Since early 2020, COVID-19 has been making headlines on almost every news platform globally, affecting big tech companies. This deadly pandemic has killed over 667K+ people worldwide (as of 7/30/2020) in seven months.
Many stakeholders in society, including tech companies, are trying to come up with solutions regarding how to control the spread of the disease, find a cure, and respond to the economic instabilities that have been brought about by COVID-19.
Big tech companies like Google, Apple, Facebook, and Microsoft have responded not only through financial support but also by providing solutions through the services they offer. In today’s post, we will share some of the technological solutions these companies have put in place to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Apple and Google
When the spread of COVID-19 started escalating in the USA in late February and March, Apple and Google began building a contact tracing API (Application Planning Interface). This API, meant to help different governments and other agencies build iOS and Android apps used for contact tracing. The API was released jointly by the two companies in May 2020.
The applications built to take advantage of this API will use Bluetooth to establish whether a smartphone owner has come across someone who later turns out to be a Covid-19 victim. When one finds out that they come in contact with a person(s), they should self-quarantine for 14 days and ask for a medical check-up as soon as possible.
Besides building this API, Apple and Google have added lots of features in their respective operating systems. For instance, the watch OS has a feature that encourages people to wash hands for at least 20 seconds. It does this by automatically starting a 20 seconds count down whenever it senses that someone wearing the watch is washing their hands.
Microsoft
Microsoft, through Windows OS, has also brought on board lots of features that will aid in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. In the former build of Windows 10 OS, Microsoft added a feature in the search bar that gives as a Windows the latest information about COVID-19. This information is customized based on the person using the PC.
Microsoft also added fast access to the Bing COVID-19 Tracker in Microsoft News to keep people using windows OS updated about the latest news about COVID-19.
Through its Coronavirus (COVID-19) community information hub, the social media giant has rolled out a couple of programs meant to help people that have been hit the most by COVID-19. Under Facebook’s coronavirus community hub, people can help those who need food and essential supplies. Facebook has also added a feature where small business owners are informed about the different COVID-19 response programs in their respective countries.
Final Thoughts
The big tech companies have tried to do the best to help the COVID-19 fight through the services they offer and given financial support to some communities to ensure all of their employees are safe from the Covid19 pandemic. We expect a lot more to come from these companies until the spread of COVID-19 is eradicated.
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