Today, we’ll examine how the Internet of Things (IoT) played a critical role in combating the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The diagram clearly shows the impacts, technologies, and solutions IoT provided during this global crisis.
1. The Serious Impact of COVID-19
COVID-19 affected every corner of our lives, especially in two major areas:
Economy
- Social distancing disrupted manual jobs and heavily impacted daily income earners (“kais pagi makan pagi” — hand-to-mouth living).
- Businesses relying on outside dependency suffered due to travel and supply chain restrictions.
- Cost-cutting became essential across all sectors.
- The lack of a cohesive ecosystem made economic recovery slower.
Health
- Health became a top priority.
- Awareness and consciousness about hygiene, social distancing, and health monitoring increased.
- Technology began to take centre stage in health-related solutions.
2. IoT Technologies Used
IoT, combined with IR 4.0 technologies (Industry 4.0), came into action to address these challenges. Let’s explore the tools and methods:
Robots
- Used for tasks like disinfection and delivery, especially in hospitals and public spaces, reducing human contact.
IoT
- Enabled real-time data collection and monitoring for health checks and remote patient management applications.
Drones
- Delivered essential items to maintain social distancing were used to monitor lockdown areas.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Enhanced contact tracing, temperature scanning, and predictive analytics to track the virus’s spread.
3. Practical Applications of IoT
IoT was at the heart of the pandemic response, enabling innovative applications:
Contact Tracing
- Mobile apps and wearable devices tracked individuals’ interactions, helping to identify and isolate potential cases.
Health Monitoring
- Remote patient monitoring systems allowed hospitals to track patients’ vital signs without physical visits.
- Temperature scanning systems were widely deployed in public places.
Environmental Monitoring
- IoT sensors monitor air quality and other environmental factors to maintain healthy surroundings.
Remote Operations
- IoT enabled it to manage utilities like remote meter reading and asset tracking.
Delivery Drones
- Delivered medicines, food, and other essentials, reducing human-to-human interaction.
4. The Role of Digitalisation
With physical interactions limited, digitalisation became a key enabler:
Online Presence
- Businesses and retail shifted online to continue operations.
- Education moved to online platforms, and virtual meetings became the norm.
Robots and Automation
- Robots handled repetitive tasks, like disinfection, to maintain hygiene standards.
Conclusion
IoT proved to be a game-changer during COVID-19. It connected people, devices, and systems, enabling effective solutions for healthcare, economic recovery, and safety.
The pandemic highlighted the importance of leveraging IoT for crisis management and showed us how technology can adapt to save lives and sustain economies.