The COVID-19 pandemic has been something of a proving grounds for tech. Industry professionals have upheld the value of tools like big data for years, and now they have a chance to prove it. With the outbreak still raging on, you may wonder if big data has been all that helpful.
Governments and organizations across the world have employed big data to respond to the crisis. Some continue to sing its praises, but should that be the case? How has the world of big data affected the fight against coronavirus?
Big data has undoubtedly been a useful service amid the pandemic. To determine the best strategies for addressing the outbreak, you must know how widespread the problem is. Without big data, tracking infection rates would be a far more challenging task.
Researchers have used various data, from GPS readings to temperatures, to help understand the disease. The scope of big data enables you to look at infection rates through a range of different lenses. As scientists still don’t know much about the virus, this versatility has proved useful.
Concerns Over Big Data in the Pandemic
You’ve probably noticed that despite these advantages, the world still seems to have little control over the situation. While you can’t blame that entirely on big data, there are some shortcomings to note. Most notably, privacy concerns may cause people to avoid testing and treatment.