• Title/Summary/Keyword: Contact tracing

Search Result 52, Processing Time 0.022 seconds

Distributed Social Medical IoT for Monitoring Healthcare and Future Pandemics in Smart Cities

  • Mansoor Alghamdi;Sami Mnasri;Malek Alrashidi;Wajih Abdallah;Thierry Val
    • International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
    • /
    • v.24 no.5
    • /
    • pp.135-155
    • /
    • 2024
  • Urban public health monitoring in smart cities focuses on the control of conditions and health challenges in urban environments. Considering the rapid spread of diseases and pandemics, it is important for health authorities to trace people carrying the virus. In smart cities, this tracing must be interoperable and intelligent, especially in indoor surfaces characterized by small distances between people. Therefore, to fight pandemics, it is necessary to start with the already-existing digital equipment of the Internet of Things, such as connected objects and smartphones. In this study, the developed system is employed to provide a social IoT network and suggest a strategy which allows reliable traceability without threatening the privacy of users. This IoT-based system allows respecting the social distance between persons sharing public services in smart cities without applying smartphone applications or severe confinement. It also permits a return to normal life in case of viral pandemic and ensures the much-desired balance between economy and health. The present study analyses previous proposed social distance systems then, unlike these studies, suggests an intelligent and distributed IoT based strategy for positioning students. Two scenarios of static and dynamic optimization-based placement of Bluetooth Low Energy devices are proposed and an experimental study shows the contribution and complementarity of the introduced contact tracing strategy with the applications on smartphones.

Utilizing Spatial and Temporal Information in KAHIS for Aiding Animal Disease Control Activities (가축질병 방역활동 지원을 위한 국가동물방역통합시스템 시공간 정보 활용)

  • PARK, Son-Il;PARK, Hong-Sik;JEONG, Woo-Seog;LEE, Gyoung-Ju
    • Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
    • /
    • v.19 no.4
    • /
    • pp.186-198
    • /
    • 2016
  • HPAI(Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) is a contagious animal disease that spreads rapidly by diffusion after the first occurrence. The disease has brought tremendous social costs and economic losses. KAHIS (Korea Animal Health Information System) is the integrated system for supporting the task of preventing epidemics. They provide decision-support information, recording vehicle visiting times and facility location, etc., which is possible by enforcing registration of all livestock related facilities and vehicles. KAHIS has accumulated spatial and temporal information that enables effective tracing of potential disease trajectories and diffusion through vehicle movements. The contact network is created utilizing spatial and temporal information in KAHIS to inform facility connection via vehicle visitation. Based on the contact network, it is possible to infer spatial and temporal mechanism of disease spread and diffusion. The study objective is to empirically demonstrate how to utilize primary spatial and temporal information in KAHIS in the form of the contact network. Based on the contact network, facilities with the possibility of infection can be pinpointed within the potential spatial and temporal extent where the disease has spread and diffused. This aids the decision-making process in the task of preventing epidemics. By interpreting our demonstration results, policy implications were presented. Finally, some suggestions were made to comprehensively utilize the contact network to draw enhanced decision-support information.

Technology Development for Non-Contact Interface of Multi-Region Classifier based on Context-Aware (상황 인식 기반 다중 영역 분류기 비접촉 인터페이스기술 개발)

  • Jin, Songguo;Rhee, Phill-Kyu
    • The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
    • /
    • v.20 no.6
    • /
    • pp.175-182
    • /
    • 2020
  • The non-contact eye tracking is a nonintrusive human-computer interface providing hands-free communications for people with severe disabilities. Recently. it is expected to do an important role in non-contact systems due to the recent coronavirus COVID-19, etc. This paper proposes a novel approach for an eye mouse using an eye tracking method based on a context-aware based AdaBoost multi-region classifier and ASSL algorithm. The conventional AdaBoost algorithm, however, cannot provide sufficiently reliable performance in face tracking for eye cursor pointing estimation, because it cannot take advantage of the spatial context relations among facial features. Therefore, we propose the eye-region context based AdaBoost multiple classifier for the efficient non-contact gaze tracking and mouse implementation. The proposed method detects, tracks, and aggregates various eye features to evaluate the gaze and adjusts active and semi-supervised learning based on the on-screen cursor. The proposed system has been successfully employed in eye location, and it can also be used to detect and track eye features. This system controls the computer cursor along the user's gaze and it was postprocessing by applying Gaussian modeling to prevent shaking during the real-time tracking using Kalman filter. In this system, target objects were randomly generated and the eye tracking performance was analyzed according to the Fits law in real time. It is expected that the utilization of non-contact interfaces.

Design of a Privacy-based Confirmed Case Contact Notification System in the With-Corona Era (With-Corona 시대에 프라이버시 보호 기반의 확진자 접촉 여부 알림 시스템 설계)

  • Mun, Hyung-Jin
    • Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
    • /
    • v.11 no.10
    • /
    • pp.138-143
    • /
    • 2021
  • As of this moment, we are tracing people who are closed contact with Covid-19 patients and trying to block the spread of Covid-19 through diagnostic tests. However, the incubation period of the confirmed case is two weeks, and it takes a lot of human resources, time, and money to trace the routes of the confirmed case. In particular, as the number of confirmed cases have been increasing, the cost for finding closed contacts and blocking them in advance exponentially have almost reached the limitation of the budget. In finding closed contacts, all citizens must record an electronic access list every time they visit an amenities such as a store or a restaurant. This is likely the invasion of the privacy of personal location information. In this study, we designed a system that keeps one's location in real time, it will download the movement information of the confirmed case which is collected by KDCA, and it will notify the user when there is an overlap. Moreover, then guide for diagnostic test in advance will be used. The proposed method can solve the difficulty of recording in an electronic access list when visiting a store, and it can block infringement of privacy without providing personal information from KDCA.

A Simulation Tool for Ultrasonic Inspection

  • Krishnamurthy, Adarsh;Mohan, K.V.;Karthikeyan, Soumya;Krishnamurthy, C.V.;Balasubramaniam, Krishnan
    • Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
    • /
    • v.26 no.3
    • /
    • pp.153-161
    • /
    • 2006
  • A simulation program SIMULTSONIC is under development at CNDE to help determine and/or help optimize ultrasonic probe locations for inspection of complex components. SIMULTSONIC provides a ray-trace based assessment for immersion and contact modes of inspection. The code written in Visual C++ operating in Microsoft Windows environment provides an interactive user interface. In this paper, a description of the various features of SIMULTSONIC is given followed by examples illustrating the capability of SIMULTSONIC to deal with inspection of canonical objects such as pipes. In particular, the use of SIMULTSONIC in the inspection of very thin-walled pipes (with 450 urn wall thickness) is described. Ray trace based assessment was done using SIMULTSONIC to determine the standoff distance and the angle of oblique incidence for an immersion mode focused transducer. A 3-cycle Hanning window pulse was chosen for simulations. Experiments were carried out to validate the simulations. The A-scans and the associated B-Scan images obtained through simulations show good correlation with experimental results, both with the arrival time of the signal as well as with the signal amplitudes.

A Frequency-Tracking Method Based on a SOGI-PLL for Wireless Power Transfer Systems to Assure Operation in the Resonant State

  • Tan, Ping-an;He, Haibing;Gao, Xieping
    • Journal of Power Electronics
    • /
    • v.16 no.3
    • /
    • pp.1056-1066
    • /
    • 2016
  • Wireless power transfer (WPT) technology is now recognized as an efficient means of transferring power without physical contact. However, frequency detuning will greatly reduce the transmission power and efficiency of a WPT system. To overcome the difficulties associated with the traditional frequency-tracking methods, this paper proposes a Direct Phase Control (DPC) approach, based on the Second-Order Generalized Integrator Phase-Locked Loop (SOGI-PLL), to provide accurate frequency-tracking for WPT systems. The DPC determines the phase difference between the output voltage and current of the inverter in WPT systems, and the SOGI-PLL provides the phase of the resonant current for dynamically adjusting the output voltage frequency of the inverter. Further, the stability of this control method is analyzed using the linear system theory. The performance of the proposed frequency-tracking method is investigated under various operating conditions. Simulation and experimental results convincingly demonstrate that the proposed technique will track the quasi-resonant frequency automatically, and that the ZVS operation can be achieved.

Digital Technology Practices and Vaccine Campaign in Korea: International Perceptions on Health Diplomacy amid COVID-19 Crisis

  • Tahira, Iffat
    • Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia
    • /
    • v.21 no.2
    • /
    • pp.27-46
    • /
    • 2022
  • The purpose of this study is two-fold: first, to discuss the concept of health diplomacy and the Korean government's response to contain the COVID-19 pandemic; second, to assess and compare assumptions of variances about foreigners' perceptions of how Korea is leveraging digital technology in battling the coronavirus spread, and its vaccine campaign; through the lenses of Chinese, Filipino, and Pakistani foreign nationals who are currently living in Korea. A total of 219 foreigners responded to the survey. The collected data were analyzed as percentages, mean averages, t-test, and ANOVA for statistical analysis. Results show that Korea is utilizing its digital technology practices and vaccine campaign in battling the pandemic through efforts of health diplomacy. ANOVA indicated significant results and assumptions of variance across three ethnic groups showing the Pakistani population had higher mean scores than the Chinese and Filipino about Korea's health diplomacy during the pandemic. This study contributes to the literature on Korea's digital technology practices and vaccine campaigns amidst the COVID-19 pandemic by promoting its image through health diplomacy efforts. It projects the country's soft image on a global scale, to save the lives of locals and foreign nationals, by providing insights into health diplomacy in Korea.

The Role of Information and Communication Technology to Combat COVID-19 Pandemic: Emerging Technologies, Recent Developments and Open Challenges

  • Arshad, Muhammad
    • International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
    • /
    • v.21 no.4
    • /
    • pp.93-102
    • /
    • 2021
  • The world is facing an unprecedented economic, social and political crisis with the spread of COVID-19. The Corona Virus (COVID-19) and its global spread have resulted in declaring a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The deadly pandemic of 21st century has spread its wings across the globe with an exponential increase in the number of cases in many countries. The developing and underdeveloped countries are struggling hard to counter the rapidly growing and widespread challenge of COVID-19 because it has greatly influenced the global economies whereby the underdeveloped countries are more affected by its devastating impacts, especially the life of the low-income population. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) were particularly useful in spreading key emergency information and helping to maintain extensive social distancing. Updated information and testing results were published on national and local government websites. Mobile devices were used to support early testing and contact tracing. The government provided free smartphone apps that flagged infection hotspots with text alerts on testing and local cases. The purpose of this research work is to provide an in depth overview of emerging technologies and recent ICT developments to combat COVID-19 Pandemic. Finally, the author highlights open challenges in order to give future research directions.

The pros and cons of entry restrictions: are entry restrictions really effective in preventing the spread of SARS-CoV-2?

  • Park, Donghwi;Boudier-Reveret, Mathieu;Chang, Min Cheol
    • Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
    • /
    • v.39 no.4
    • /
    • pp.344-346
    • /
    • 2022
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has rapidly spread worldwide, leading the World Health Organization to declare coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a pandemic. To curb the unchecked spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection, most countries have enforced travel restrictions. However, it is debatable whether such restrictions are effective in containing infections and preventing pandemics. Rather, they may negatively impact economies and diplomatic relationships. Each government should conduct an extensive and appropriate analysis of its national economy, diplomatic status, and COVID-19 preparedness to decide whether it is best to restrict entering travelers. Even if travelers from other countries are allowed entry, extensive contact tracing is required to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In addition, governments can implement "travel bubbles," which allow the quarantine-free flow of people among countries with relatively low levels of community transmission. An accurate evaluation of the benefits and losses due to entry restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic would be helpful in determining whether entry restrictions are an effective measure to reduce the spread of infection in future pandemics.

Considerations on Standardization in Smart Hospitals

  • Sun-Ju Ahn;Sungin Lee;Chi Hye Park;Da Yeon Kwon;Sooyeon Jeon;Han Byeol Lee;Sang Rok Oh
    • Health Policy and Management
    • /
    • v.34 no.1
    • /
    • pp.4-16
    • /
    • 2024
  • Smart hospitals involve the use of recent ICT (information and communications technology) technologies to improve healthcare access, efficiency, and effectiveness. Standardization in smart hospital technologies is crucial for interoperability, scalability, policy formulation, quality control, and maintenance. This study reviewed relevant international standards for smart hospitals and the organizations that develop them. Specific attention was paid to robotics in smart hospitals and the potential for standardization in this area. The study used online resources and existing standards to analyze technologies, standards, and practices in smart hospitals. Key technologies of smart hospitals were identified. Relevant standards from ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) were mapped to each core technology. Korea's leadership in smart hospital technology were highlighted. Approaches for standardizing smart hospitals were proposed. Finally, potential new international standard items for robotics in smart hospitals were identified and categorized by function: sampling, remote operation, delivery, disinfection, and movement tracking/contact tracing. Standardization in smart hospital technologies is crucial for ensuring interoperability, scalability, ethical use of artificial intelligence, and quality control. Implementing international standards in smart hospitals is expected to benefit individuals, healthcare institutions, nations, and industry by improving healthcare access, quality, and competitiveness.