What I’m Thinking About: Tracking Through Tech
I’m really interested in the privacy implications and the technology behind how we track people who have recovered and keep track of those are infected as we will need to do to get back to our lives. Without doing this, this shelter-in-place will just continue until a vaccine arrives – which is just too damn long.
Google/Apple have formed an alliance that will help track people that are infected. The way it works is:
An app on your phone will pass a random and anonymous code to all other phones within a few yards of you, wherever you are (and vice versa). If you test positive, you tell the app, and every other phone in the region checks the codes they’ve seen in the last 14 days, and if there’s a match they can say ‘you’ve been exposed’. This is anonymous and automatic.
This is very cool, but am skeptical that it’ll ever happen because it really only works if governments mandate it and I just don’t see that happening.
On a related note, there’s a new San Francisco company called Onfido that is working with European governments to develop phone-based “immunity passports” for those who have already recovered from COVID-19. This is happening in Europe and is similar to what’s in China. Oh, and just yesterday they raised an additional $100 million.
At My House
We’re digging into the remote learning more deeply this week as our school is starting to get more involved and attentive to what’s happening at home.
That only takes half the day. The other part is spent enjoying the great weather we’ve been sent
Fitness
One of my friends sent me this today. I’ll be joining him:
I do one plank a day during the pandemic, holding it for as long as I can. Have made it to three minutes the last three days. Join me.
… and then I make myself a cocktail almost immediately afterward.
Other Stuff
Now this is a great use of modern technology. Here we have a Twitter account that is judging people’s video call background. Just what the world needed (thx Lizzie)
“I’m @clairecmc and this is my kitchen” 7/10. pic.twitter.com/DTedpSMCZA
— Room Rater (@ratemyskyperoom) April 14, 2020
ok, so one observation i had today: everyone is turning into hobbits during quar — we’re baking breads & listening to little melodies & getting hairier & our neighborhoods are the shire & we go on our little walks through the shire & head home to our breads & plumpen our bellies
— Megan Neuringer (@MeganNeuringer) April 14, 2020
Thanks Jackie!
"Thanks, Jackie. Great idea." @montypython #montypython #stayhome pic.twitter.com/jAORpbdCer
— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) April 15, 2020
Check these out. Might as well keep safe in style:
We have reallocated our manufacturing capacity to produce masks for everyday wear
Atoms Masks are hand washable, and includes copper yarn, an antibacterial that reduces odor
We are donating 1 mask for every order, and selling them at cost. Pre-order: https://t.co/Fh4Q4WT2kd pic.twitter.com/BhoyjI2xNt
— Atoms (@WearAtoms) April 15, 2020
Cases
New York added two thousands deaths to their list who were people they hadn’t tested:
Only 64 more days to go
