Silicon Canals
TRENDING
  • Mobility
  • AI
  • FinTech
  • Software & SaaS
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • COVID-19
    • Startups
    • Scaleups
    • FinTech
    • AI and chatbots
    • Travel & Mobility
    • Software & SaaS
    • Health & Medtech
    • (Crowd)funding
    • Blockchain
    • Internet of things
    • Hardware
    • Accelerators
    • E-commerce
    • Cybersecurity
    • Gaming & Virtual Reality
    • Drones
  • Features
    • Promoted content
    • How-to
    • Knowledge & Insights
    • Guest Contributions
    • Scaling-up in Europe
  • Amsterdampartner
  • Events
  • Jobs
  • Partner with us
  • About us
    • About
    • Contact
    • Newsletter
    • Team
  • Home
  • News
    • COVID-19
    • Startups
    • Scaleups
    • FinTech
    • AI and chatbots
    • Travel & Mobility
    • Software & SaaS
    • Health & Medtech
    • (Crowd)funding
    • Blockchain
    • Internet of things
    • Hardware
    • Accelerators
    • E-commerce
    • Cybersecurity
    • Gaming & Virtual Reality
    • Drones
  • Features
    • Promoted content
    • How-to
    • Knowledge & Insights
    • Guest Contributions
    • Scaling-up in Europe
  • Amsterdampartner
  • Events
  • Jobs
  • Partner with us
  • About us
    • About
    • Contact
    • Newsletter
    • Team
No Result
View All Result
Silicon Canals
No Result
View All Result

COVID-19: UK is all set to deploy its new contact tracing app in fortnight’s time

Editorial team by Editorial team
April 30, 2020
in News, COVID-19, Software & SaaS
0
COVID-19: UK is all set to deploy its new contact tracing app in fortnight’s time
35
SHARES
LinkedInTwitterWhatsAppFacebook

As the countries across the globe search for ways to exit lockdown, health experts unanimously turn towards a decade-old public health technique – ‘contact tracing’ to stop the outbreak further. 

Do follow our special coverage on coronavirus over here.

Many tech companies including Google and Apple are pitching in ideas for contact tracing apps that can be installed in smartphones. Just like any other country, the UK is also trying to develop a coronavirus contact-tracing app that might help them emerge from lockdown.

Centralised database!

According to NHSX CEO, Matthew Gould, the future version of the app could ask users to share location data to help epidemiologists learn more. Furthermore, he also revealed that the app will log the location, whenever more than two people are in close proximity. 

Furthermore, the app would be technically ready for roll out in another two or three weeks. In the Science and Technology Committee, Matthew Gould said: “If you want to protect the NHS and stop it being overwhelmed and, at the same time, want to get the economy moving, then the app is going to be part of an essential part of a strategy for doing that,” 

Uses Bluetooth Low Energy!

The app will be part of a wider approach that will involve contact tracing and testing. Notably, the technology is based on research evidence developed by epidemiologists, mathematical modellers, and ethicists at Oxford University’s Nuffield Departments of Medicine and Population Health. 

Once the app is installed, it will start logging the distance between your phone and other phones nearby that also have the app installed using Bluetooth Low Energy.

This anonymous log of how close you are to others will be stored securely on your phone. If you become unwell with symptoms of COVID-19, you can choose to allow the app to inform the NHS which, subject to sophisticated risk analysis, will trigger an anonymous alert to those other app users with whom you came into significant contact over the previous few days.  

Rejected Apple-Google plan!

A few days back, NHS rejected Apple-Google coronavirus app plan due to the “decentralised” approach, as opposed to UK’s “centralised” model.  According to professor Christophe Fraser, the centralised approach will give epidemiologists the visibility they need and the means to calibrate it further. It’s worth mentioning that both Gould and Fraser emphasised the collected data would remain anonymous. 

Privacy concerns? 

On the other hand, professor Lilian Edwards, a leading expert on privacy law said that building a centralised database is an intrinsic risk where data might be retained beyond the pandemic. 

However, this doesn’t end here as nearly 175 UK academics have recently criticised NHS’s app plan with a centralised database. 

The letter said:

“We hold that the usual data protection principles should apply: collect the minimum data necessary to achieve the objective of the application. We hold it is vital that if you are to build the necessary trust in the application the level of data being collected is justified publicly by the public health teams demonstrating why this is truly necessary rather than simply the easiest way, or a “nice to have”, given the dangers involved and invasive nature of the technology.”

Main image credits: No-Mad/Shutterstock

Stay tuned to Silicon Canals for more European technology news

close

Want to stay on top of the latest rounds, coolest tech and hottest startups?

Subscribe to our free, daily news blast and stay up-to-date!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

 - Partner content -
Future Hamburg Award 2021
Future Hamburg Award 2021
Call for startups with innovative solutions for the future cities from all over the globe.
Call for startups with innovative solutions for the future cities from all over the globe. Show Less
Read more
Tags: appUK
Share2Tweet6SendShare22

Featured events

Current Month

april

No Events

Partner content | Work with us

Amsterdam-based Lumicks raises €77.6M to provide instruments to reveal unique molecular, cellular interactions

Calling all European deep-tech scaleups: EIT Digital Challenge 2021 registration is now open

Amsterdam-based SaaS startup SwipeGuide raises €5M for international expansion; aims to double its staff in 2021

Innovation against climate change: what Blue Tulip Awards’ experts on Climate & Energy are looking for

Blue Tulip Awards’ experts of Finance & Prosperity: why COVID, regulations and digitisation boost innovation

Silicon Canals Jobs


Breaking news from Amsterdam | Partner

After tripling its revenue in 2020, Amsterdam-based fashion e-commerce startup Otrium raises €102.3M

Amsterdam’s IoT spacetech startup Hiber raises €26M to expand the world’s first global IoT satellite network

Amsterdam-based MessageBird acquires 24sessions to add video to its omnichannel offering; also acquires Hull

Techstars ties up with ABN AMRO to launch ‘Future of Finance Accelerator’; welcomes 10 startups to Amsterdam

  • About Silicon Canals
  • Partner with Silicon Canals
  • Contact us
  • Newsletter
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms & Conditions Silicon Canals

Silicon Canals 2014-2020 | Website: Bright Idiots

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • COVID-19
    • Startups
    • Scaleups
    • FinTech
    • AI and chatbots
    • Travel & Mobility
    • Software & SaaS
    • Health & Medtech
    • (Crowd)funding
    • Blockchain
    • Internet of things
    • Hardware
    • Accelerators
    • E-commerce
    • Cybersecurity
    • Gaming & Virtual Reality
    • Drones
  • Features
    • Promoted content
    • How-to
    • Knowledge & Insights
    • Guest Contributions
    • Scaling-up in Europe
  • Amsterdam
  • Events
  • Jobs
  • Partner with us
  • About us
    • About
    • Contact
    • Newsletter
    • Team

Silicon Canals 2014-2020 | Website: Bright Idiots

X

This website uses cookies to ensure the best possible experience. We may share this information with our advertising and analytics partners. By clicking 'Accept', you agree to our use of cookies and similar technologies. More info