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How the IT Industry is Helping Humanity Tackle COVID-19

Humanity is being challenged by the unplanned visit of covid-19. Over the past few months, lots of human activities have been redefined and in some cases, halted.

Imagine a world where we had to survive covid-19 with minimal data, no internet and no communication devices. That would have been the case without Information Technology coming to the rescue. Let’s take a quick peep to how IT industry has helped humanity tackle covid-19.

The availability of data on covid-19 has helped in providing descriptive, predictive and prescriptive insights to the pandemic. This has helped people react better to the situation. For instance, it is not unusual for doubts to be prevalent in this sort of pandemic as people tend not to believe without proper evidence. But with availability of data, including picture and video evidences especially via the internet, the doubts have reduced.

Geo-analysis has improved greatly due to the availability of data which helped define government policies to curb the spread. Due to geo-analysis, different governments were able to decide the areas to go on lockdown and when to lift the lockdown. Streamlined methods for application and delivery of stimulus packages were also enabled by IT.

Information on prevention and steps to take on suspected infection circulated faster using digital media. Support chatbots and diagnostic applications helped in analyzing symptoms and proffering recommendations in getting proper healthcare and reducing the psychological burden and fear towards the pandemic.
With communication applications, businesses have felt a reduced impact on operations. Working remote has become seamless and some companies have even gone full remote. Productivity can even be measured with some of the software tools making operations not to suffer.

In some countries, robots are helping ensure prevention techniques are adhered to by providing sanitizers, disinfecting public places, enforcing social distancing, distributing informational contents and spreading awareness. Manufacturing of PPEs and other safety and health equipment has also increased due to robot-assisted manufacturing.

Furthermore, some social activities are still offered a chance for continuity. Thanks to IT. Some schools are operating comfortably via the internet, sporting competitions are being supported via teleconferencing, and events are being televised online amongst others.

Although, humanity is going through trying times battling covid-19, our investment in technology has paid off tremendously. It is only best we continue to improve the IT industry as its advantages cannot be overestimated.

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