Americans have been asked to make responsible decisions this year in order to stop the COVID-19 pandemic, but it can be difficult to make appropriate choices without meaningful information. That is why Tech:NYC has created COVID Alert NY, New York's official contact tracing app designed to help mitigate the spread of the virus.
More than 200,000 New Yorkers signed up within the first 24 hours of the app's launch, according to Julie Samuels, executive director at Tech:NYC.
So how exactly does this technology work?
Once participants download the app from Google Play or the App Store on iOS, they will receive a notification if they've been within six feet of an infected person for 10 minutes or longer and will then be prompted to take a test or advised to quarantine.
It is the responsibility of an infected person to report their status on the app for the most accurate results.
But as privacy concerns sit in the forefront of our minds, particularly with sensitive medical information, Samuels made assurances that a user's data is protected.
"This is why it's so important that Google and Apple are working with state governments," Samuels said. "It's an important distinction that the app uses bluetooth and not GPS, which means that no one knows where you were, just that you were near another phone at some point."
Samuels recommends not signing up for an app that has not partnered with state governments. Tech:NYC created the app in conjunction with the New York State Department of Health.
The COVID Alert NY app, according to Samuels, is another tool in our defense against the virus and should be used regularly in the same way that social distancing and mask wearing have become leading defenses in mitigating the spread.
"I don't think any of us are pretending that this app alone is going to eradicate COVID. However it is such an easy thing to do and it's going to help," she noted.
For the U.S. to get past the virus and resume some form of normal life, it likely will have to be a societal effort, not something the government will be able correct on its own.
"I think what we've seen from the White House, which is abundantly clear, is no one is coming to save us but ourselves, so this is one tool, among many, to do that," she said.
Peggy Whitson, Director of Human Space Flight, Axiom Space, joins Cheddar Innovates to discuss Axiom's involvement in the first fully-private mission to the ISS, and her experience spending 665 days in space.
On this episode of Cheddar Innovates, Peggy Whitson, Director of Human Space Flight, Axiom Space, breaks down Axiom's involvement in the first fully-private mission to the ISS, and her experience spending 665 days in space; William Li and Danielle Chang, co-founders of The Hao Life, discuss how they're shaking up the $71 billion supplement industry by putting a modern spin on traditional natural Chinese remedies; Cheddar gets a look at Curiosity Stream's 'Sagrada Familia: Gaudi's Challenge.'
On this episode of Cheddar Innovates: President of The Pillow Bar breaks down how everyone can benefit from a pillow customized to their unique way of sleeping; CEO of H2Pro explains how to bring environmentally friendly hydrogen to scale; Cheddar gets a look at Curiosity Stream's 'Suppressed Science.'
On this episode of Cheddar Innovates: Gardenuity CEO breaks down how gardening can improve your wellbeing; Augmedix CEO discusses how this technology is helping doctors fight burnout; Cheddar gets a look at Curiosity Stream's 'Suppressed Science.'
On this episode of Cheddar Innovates: Atom Limbs CEO breaks down how the Atom Touch prosthetic is different from other prosthetics on the market; CEO & Chief Scientific Officer of MyMD explains how the MYMD-1 is on track to be the first FDA-approved drug to treat aging and age-related diseases; A look at Curiosity Stream's 'The Future of Warfare.'
On this episode of Cheddar Innovates: SkilsVR CEO explains how virtual reality is being used to train frontline workers to handle difficult customers; Rubicon CEO breaks down how technology and sustainability will go hand in hand in the future; Cheddar gets a look at 'Our Infinite Universe.'
A UN report is warning that relying on seawalls and other engineering fixes will not be enough to keep communities safe from rising sea levels and climate change consequences. Dr. Steve Rose, a senior research economist at the Electric Power Research Institute, joins Cheddar News to discuss.
As gas prices surge amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, other nations could potentially transition faster to using clean energy than previously expected. Philip K. Verleger, a senior fellow at the Niskanen Center, joined Cheddar News to explain how this could be a possibility in the near future. "Part of the reason I think we have this invasion and the tantrum that's being thrown by Russia, terrible tantrum, is because the Russians were trying to slow down the transition," he said. "Ironically they speeded it up."
As Russia intensifies its war on Ukraine, President Biden announced a ban on oil imported from the aggressor nation. Critics of Russia have said this would be the best way to force Putin to pull back, but curbs on Russian oil exports are expected to send already skyrocketing oil and gas prices even higher, further impacting consumers, businesses, financial markets, and the global economy. Leslie Beyer, CEO of the Energy Workforce and Technology Council, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss. "It's certainly going to increase pricing, but it is the right thing to do," she said. "The industry itself has already pulled out of the significant portion of its operations in Russia."
On this episode of Cheddar Innovates: Vision Marine Technologies CEO discusses how e-boats will play a role in the fight against the climate crisis; Lasso CEO breaks down how the design behind these compression socks can prevent injuries and improve performance; Cheddar gets a look at Curiosity Stream's 'The Tombs Of Egypt.'
