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New Technologies Created in 2020 to Fight COVID-19

时间:2020-12-31 01:58:02

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The COVID-19 pandemic affected1 many industries across the world in 2020. Many companies faced severe economic difficulties related to the worldwide spread of the new coronavirus. But, some were able to develop new technologies to help fight the disease in an effort to improve people's lives.

3D printed oxygen valves3

One of the first companies we reported on related to the pandemic developed a 3D printer to quickly produce oxygen valves to treat COVID-19 patients.

The new Italian company Isinnova found a way to use its 3D printing equipment to copy the medical devices. Valves are used to connect oxygen to patients suffering from breathing problems. The company produced the life-saving equipment for free after it learned many Italian hospitals faced a serious shortage4 of valves.

‘Hackathon' solutions

The CodeTheCurve ‘hackathon' for young people led to several possible new ways to deal with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. The event's organizers included the United Nations, American technology company IBM and European software business SAP.

One of the winning teams created a system that uses machine learning and picture technology to examine chest X-rays to identify the most severe COVID-19 patients. Another team developed an app that uses virtual5 reality to let users explore different places around the world while exercising from home.

Wearable technology research

Several companies studied the effectiveness of wearable devices to identify early signs of COVID-19.

Researchers at America's West Virginia University reported in May a device they tested was able to identify COVID-19 signs up to three days before people started to experience them.

Another research project, carried out by the California-based Scripps Research Institute, examined data from devices worn by more than 30,000 volunteers. Researchers said their early results showed the devices could successfully identify people who had no signs of COVID-19 but were still infectious6.

‘Smart' face mask

A Japanese company created a "smart" mask that aims to improve communication for people wearing face coverings. Donut Robotics calls its invention the "c-mask." It is meant to fit over other kinds of face masks commonly worn by the public.

The mask is made of soft plastic material and contains a built-in microphone. When it is turned on, the mask uses Bluetooth technology to connect to a mobile device.

An app then helps users perform several actions, including turning speech into written text, completing telephone calls and making the user's voice louder. The device can also translate a person's voice from Japanese into eight other languages.

Machine learning to identify COVID-19

Researchers reported success with machine learning systems designed to identify COVID-19 cases by the sounds of a person's cough. Machine learning describes computer technology that improves itself through a process similar to human learning.

One study, by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), showed a high success rate in identifying COVID-19 in people who had no physical signs of the disease.

A team at Pennsylvania's Carnegie Mellon University has used similar methods to develop a "voice-based testing system for COVID-19." That system uses recordings7 of coughs – as well as some vowel8 sounds and the alphabet – to identify "signatures" of the disease.

Contact tracing apps

Apple and Google cooperated to launch a mobile phone tool to follow the contacts of people infected with coronavirus. The technology became the basis for apps developed by U.S. states and several nations to carry out contact tracing.

The system operates with Bluetooth wireless9 technology, which permits devices near each other to exchange information and create a record. If a device user becomes infected with the virus and agrees to share that information, the record is used to inform other people that they also might have been infected.

Words in This Story

3D printer – n. a device that can manufacture objects in a way similar to how copies of documents are made

valve2 – n. a mechanical device that controls the flow of liquids

app (application)– n. a computer program

virtual reality – n. pictures and sounds created by a computer that are aimed at affecting a person's experiences and senses

translate – v. to change words from one language to another

cough – n. to force air through the throat making short loud noises, often because a person is sick

signature – n. signs that show a specific thing is present

contact tracing – n. to watch and record who a person has contact to discover the spread of disease


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 affected TzUzg0     
adj.不自然的,假装的
参考例句:
  • She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
  • His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。
2 valve 3KmzQ     
n.阀,阀门,电子管
参考例句:
  • The exhaust valve on my car has burnt out.我汽车上的排气阀烧掉了。
  • The connecting rod may drive a valve stem directly.连杆可以直接带动阀门的把柄。
3 valves feddb0c84e0f8ef916a93bbedafb19c0     
n.阀( valve的名词复数 );真空管;(管乐器的)活栓;(心脏的)瓣膜
参考例句:
  • The heart has valves to let blood flow in and out of it. 心脏有瓣膜控制血液流进流出。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The engineering gang fell earnestly to work on jammed valves. 轮机组都起劲地埋头修理堵塞的阀门。 来自辞典例句
4 shortage 1yrwh     
n.缺少,缺乏,不足
参考例句:
  • The city is suffering a desperate shortage of water.这个城市严重缺水。
  • The heart of the problem is a shortage of funds.问题的关键是缺乏经费。
5 virtual yhfwi     
adj.实质上的,事实上的,实际上的
参考例句:
  • This reply is a virtual acceptance of our offer.这一回答实质上是接受了我们的建议。
  • At that time the East India Company was the virtual ruler of Bengal.那时东印度公司是孟加拉的实际统治者。
6 infectious I7jx1     
adj.传染的,有传染性的,有感染力的
参考例句:
  • Influenza is an infectious disease.流感是一种传染病。
  • What an infectious laugh she has!她的笑声多么具有感染力啊!
7 recordings 22f9946cd05973582e73e4e3c0239bb7     
n.记录( recording的名词复数 );录音;录像;唱片
参考例句:
  • a boxed set of original recordings 一套盒装原声录音带
  • old jazz recordings reissued on CD 以激光唱片重新发行的老爵士乐
8 vowel eHTyS     
n.元音;元音字母
参考例句:
  • A long vowel is a long sound as in the word"shoe ".长元音即如“shoe” 一词中的长音。
  • The vowel in words like 'my' and 'thigh' is not very difficult.单词my和thigh中的元音并不难发。
9 wireless Rfwww     
adj.无线的;n.无线电
参考例句:
  • There are a lot of wireless links in a radio.收音机里有许多无线电线路。
  • Wireless messages tell us that the ship was sinking.无线电报告知我们那艘船正在下沉。

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