New Tech Contact Tracing Applications of 2020: Contact Tracing App

 https://www.technowize.com/new-tech-contact-tracing-applications-of-2020/ 

New Tech Contact Tracing Applications of 2020: Contact Tracing Apps

This particular article I found to be very interesting as it touched on the topic of a new COVID-19 tracing application. It talked about the new innovation of tracing people who have been in contact with someone who has contracted the virus. In the article they show examples of how different countries have different variations of a tracing app. 

The reason that this tracing application has come into light recently because of the COVID-19 pandemic that has been spreading throughout the world. The application has been proposed in the US but in other countries such as Australia it has been in use. The article talks about multiple variations that exist in different countries around the world and how they work. The use of Australia's COVIDSafe application is by Australian residents who have registered on the application and are put into the COVIDSafe database. This database is used for the purpose of keeping everyone safe during this pandemic. However a question that for sure arised was if it was an evasion of privacy and whether it is ethical. The application can be easily downloaded on a mobile device which helps make it accessible for basically everyone. A way that COVIDSafe has been able to work around privacy is that it is consent based. Which definitely helps to encourage Australian residents to download the application and participate in the database. I think that the use of this COVIDSafe application will benefit the residents of Australia and keep them safe during this pandemic. The data being collected through bluetooth and being able to tell the phones around the infected person helps to keep the spread to a minimum. Now in March of 2021 Australia has had a significant drop in COVID-19 cases and has been able to be more open than the USA. This example of a COVID-19 tracing application in this article and showing results that have a positive impact really makes me wonder whether the US should push for an application like this. Another cool feature about the COVIDSafe application that I find as very innovative is the option of multiple languages as well to help all people in Australia stay safe. This innovation of IT has helped governments across the world be able to keep a closer look on COVID-19 cases as well as making people more aware of exposure and possibly more spread. Another variation of a COVID-19 tracer that is not at all using a database of personal information is Italy’s Immuno application. This particular application uses google and apple databases to be able to inform those on the application people that have been exposed to COVID-19. Overall this COVID-19 tracing applications are a good innovation of technology that I think will help in the future to help keep people safe during the pandemic.