As the world works to fight the coronavirus pandemic, Thailand’s local tech scene has sprung into action, releasing innovation after innovation as a response to the crisis. Below are the country’s top recent innovations.
- COVID TRACKER
Fake news is a problem that plagues social media platforms regardless of size. The spreading of false information is never acceptable, especially in a world that’s trying to recover from a pandemic.
When Thailand first began seeing cases of COVID-19, a local IT company saw that false reports were spreading far too quickly. They decided to remedy this by developing a Covid Tracker, an interactive map of Thailand that displays the location of the reported cases and a link to their sources to ensure that it’s credible.
It also lists the number of reported cases and also shows any fake news that’s being spread around. The update called “5Lab Market” lists restaurants that have reopened so you can help local businesses near you. Restaurants owners can add their places to the map too.
- WIN-MASKS
Since the onset of the pandemic, a main challenge facing frontliners was shortage of necessary equipment like face masks. And now that everyone is required to wear one, they’re in even shorter supply.
To help meet the demand for masks, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, the Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital, the National Research Council of Thailand Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna, the Thailand Center of Excellence for Life Sciences and Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology have teamed up to make “WIN-Masks” aka “Washable Innovative Nano-Masks”.
The salient feature of WIN-Masks is their quality, having been designed by some of Thailand’s leading minds. This makes all the difference especially when it’s doctors, nurses and other medical staff who will make use of them.
- CLICKNIC
Video calls have become a staple of the work-from-home routine. Combining the ease of use of video conferencing technology and healthcare, one Thailand tech firm has developed an app called Clicknic.
Once users have downloaded the app and registered themselves, they can list out any symptoms they may be exhibiting. They will then be connected to a doctor via video for a consultation.
Concurrently, the app is also linked to the messenger service Skootar so any meds that may be prescribed to can be delivered to users’ doorsteps.
- CHULA CARE
The Chula Care helps patients of Chulalongkorn Hospital get all the info they need right on their phone like location of facilities or any appointments they’ve made with doctors.
In addition, it enables patients to pay online to avoid face-to-face interactions at the counter.
Like Clicknic, medicines prescribed to patients can be delivered via mail. Patients need not need their houses ot worry about foregoing medication.
- ROBOT HELPERS
Chula and Thammasat have developed robotic innovations up in response to the pandemic and have made lives easier for healthcare workers.
Chula’s “ninja robots” were originally used to monitor patients who suffer from strokes. They can communicate with patients and take their temperatures, making work less risky for those on the frontlines in healthcare.
Thammasat’s robot, affectionately named “Tham-Robot”, shuttles medical equipment and medications around the hospital.
While its function may seem simple, the robot has greatly reduced the need for personal interaction, thereby reducing the risk of infection.
