Roles of Technology During COVID-19
()
About this ebook
Read more from Austin Mardon
Ötzi Man Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFinding Vinland: Unearthing Evidence for Viking Presence in North America Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPandemic Theology Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDark Night Cometh Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHuman Trafficking: Are We Our Brother’s Keeper? Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOpus 158 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Girl Who Could Walk Through Walls Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsUrban Homesteading: Non-Consumer Culture in a Consumerist World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsVisionaries of a New Political Era: The Men Who Paved the Way for the Alberta Act of 1905 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsUnder the Weather: COVID-19 Biosocial System Dynamics Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Roles of Technology During COVID-19
Related ebooks
Online Distance Education: Towards a Research Agenda Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTeaching Information Literacy and Writing Studies: Volume 2, Upper-Level and Graduate Courses Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsScience in Education Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFrom Leadership in School Organization to Pragmatic Research in Physical Education Professional Development Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTeaching with Tech 2017: Language Educators Talking Tech Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEducating Through Pandemic: Traditional Classroom Vs Virtual Space - the Education Realm Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Curse of the Monsters of Education Technology Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRural Lifestyles, Community Well-Being and Social Change: Lessons from Country Australia for Global Citizens Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOral Communication in the Disciplines: A Resource for Teacher Development and Training Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPerfect ICT Every Lesson Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Effect of the Covid Pandemic on Current Economic Trends : Career, Money Management and Investment Strategies Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMed-Chains & Covid-19: Innovative Solutions for Pandemics Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCoronared Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Sustainable Development Goals Report 2020 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Invisible Enemy Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Coronavirus Disease 2019: Covid-19 Pandemic, States of Confusion and Disorderliness of the Public Health Policy-making Process Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSummary of Joseph Mercola & Ronnie Cummins's The Truth About COVID-19 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Future of Coronavirus Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDigital Health: Scaling Healthcare to the World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFrom Crisis to Catastrophe: Care, COVID, and Pathways to Change Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPsychological Aspects In Time Of Pandemic Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDigital Culture & Society (DCS): Vol 8, Issue 1/2022 - Coding Covid-19: The Rise of the App-Society Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTamansiswa Accounting Journal International: Volume 5, No 1, April 2022 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTamansiswa Accounting Journal International: Volume 4, No 1, January 2022 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDigital Medicine Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOpportunities the Bright Side of the Pandemic Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSummary of Scott Galloway's Post Corona Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Science & Mathematics For You
Outsmart Your Brain: Why Learning is Hard and How You Can Make It Easy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Source: The Secrets of the Universe, the Science of the Brain Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Our Kind of People: Inside America's Black Upper Class Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Gulag Archipelago [Volume 1]: An Experiment in Literary Investigation Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5First, We Make the Beast Beautiful: A New Journey Through Anxiety Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Big Book of Hacks: 264 Amazing DIY Tech Projects Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5American Carnage: On the Front Lines of the Republican Civil War and the Rise of President Trump Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5No-Drama Discipline: the bestselling parenting guide to nurturing your child's developing mind Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance---What Women Should Know Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Gulag Archipelago: The Authorized Abridgement Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Invisible Rainbow: A History of Electricity and Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Wisdom of Psychopaths: What Saints, Spies, and Serial Killers Can Teach Us About Success Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Becoming Cliterate: Why Orgasm Equality Matters--And How to Get It Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Chaos: Making a New Science Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Letter to Liberals: Censorship and COVID: An Attack on Science and American Ideals Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Mothers Who Can't Love: A Healing Guide for Daughters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Free Will Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dorito Effect: The Surprising New Truth About Food and Flavor Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Suicidal: Why We Kill Ourselves Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Wuhan Cover-Up: And the Terrifying Bioweapons Arms Race Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sapiens: A Graphic History, Volume 2: The Pillars of Civilization Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ultralearning: Master Hard Skills, Outsmart the Competition, and Accelerate Your Career Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lies My Gov't Told Me: And the Better Future Coming Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for Roles of Technology During COVID-19
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Roles of Technology During COVID-19 - Austin Mardon
support.
Chapter 1: Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating impacts on every functional aspect of society, with hundreds of thousands dead and millions more infected in just a few short months. Although many countries and regions, such as Canada and most of Europe, have shown significant decreases in the number of active cases, the pandemic is far from over and, on a global level, the peak has yet to even be reached as of July 2020 (Neustaeter, 2020). What started as a small outbreak in Wuhan, China back in late 2019 quickly snowballed into a public health emergency of international concern
by the end of January before being declared a global pandemic on March 11, 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2020a). Within an instant, countries were scrambling to close borders, shut down public spaces and workplaces, and draft new regulations to reduce the spread of COVID-19; the world was in a state of limbo and it seemed as if nobody knew what to do next. For many, this was their first time experiencing a global crisis to this degree and concerns from citizens and governments alike rapidly formed. What will happen to the economy? How will children receive an education? When can families reunite once again? These are just some of the questions that dominated citizens as this new normal
began to set in. Despite taking some time to adjust, however, solutions to almost all of these concerns began to be put in place largely because of advancements in modern technology.
Modern technology has arguably been one of the greatest strengths and weaknesses in the fight against COVID-19. It is also one of the key distinguishing factors between COVID-19 and pandemics of the past, as the advancement of technology over the last several decades has led to unforeseen benefits and consequences. It has impacted everything ranging from how COVID-19 is detected, diagnosed, and treated, to socio-political and economic changes that have occurred as a result of this pandemic.
Perhaps the greatest asset in the fight against this pandemic has been the ability to use existing technologies to detect, diagnose, and treat COVID-19 while also directly protecting individuals from the virus. The presence of infectious diseases in the healthcare system is by no means a new concept, and the need for sterility and protection in such a setting has led to masks that can block the transmission of pathogens, specifically surgical and N95 masks that had been developed decades prior. In fact, the N95 masks that protect healthcare workers today were invented back in 1995 (Page, 2020). With the COVID-19 pandemic being as widespread as it is, the technology used in not only developing the masks but also increasing the rate of their production has been invaluable, as they, along with other forms of personal protective equipment (PPE), have proven to be some of the most simple yet effective tools in reducing the transmission of airborne pathogens. Furthermore, diagnostic technologies such as antibody tests and immunohistochemistry have changed the efficiency of testing. The progress of immunological research and modern technologies have allowed the genome of the novel coronavirus to be determined (Science Daily, 2020), and additional treatment strategies to be tested at a higher rate than in the past. Additionally, advances in vaccine technology as a result of genetic engineering have allowed us to develop more efficacious vaccines.
In addition to the application of pre-existing technologies, this pandemic has provided an opportunity for human ingenuity and innovation to shine, with many new technologies being used and developed to curb the spread of COVID-19. This includes the use of artificial intelligence, 3D printing to produce PPE and other Equipment, and even apps that the general public can download. One example of this is the implementation of the COVID Alert
app by the government of Canada which uses bluetooth to detect the phones of individuals that a person has come into close contact with and will then send them an alert if any of their contacts has tested positive. This technology does not collect the location, name, or any other personal information, and has the potential to significantly boost the efficiency of contact tracing on a large scale. New developments such as these will continue to help the fight against COVID-19 and may even prove to be a valuable tool for future emergencies (Aiello, 2020).
Technology has also had a substantial impact on our health from an individual and public health perspective, thus having profound societal implications. The development of social media and online meeting platforms have allowed people to connect with one another like never before. In a time such as this, where social distancing measures are strict and widespread, feelings of isolation would normally be incredibly common which can have numerous negative mental and physical health effects. This is especially true for the senior population, who due to their increased risk of developing complications as a result of COVID-19, must remain especially physically isolated from the general population. However, many platforms such as Zoom, FaceTime, and Google Meets are being used to ensure that people are able to connect and speak with one another, thus reducing the potential mental health consequences of this pandemic. At the same time, it is possible that reliance on technology has dire consequences with respect to mental health. With regard to physical health, many gyms and training facilities are now transitioning towards the use of technology to deliver their services virtually. This may be through uploading pre-recorded workouts and workout schedules, hosting live fitness classes, or allowing people to book appointments for in-person sessions to ensure that social distancing measures within facilities may be met.
Despite its benefit in the fight against COVID-19, however, it has become one of society’s greatest vulnerabilities. This is because the demand for and dependence on technology by society as a whole leads to significant consequences when those needs are unable to be met. One of the most critical examples of this is the increased risk faced by healthcare workers due to an inadequate PPE supply chain which has led to shortages. In fact, many workers, such as those working at two Toronto hospitals, are being told that they will have to reuse decontaminated N95 masks, which are meant to be single use only, as a result of the shortage (Warren, 2020). In addition to this, shortages of ventilators and other critical tools in healthcare settings have unfortunately led to the death of many people, as was the case in Italy in April when doctors were put into a position of deciding who lives and who dies due to the shortage in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds and equipment (Beall, 2020). Needless to say, the significantly increased demand for technology has been one of the most significant bottlenecks in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Although the situation has improved substantially, many workers are still required to reuse PPE for prolonged periods of time which poses a potential danger to both the healthcare provider and the patient.
Despite the scientific nature of the advancements that have been made with regards to technology, there have been profound related impacts in all social aspects of society, including culture, politics, and economics. With the pandemic confining everyone to their own home and preventing people from seeing one another face-to-face, the incorporation of new technology such as video calling platforms to allow some level of connection was seen as a necessity by many. This necessity also extends to the workplace, with many businesses switching to teleconferencing softwares and a work from home
model in order to adapt to the changes in lifestyle brought about by the pandemic. However, while some businesses have been able to adapt and thus resume operation, many businesses have still seen dangerous cuts to revenue or have gone bankrupt. The result of this has been one of the worst economic downturns in human history that will have a plethora of long-lasting and significant consequences. With regards to politics, many new policies have been implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19, such as the closing of businesses and public settings, which as mentioned have their own consequences, the mandating of masks, and the closure of borders. Many of the decisions pertaining to each of these social aspects were largely impacted by the presence of technology, clearly demonstrating that its reach is far greater than one might think.
One of the key downfalls of technology throughout the COVID-19 pandemic is the role that the internet and media have played in the perpetuation of misinformation, thus significantly harming the fight against COVID-19. In a world of close to 8 billion people, approximately 3.5 billion people are online in some way, with the number of facebook users alone growing from 518 million in 2010, to a staggering 2.26 billion in 2018 (Ortiz-Ospina, 2019), and the number of new users joining social media platforms every year is by no means slowing down. This acts as a distinguishing factor between COVID-19 and previous pandemics, as the level at which information, and subsequently misinformation, can be created and spread is far greater than ever witnessed before. Unfortunately, misinformation is not only circulating throughout the internet, but is in fact being interacted with far more than credible information. The result of this is an increase in the spread of COVID-19, and people opposing vaccines and refusing to listen to public health advice. Although social media may be one of the greatest tools of the twenty-first century to keep individuals connected, it has arguably been one of society's greatest weaknesses in the fight against this virus.
A global event of this size and severity will certainly have numerous long-lasting impacts even after the virus itself has subsided. With billions of lives being directly affected and the world facing one of the worst economic downturns in history, it will take years to recuperate to a level that is close to the normal everyone once knew. Many of the implications and changes, however, will not necessarily directly impact citizens on an individual level. These impacts include changes to the economy and efficiency focused global supply chains, new pandemic and emergency preparedness strategies and policies, and even the hindrance of a transition towards a more sustainable future. On an individual level, people may begin to see changes to the workplace, travel, culture, and how society views the ill. Despite society eventually returning to a state that will be rather similar to what it was before, this pandemic will ultimately leave its mark in history and embed itself in daily life for the years to come.
With the advancement of technology being one of the key distinguishing factors between COVID-19 and past pandemics, it is crucial to understand the diverse and significant impacts that it has had on the fight against the virus. This book will take a multifaceted approach to understanding the implications of technological advancements in recent times, and will cover topics ranging from the use of technology to prevent, diagnose, and treat COVID-19, to its socioeconomic and political consequences.
The hope of this book is to provide an accurate portrayal of the role of technology during the COVID-19 pandemic. It will assess the impact of technology on various stakeholders such as individuals, society, businesses and the government. Furthemore, it will analyze the advancement of technology throughout COVID-19 and finally how technology has influenced change in everyday life to different degrees.
Research conducted on this topic will outline how technology has impacted various parties and further evaluate the benefits and detriments of its use. These conclusions will include findings pertaining to technology and its influence on the well-being of individuals and communities, as well as its impacts on a larger scale with regards to different levels of governments and businesses. Given the unique circumstances of the pandemic, we hope to inform readers and provide a changed perspective surrounding the role of technology. This information may potentially be utilized to make future educated decisions regarding policies in governments, businesses, or organizations as well as personal choices. The hope is that the aggregate of this research will aid in preventing the spread of misinformation surrounding the current pandemic and help lead to a more informed society.
Chapter 2: Diagnostic Technologies
The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the many events in history which has instilled a great deal of fear and confusion among the general population. This nation have gone from seeing a single cough being as insignificant as a mosquito bite, to fearing them as