By: Jason Warner
During this time of year, the familiar sights of children returning to school is normally a positive thing. But every parent feels a little different this year with the concern of the COVID-19 virus possibly lurking around the corner. Even our college-aged kids raise our anxiety levels because there is a natural tendency for them to cluster whether that is in or out of classrooms. It is natural and a positive part of gaining independence.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is growing in value as a tool to help predict the capability to mitigate the risk of exposure and infections. Let’s compare two different school building scenarios. One has a newly installed filtration system that is connected on the grid as part of an Internet of Things (IoT) cluster. The second school does not have a smart system and its filtration capability relies on old technology filters. Though this is hypothetical, we can assume that a smart IoT device can also connect to a vapor monitoring system on-site that screens particles for their characteristics. The data is analyzed in near real-time and can give a warning when certain pollutants or virus are detected. AI is used to constantly crunch the numbers for informing administrators when to enact response scenarios.
Is this doable? Maybe not today for real-time monitoring but the tools are improving as evidenced by what Germany based Sartorius is doing using their Airscan monitors and Gelatin Membrane Filters. Rapid analysis at a local level can then roll up to a community level to enact a plan that can address the effect of the possible infection outcomes.
Many advocate for full tracing of all people but this has a lot of privacy and personal liberty concerns. There may be a need to create micro-tracing clusters when an outbreak occurs but having an active, required tracing mandate seems to go beyond what the American public wants. Instead, using technology to monitor the environment within our public spaces and by choice, within our private spaces can keep us one step removed from forced individual monitoring.
With most of the monitoring and AI-enabled analysis happening at the local level, the need for an Edge Computing and Edge Server environment becomes critical. At Fortress Data Centers, we are constantly growing our ability to support hybrid Edge and Cloud services. With 5G enabling the world of Edge to a new level, the ability to create a community monitor environment for threats including those posed by viruses is becoming real.
Whether you are homeschooling, using public or private schools or your children have just gotten their first jobs and they are going off to an office to work, there is a constant need to keep them safe. As parents, we never really get over the anxiety of them at potential risk. But we can be reassured that technology is getting better at keeping them and all of us aware, informed and ready to act.