As the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) increases, there is an increasing threat and pressure on governments to control the spread and minimize cases of the virus. One way this can be done is through the utilization of the Internet of Things.
One way the Internet of Things can help with the recovery efforts of COVID-19, is by helping to trace the origins of outbreaks in specific regions. According to the article, Researchers at MIT “aggregated mobile phone data to trace, in granular details of short distances and periods, the spread of dengue virus in Singapore during 2013 and 2014.” This helped these researchers triangulate patient zero and additionally helped them identify carriers and who they came in contact with.
The Internet of Things is currently being used during this pandemic to survey and enforce quarantine in some areas via drones. A.I. is being used to help predict future outbreak areas. In one case, a doctor used drones to check the temperature of high risk quarantine patients from their balconies using an an infrared thermometer. This type of technology can be helpful in getting patients the care they need, but also minimizing the risk of cross-infection with patients.
LIS 4022 Spring 2020 