Apple
(Photo: Pexels)

Two tech giants, Apple and Google, teamed up to develop a COVID-19 contact tracing technology according to a recently published tech article.

WHAT IS CONTACT TRACING

Contact tracing is essential nowadays because an asymptomatic person who is positive for the virus is still contagious. This means that it is imperative to trace the whereabouts and direct contacts of persons who tested positive for the virus.

This is one of the ways to stop the spread of a virus that has infected millions of people around the globe.

Moreover, knowing the whereabouts of a person will give an idea as to what places should be avoided. More importantly, whether or not you have been in that place during that time and should therefore get tested.

APPLE AND GOOGLE DEVELOP COVID-19 CONTACT TRACING TECHNOLOGY

Exposure to a person who is positive for the virus sometimes goes unnoticed because they are asymptomatic. However, these people who are not showing any symptoms for COVID-19 but are, in fact carrying the virus are very dangerous. 

It is for this reason that Apple and Google are developing a technology that will help people figure out if they have been exposed to someone who is COVID-19 positive via apps and Bluetooth technology. 

Google released a statement saying, "Contact Tracing makes it possible to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus by alerting participants of possible exposure to someone who they have recently been in contact with, and who has subsequently been positively diagnosed as having the virus."

This means that the Contact Tracing app will not only give anyone an idea if he or she is exposed to someone who is COVID-19 positive, but this will also suggest if you need to quarantine. In a joint statement released by the two tech giants, they said that user privacy and security are central to the design.

WHEN THIS CONTACT TRACING BE AVAILABLE

Google and Apple will both release what they called as APIs in May. These software tools allow the developers to create within the operating system. Moreover, this will give access to Apple iOS and Google Android mobile platforms.

This means that through this, the apps will be downloadable for both Apple iOS and Google Play Store. The two tech giants are also looking to enable a Bluetooth-based solution in the coming months.

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, posted on his Twitter account and said that the Contact Tracing app would have controls in place for the protection of privacy. This was also supported by Tim Cook, Apple CEO, who also tweeted that the use of this app will not compromise user privacy.

As you may know, Google announced that the company was working with the government on a national website to help pre-screen people for COVID-19. Google later clarified that it was the sister unit within the parent company Alphabet called Verily, which said that would begin the pilot test in San Franciso Bay Area.

ANOTHER RESPONSE OF APPLE TO COMBAT COVID-19

Apple CEO posted announced through his Twitter account that the company had sourced over 20 million masks. He asserted: "Our design, engineering, operations, and packaging teams are also working with suppliers to design, produce and ship face shields for medical workers."  

Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union commended the effort of the company in helping combat the infectious and deadly virus. However, they said that there is no active Contact Tracing, not unless there is free, quick testing, and equitable access to healthcare.

Read related articles: