, safe, contactless deliveries during the lock-down period.
Drones and Robots
Drones and robots are being used today for
- Monitoring people’s movement during the lock-down
- Disinfecting streets and hospital rooms
- Delivering quarantine supplies and medical samples
- CVS and UPS are partnering to supply prescription medicines to the nation’s largest retirement community
- UPS is partnering with Matternet and hospital WakeMed to transport samples
- UC San Diego Health is using drones to transport medical samples
- Providing remote communication between patients and doctors, and monitor equipment in the room
Autonomous Vehicles
Autonomous Vehicles are being used to deliver:
- COVID-19 tests, and medical supplies in hospitals
- Food and grocery
Nuro, Navya are some of the driverless vehicle startups that are working in this area.
Digital Contact Tracing
Governments across the world are deploying contact tracing apps and wearables to exit lockdown and avoid the next wave of coronavirus cases. Digital contact tracing technologies record personal and health data, travel details, and COVID-19 test results. The app monitors the movement of people under quarantine and alerts in case of violation.
Digital contact tracing applications launched by some of the countries are:
- Australia – COVIDSafe
- Singapore – TraceTogether
- South Korea – Mobile phone location data
- China – Facial recognition and QR code-based technologies
- India – Aarogya Setu
- Hong Kong – Electronic wristbands for people under quarantine
- UK – NHS COVID-19
Key partnerships by leading technology companies
- Apple and Google
- First Responder COVID-19 Guide – Stanford Medicine app and Apple
- CovidSafe – Microsoft and University of Washington
Social Distancing Technologies
To control the pandemic, physical distancing (1.5 meters) measures have to be strictly followed.
Social distancing apps and wearable devices scan nearby mobile and wearable devices and alert you when a device enters the 1.5-meter perimeter. These apps and devices use a variety of technologies like Bluetooth, Machine Learning, UWB radio technology, sensors, RFID, etc., to measure the distance.
Social Distancing apps and wearables launched by some of the companies are:
- mContain – MD2K Center for Excellence – University of Memphis
- Crowdless – Lanterne, a startup supported by ESA Space Solutions
- 1.5 – LTO Network
- Social Distance Alert – Viaanix
- EGOpro Active Tag,LASE PeCo – Advanced Industrial Marketing
- 1point5 – The United Nations Technology Innovation Labs(UNTIL)
Digital Workplace
A Digital Workplace is an integrated unit where employees, intelligence, processes, and infrastructure come together.
What you need in a digital workplace is:
- Collaboration and quick communication – Empower and support employees to access all the information they need to perform their jobs. Collaborative telepresence can render physical location irrelevant.
- Remote work preparedness – Working from home or any remote location.
Key technologies that are enabling the digital workplace are
- Collaboration and Communication platforms
- Video conferencing
- Cloud storage
- Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
Thermal Imaging and Scanning
Businesses are using high-resolution thermal imaging cameras, thermal imaging wearables to screen employees as a preventive measure.
Some of the startups that are working in this space are CrowdRx, Rolkid, Staqu, Agrex, Kogniz, AnyVision Interactive Technologies, etc.
3D Printing
Companies are using 3D Printing technologies to manufacture Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), Ventilators, medical devices, and accessories. Leading automobile companies like Ford, Toyota, Ferrari are using 3D Printing to produce face shields, respirators, etc.,
Online Learning
Currently, students and educational institutes are continuing learning through remote learning platforms as Google Classroom complemented with popular collaboration and social platforms like Zoom, Slack, Microsoft Team, etc.,
Remote Health & Telemedicine
Remote health technologies and apps are exploding, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and crowding hospitals, and clinics.
- Remote telehealth consultations are approved to nearly 62 million Medicare beneficiaries in the US and HIPAA privacy rules have been relaxed. They can speak with healthcare providers, get treatment, and fill prescriptions via phone or videoconference.
- Other technologies include
- Wearable personal IoT devices that can track vital signs
- Chatbots to make initial diagnoses based on symptoms
- UnitedHealth Group Inc.’s Optum unit is rumored to acquire AbleTo, a remote mental health service provider for ~ $470 million.
- Startups working in this space include – Zocdoc, Pager, XR Health, Lemonaid Health, Doctor on Demand
Conclusion
To remain competitive in pandemic times, businesses should ensure the safety of employees, customers, and the community by adopting current and relevant technologies.
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