Until we have a vaccine, the only way to control the spread of COVID-19 is through contact tracing the disease. Singapore has decided to do that on a massive scale by giving every one of its residents a wearable device.
Just as we're seeing the introduction of contact tracing apps in the US and across Europe, Singapore is going a step further. As Reuters reports, a small wearabale is currently being tested that doesn't require a smartphone to function. The government believes that by making a completely independent device, it can be distributed to all of Singapore's inhabitants and easily worn on a lanyard, wrist, or simply carried in a bag.
Although there's no clear details regarding how the wearable would function, it's expected to do the same job as contact tracing apps and inform a wearer when they have come into contact with someone who has COVID-19. Multiple companies are offering wearable contact tracing devices, including Accent Advanced Systems, Kerlink, Microshare Inc., and TRACEsafe Technologies Inc., and they have already been used in Bahrain and Hong Kong to monitor individuals in quarantine.
The advantage of a wearable is they don't rely on a person having access to another device in order to function, e.g. a smartphone. They are also cheap, with the typical components required including a Bluetooth chip, memory for storing recent contact information, and a battery for power. The cost is thought to be less than $10 per device.
As with contact tracing apps, there are similar concerns regarding privacy when using wearables. As they are a small device requiring no interaction from users, it's hard to know what they are doing. According to Michael Veale, a lecturer in the law on digital rights and regulation at University College London, "users will likely find it hard to scrutinize what the device is actually doing, or what information the back-end server uses or links."
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