Last month, Snapchat launched a new lens that used augmented reality to help users get a better idea of how far apart people should stand away from other people with regards to social distancing. The idea is that by standing a certain distance away from others, it reduces the chance of the coronavirus spreading.
No thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, the way we live our lives moving forwards will never be the same again. Until a vaccine has been found, it seems that social distancing is pretty much the only thing we can do in order to curb the spread of the virus, and a cafe in South Korea has come up with an interesting way to deal with it: robots.
Apple and Google have recently released their Exposure Notification API to the public, and now the onus is pretty much on governments and app developers to take advantage of it, and it looks like we might have our first candidate. A team in Switzerland will be the first to release an app that will be using the Exposure Notification API.
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A couple of weeks ago, Fitbit launched a study in which they wanted to see if their wearables were capable of detecting irregular heart beats. Now it looks like the company wants to see if its wearables might actually be capable of doing more than that, such as being able to detect early on if the wearer might have the flu or even COVID-19.
One of the selling points of Apple and Google’s Exposure Notification API is the emphasis on privacy, where both companies will be using anonymized data and explicit user consent. As a result, some governments are choosing not to use the Exposure Notification API due to the various restrictions Apple and Google put in place.
Wearing a face mask for an extended period of time can get slightly uncomfortable. This is because if face masks are worn properly, it is meant to help create a seal around your nose and mouth so help prevent bacteria and particles from coming in through the sides. As a result, it does end up restricting your breathing by a bit.
Earlier this year, Apple and Google announced that they would be working together on developing a COVID-19 contact tracing system. Dubbed Exposure Notifications, if you have an iOS or Android device, you might be interested to learn that the API is now available in the latest update to both operating systems.
Depending on the material of a surface, the coronavirus can live for hours or up to days. However, did you know that copper actually can kill viruses? In fact, back in the day, hospitals actually used copper for things like doorknobs to prevent bacteria and virus from spreading, and in 2015, researchers found that copper alloys used in hospital settings actually reduced infection rates by as much as 58%.
With the world more or less on lockdown, we’re seeing more people work from home and rely on communication tools like Zoom to have face-to-face virtual meetings. While there is nothing wrong with using these video calling apps, writer and illustrator Viviane Schwarz and her team decided to shake things up a bit by hosting their team meetings inside of a video game.
Moderna is one of the many companies out there who are racing to develop a vaccine to the COVID-19 virus. The company has been forging ahead steadily and have been conducting clinical trials. Health officials have estimated that it would probably take 12-18 months to develop a vaccine, but Moderna thinks it can be done sooner.
Face masks are recommended to be worn while out in public. This is because face masks helps reduce the chance of the coronavirus spreading further, especially if you’re sick or if there are people who are sick around you. However, this is only prevention, but thanks to the work of researchers, they are working on a more permanent solution.