2020 has been a year full of uncertainty. COVID-19 seemed to come out of nowhere and started spreading around the globe faster than any of us could've imagined. Luckily, many emerging technologies during the pandemic are helping us to survive the crisis. These tech innovations lend a helping hand during these trying times.
Companies all over the world have been forced to rethink how they do business. The pandemic has impacted nearly every industry and made them come up with technological innovations. We're not just talking about the so-called business Duck Shooter in 2020, but more fundamental changes like integrating artificial intelligence into health care or using robotics to mechanize various processes usually handled by people. And perhaps unsurprisingly, they have proven to be quite effective in preventing the spread of the virus.
Top 10 Technologies Helping the World in COVID-19 Pandemic
Let's take a look at 10 key technologies used during the pandemic.
1. Mirakl
Technologies developed during the pandemic are often involved in getting the protective equipment to the front line. Mirakl (an eCommerce company) has created a platform for manufacturers to communicate over hand sanitizer orders. The main focus is to get the sanitizer to where it's needed the most: the hospitals.
2. Optibus
The effective transportation of workers is the key to restarting the economy. However, because of the risk of spreading the virus, bus companies are forced to keep the number of passengers low. Optibus offers planning services to optimize the routes, costs, and available crew to lessen the crisis's impact on transportation enterprises.
3. Robotics - Most Trending Technologies During Lockdown
During the lockdown, many of us turned to online shops for our groceries' needs. Without enough staff, these shops could not always fulfill the orders. So, Takeoff Technologies, a retail technology firm, has created mini-warehouses where robots manage the purchases. It's faster and eliminates human contact with the food.
4. Starling Bank
Self-isolation forced many of us to get our food delivered by someone else. But how to pay them without exchanging cash? Sterling Bank has developed a debit card for that. It's connected to the owner's account and allows a trusted individual to make purchases on their behalf.
5. Drones - To Spray Disinfectants
While this may sound like a fun online game on the Eye of Horus sites, it has become a reality in China. Drones are being used in public spaces to spray disinfectants on people. And get this: disinfection from a spraying drone is supposed to be up to fifty times more efficient than from a spraying person.
6. Tracing the Contacts
South Korea has used facial recognition technology and even GPS to get real-time data about people's whereabouts. These strategies sound quite aggressive. But they've allowed South Korea to maintain one of the lowest mortality rates during the crisis.
7. Lunit — Faster Diagnoses
Many new technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic are moving towards utilizing artificial intelligence. Another innovation from South Korea comes from a medical software company Lunit. They use AI to diagnose various lung ailments from X-ray images.
8. Data - Helps Limit the Virus-Induced Harm on Economy
One of the most useful emerging technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic comes from an online data exchange company Dawex. Realizing data's important role in understanding how the virus works, Dawex has put up a COVID-19 Data Exchange Initiative. It's free of charge.
9. Autonomous Vehicles
Minimizing human contact is super important in preventing the virus from spreading. So many hospitals in China are using autonomous vehicles to transport supplies and food. In some cases, even infected patients.
10. Telehealth
Telehealth can provide you with some essential health care without seeing the doctor. Wearable devices track your body and collect data; chatbots then make diagnoses. Needless to say, more serious conditions still need to be revised by a real doctor later.
Conclusion
The pandemic is a global crisis that has impacted everyone's lives. Countries that have been most successful in keeping the mortality rate low have used the new technologies during COVID for testing and surveillance. Only time will tell which of the automation is here to stay. But one thing's for sure: technology has done a lot during the crisis and changed the world for the better.
Do you know any emerging technologies used against the virus that we've missed or technologies during the quarantine? Let us know in the comments section below.
COMMENTS