ASSIGNMENT ABOUT HOW CAN WE USE ICT TO REDUCE COVID 19

 

Assignment

Name: Mohamed khadar jama

Reg: 2020-01-00766

Course unit: ITE7103

Course title: ICT FOR DEVELOPMENT

YEAR: ONE

SEMESTER: ONE

Department: INFORMATION SYSTEM

  Lecturer:       Prof. Muwanga-Zake, Johnnie WF

 

 

 

 

 can we use ICT to reduce covid 19^?

^{ICT is no more seen as a support to business, but rather a strategic asset for many organisations. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated how important it is to have ICT infrastructures and tools readily available. Organisations and even countries with advanced IT systems have used technology not only to directly support public health initiatives but also to keep other functions of society from closing down altogether. In short, ICT is now being used to speed up the development of vaccines, anticipate and predict the spread of the virus, keep the public updated with live information, making the running of economic and educational systems, etc...}

^{ICT played a role in communicating attempts to hide the outbreak in Wuhan from central government, upon which the latter moved in and took charge. Without present-day means of communication the virus could have spread more widely and the Chinese economy, and economies beyond, would have been affected more.}

^{The ability to 'read' and 'write' the genome of the virus is an example of the application of information technology, and the instantaneous publication of the virus on the Internet so that it became available instantaneously to all other countries enabled a country like Germany to immediately take steps to prepare for the virus spreading to the country (while the US, arguably the birthplace and paragon of ICT, failed miserably in doing the same). This publication of the genome, of course, is an example of the use of ICT, impacting on public health and the economy.}

^{Taiwan managed to contain the coronavirus better than any other country. The country is well-informed about what goes on in China, which is of vital interest for Taiwan's survival. But the use of ICT to contain the virus has been remarkably low-tech.}

^{What easily is forgotten in the common hyperbole about science and technology is that people's common sense and ability to manage and organise, and willingness to act collectively, are undoubtedly more important than the tools used. The use of ICT also comes with downsides, especially in terms of their impact on people's privacy and the security of data. When talking about economic impact of ICTs we should not forget that much of the functioning of the economy is based on trust. I read in some other answers the use of the term of 'strategic asset' for ICTs. It's a bit of a hollow phrase, as there isn't a common understanding of either term. 'Strategic' for what, for whom; 'asset' of whom, for what? What I do know, as an economist, that trust is important in society and for the economy. Trust is a 'free' resource. When ICT is used in a way which ignores its costs, both pecuniary but especially the intangible, it may result in the loss of trust and in 'higher cost of doing business'. Think of the centrally planned, communist economy as the extreme example of a 'trust-less' economy. That is among the important considerations in Europe to be careful with the use of ICT for tracking and managing the virus spread.}

^{A final point re 'health and wealth'. The loss of life has also an economic cost. In the US that cost is estimated at between $6m to $10m per life lost (with a younger person's life being the more valuable). Ultimately, the decision to 're-open' the economy should be based on what is best for society, in which the loss of life in any scenario for reopening needs to be weighed against the production, employment etc. gained in each scenario. The Rockefeller Foundation has developed a plan for the US that would entail 30 million tests per month, with a cost of $350 billion to $400 billion monthly. Whether a state would use ICT for managing the virus from spreading or a more conventional labour intensive method (e.g. Massachusetts) is up to those states. As the example of Taiwan shows there is no such a rule as 'the more ICT, the better'. In my own country (The Netherlands) billions of Euros have been lost in ICT projects that caused mayhem rather than solutions. There are already examples of flaws in the apps that have been developed, and of the breach of personal data.}

^{As everyone is agreed with ICT utility. ICT enhanced the safety and used to maintain social distancing in society. It is used in contact tracing and tracking; digital payments and even delivery of goods by drones. It can also used to engage students by online classes and remote labs. It is supporting infrastructure for virtual conferences and Google meetings. The 3d-printing is used to generate new business by novel and innovative devices design and development to help doctors and medical staffs. The IIOT and Industry 4.0 are proved its utility to maintain production of emergency equipment in lock-down conditions}

^{ICTs refers to technology that provide access to information through telecommunication this includes the wireless network , cell phone, and other communication systems . it covers any product that will store, retrieve, manipulate , transmit or receive information. Example robots ,email And most important thing is if we know artificial intelligence then also we can do this}