In China, various technologies are supporting the fight against the coronavirus epidemic. Despite some security concerns, these technologies provide important logistical support. Supporting health workers, limiting the spread of the coronavirus and helping people in containment seems to be the priority.
5G and virtual reality
First of all, 5G, one of the technologies of tomorrow. A few weeks ago, we were talking about the first tests being carried out between several hospitals. The objective? To enable better cooperation between hospitals across the country. The main goal is to harmonize the diagnoses made by doctors through teleconference meetings. In addition, 5G gives the possibility to read scanner results remotely and to optimize image quality.
Virtual reality headsets are also used to contact patients remotely. These virtual visits reduce the risk of contamination of hospital staff. It is also about helping the poorest and/or those living in more remote areas .
Robots and drones
As reported in the Daily Mail, cleaning drones are at work in three Chinese provinces: Jilin, Shandong and Zhejiang. While we don’t know how many drones are mobilized, each of them can clean an area of 16,000 square metres in half a day! In addition, these same drones broadcast prevention messages to the population.
There is also a small army of robots to deliver food to apartment buildings and hotels. Others provide service in certain restaurants. Not long ago, the Xinhua news agency showed a robot called Little Peanut in action in a Hangzhou city hotel.
On the edge of acceptability
As we all know, China is a heavily guarded territory and new technologies support this security vision. However, the coronavirus epidemic has given rise to some innovations that may raise ethical questions. These include a new QR code system with different colours. Depending on the colour assigned, people may be asked to stay in their homes in confinement for a shorter or longer period of time. The “right colour” (green) is used as a pass.
The Chinese government has also implemented a rather amazing application. It allows users to determine a potential close contact with a person infected with coronavirus. If contact is confirmed, the user is asked to stay at home. In addition, the user’s family and friends are notified. This application is clearly based on mass surveillance as it has access to location and medical data about citizens.
