There are questions regarding privacy that cannot be overlooked, yes. We
still have to keep user data secure, but that doesn't have to
necessarily be a blocker. I started this thread to collect exactly these
suggestions and to brainstorm around the (hackathon based) solutions to
that, if we need data from mobile operators, these *might* be possible
to get, once we prove we can keep them secure and targeted only on
single purpose. I'm pretty sure we have people on this mailing list
capable of making this data accessible (e.g. I might be one of them).
On 3/19/20 12:01 AM, Alex Amato wrote:
Well, you could try scaling it as an App to connect people. A simple
web architecture would be fastest to setup.
But I think a lot of people won't be able to use an app, if you had a
phone number with some operators to collect their information, then it
could be possible to get those users assistance.
There might be some privacy and security issues too around taking and
publishing people's information. So I am not too sure how to navigate
that.
On Wed, Mar 18, 2020 at 3:48 PM Jan Lukavský <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Hi Alex,
great idea, thanks for that! Can we think of a solution that would
be a little more scalable? Can we (e.g. via a mobile app) help
connect people who need help with people who might offer help? Can
we do this in reasonable time?
On 3/18/20 11:42 PM, Alex Amato wrote:
Here is one thing many people could do:
- Contact your neighbors (leave a note on their door with your
phone number) and find out if anyone is high risk and does not
want to risk leaving their home. If you are lower risk and
willing to go out. Insist that you can help them and obtain
supplies for them. Or help them order online if they don't know how.
- If there are neighbours who live along, also give them your
phone number. Help keep track of them incase they get sick.
More technical and farfetched idea:
- Building custom ventilators. In some locations they are already
out of respirators, and they will need more. You could donate
these to a hospital, though I am not sure if they would use them
(but they might be willing to if there is no other option).
There are a few blogs on how to build these from supplies
available in a crisis. A little bit of DIY knowhow and it may be
possible to build a few. Even a few low quality ventilators could
save some lives. Though, it may be possible there are more
skilled people or local shops already doing this. Helping them
get supplies and funds is another option.
https://www.instructables.com/id/The-Pandemic-Ventilator/
On Wed, Mar 18, 2020 at 3:27 PM Jan Lukavský <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Hi,
I'm taking this opportunity to speak to this "streaming
first" and
"datadriven" community to try to do a little brainstorming.
I'm not
trying to create any panic, I'd like to start a serious
discussion about
solving a problem. I'm well aware this is not the primary
use-case for
this mailing list, but we are in a sort of special situation.
I think we
might share a know-how that might help people and so we could
take
advantage of that. Currently, the biggest concern (at least
in Europe)
seems to be separating people as much as possible. My
questions would be:
- Can we try to think of ways to help people achieve better
separation? There are places people must go to (e.g. shopping
food), can
we help planning this so that there are less peaks?
- Can we find any other ways to help prevent the virus
spread? Or any
other benefits we can do for people (e.g. missing medical
supplies,
missing work force, ...)
- Does anyone have any infrastructure or data that can be
used for this?
- Would people be interested in investing some of their
(hacking) time
to implement any "global" precaution(s)? IMO there seems to
be no
"local" solution to this, currently.
These are only a few questions from the top of my head,
please feel free
to add any thoughts.
Cheers,
Jan
