How AI & ML Contributing To Mobile App Development To Test COVID-19?

The pandemic coronavirus has taken the world by storm, with around 800 thousand deaths and 23 million cases, the situation is still not normal. The cases are increasing at a constant speed. Every country from developed to underdeveloped are working round the clock to find out its cure. But, now technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning can save us from COVID-19. Our global researchers claim that the mobile app developed with these technologies could help test the coronavirus, and this news is not less than a ray of hope for us.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are now significant players in fighting with COVID-19. It’s just like a tool but a technical tool built in the mobile apps and even in different devices to help us in this viral pandemic. Mobile applications powered with AI and machine learning can help in screening the people for coronavirus. It has reduced the pressure on the healthcare institutions and warned people with a high risk of developing the infection across the globe. That’s what is the key step in the fight against COVID-19.

In India, we already have an app called Arogya Setu that detects COVID-19. It uses Bluetooth to determine the risk if one is near (within six feet of) a COVID-infected person, by scanning through a database of the known cases across the country.

The time where the mobile app development stats shows the forecast number of mobile users will grow by 7.26 billion worldwide in 2020, then leveraging it now will be beneficial. According to the new forecast by International Data Corporation, worldwide AI revenues can reach $156.5 in 2020. Thus, using artificial intelligence for mobile app development, especially in 2020, will be a socio-economic decision for us.

So, without wasting time, let’s peek into the world of artificial intelligence and machine learning and see how it’s bringing momentum to tackle this pandemic with real-life mobile applications. Yes, I have some examples of the applications which are in use today in different countries. But before this, get to understand the significant concepts of AI and ML involved in the mobile app development.

Now let’s see the recent apps powered with AI and ML, explicitly developed in 2020 to fight coronavirus:

• Aarogya Setu

Aarogya Setu, an app developed in India to fight COVID-19. The app within just 13 days of its launch was downloaded by 50 million+ users. It’s developed by the Indian Ministry of Electronics and IT team to notify users if they come in contact with any COVID-19 infected person. The app is based on the algorithms of Artificial Intelligence and Bluetooth technology. It tracks location via Bluetooth and a location-generated graph that charts proximity with anyone infected.

Once a user has installed the app, they need to switch on the Bluetooth and location sharing. It should be kept switched on always for efficient tracking. It contains a self-testing function where it answers some questions from you, and your responses will indicate the symptoms of COVID-19. The information that it gathers will be transferred to the government servers. Including this, it also provides self-quarantine instructions. The app is available on both Android and iOS platforms in 11 languages.

• MapMyIndia

MapMyIndia has developed a COVID-19 dashboard to stay updated with the total number of cases in India. The data is based on the input from the ministry of health and welfare. It also displays state-wise data, the details of treatment centers, hunger relief centers, isolation centers, and relief camps for the migrant workers with the map’s location. The applications also contain an option where users can report issues like lockdown violations, lapses in law enforcement, etc.

• NHS Smartphone App

The UK's AI app is developed by the National Health Service, a funded healthcare system of England. It’s created at NHSX, the innovation unit of NHS. The app keeps a tab on people’s movements and notifies you if you come in close contact with any COVID-19 infected person. According to the experts, by analyzing the virus’s patterns spread plus hotspots, the app helps to stay updated and avoid contacting the infected patients. It categorizes details based on household structures, mobility patterns, and demography, and, based on this, it’s reducing the coronavirus cases and protecting its countrymen.

• Kwarantanna Domowa

Poland has become one of the first Western countries to roll out an android app that collects reams of personal data, including the people’s location plus digital photos, to combat the COVID-19. In this application, people upload their selfies when officials ask to pinpoint their correct location. It has become compulsory for everyone who is developing coronavirus symptoms. The application translates to ‘Home Quarantine’ in English.

• CovidWatch

The app is developed in collaboration with Stanford University, empowers people to protect themselves and their communities without compromising their privacy. It’s also based on AI algorithms and uses Bluetooth signals to detect users when they are in proximity to each other and anonymously send alerts if they are in touch with someone tested COVID 19 positive.

A distinguishing feature of the app is that any third party, even the government, can’t track who is exposed by whom. It’s among the first applications that released an open-source protocol for privacy-preserving and decentralized Bluetooth contact tracing.

• COVID Symptom Tracker

Researchers and doctors have designed the app at the King’s College London and St. Thomas hospitals, with a private healthcare company named Zoe Global. The app checks the virus’s symptoms for advanced assessment and helps track how it spread. Scientists examine risk-prone areas in the UK, virus spreading speed, plus the most vulnerable group, based on health conditions. The app is GDPR compliant and uses data only for healthcare research and not any commercial purpose.

• MyGov

Single coronavirus misinformation is rampant, but the MyGov app will never let it happen with its countrymen. With it, people can keep track of the right number of COVID-19 cases in India. The app is available in both Hindi and English language. It continually shows the number of active cases, deaths, and recovered cases. It also has informative features such as myth busters, a shortcut page to reach the PM-Cares fund with bank account details to donate money.

Additionally, if one has a solution to fight against COVID-19, he/she can submit it for the Safe India Hackathon through the app. The app is developed specifically with technologies like machine learning, artificial intelligence, the internet of things, and more.

What’s more with AI and ML in the COVID 19 pandemic?

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are fighting at the forefront against this highly infectious virus. The sole aim of introducing these technologies in the healthcare industry is to analyze and prepare us to fight with COVID-19 pandemic and even for other easily communicable diseases with simple contact.

Pharmaceutical industries are using AI and ML to detect the virus and manufacture drugs to treat various severe diseases. And that’s what these are helping in this pandemic situation to develop its vaccine. The significant features, such as face-recognition, are useful in detecting COVID-19 infected people. Thus, it’s providing excellent support in the early treatment of this deadly disease.

See how it aids in this Coronavirus 19 pandemic:

• Diagnosis displays a clear picture of essential data and helps the doctor know its health status. Many doctors across the globe are using AI-based diagnosis systems to check the chest radiography. And this screening approach considered 96% accurate in diagnosing this COVID 19 virus.
• While using artificial intelligence, we can advance genome sequencing, make diagnoses faster, and perform quicker scanner analyses.
• With AI-based software, we can solve operational challenges that include emergency room availability and patient safety.
• AI-powered CT scans are helping doctors in many ways.
• It is an essential part of various biochemical researches.
• Machine learning aids in identifying the patients at risk with the reports gathering on a large scale.
• In diagnosing COVID-19 patients, face scans help identify their symptoms.

Summing Up!

During this COVID 19 pandemic, scientists, healthcare experts, and the top IT giants are working day and out to find out its cure. The war is still on, but our tech enthusiasts have discovered the best ways to keep this pandemic spread at bay.

The AI and ML-powered apps we have read above provide substantial protection from the corona-infected people. Even they have given a new angle to this fight against this novel outbreak. Presently, many machine learning companies are working on this sphere to develop more advanced applications powered with these two powerful technologies.

About the author:

Varun Bhagat is a tech consultant & blogger working for PixelCrayons which is a leading app & web development company in India. He possesses in-depth knowledge of all the latest technologies and loves to share his knowledge gained over a period of 10+ years with like-minded people.