LAS CRUCES – What began in June as a concept for tracking instances of COVID-19 on the New Mexico State University Campus fits into a truth at the start of the fall semester.
Mobile touch tracking apps, which can be downloaded to smartphones, can track each of the nearby users and then alert all affected users when one of them testes positive for infection.
The app evolved through NMSU graduate PC science academics Fabio Tardivo and Thanh Nguyen, as well as Long Tran, a computer science student who participated in the project, will allow academics, college and directly report the positive effects of COVID-19 at Aggie Health and Wellness Center. This report will cause a number of functions in your application.
“An app feature will record your location within NMSU boundaries from the moment you enter campus to the moment you leave it,” said Son Tran, computer science professor and head of the department. it is only done if the user allows the app to track their GPS location.
“GPS locations will be used to search for contacts and identify others within six feet of a positive COVID-19 patient for at least 15 minutes,” Tran said. “This is a back-end component of the application. doesn’t live on your phone. “
If the user does not allow GPS to track them, but connects to the wireless network on campus, this knowledge can be used instead. The data generated through the application will be reported to the Aggie Health and Wellness Center and will be maintained in New Mexico Department of Health protocols to inform those who have been in contact with the user who tested positive.
“Testing, along with fast and effective touch tracking, can help us control this virus and lessen its spread,” said Lori McKee, executive director of the Aggie Health and Wellness Center. “The app will also allow users to self-check coVID-19 symptoms using the CDC automatic checker and call Aggie Health Center or the Department of Health for medical advice. “
Tran explained that if other people don’t use GPS or wireless, they can sign up for the university’s online portal http://ready. nmsu. edu. In addition to Array symptoms, teachers, staff, academics, and visitors can record their location in a construction site or classroom to record their presence at a specific location at an express time. This data would allow fitness officials to inform them of possible exposure.
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NMSU has recruited a hundred other people on campus to verify the beta app and therefore the effects are good.
“The only way the app can succeed is with the maximum population on our campus,” said Enrico Pontelli, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Regent Professor of Computer Science. “Demonstrating a fast price on a small targeted network like NMSU, this type of tracking and traceability formula can help keep infection levels low. “
NMSU’s cellular touch tracking app is lately available to iOS users and can be downloaded through NMSU students, college and staff on https://apps. apple. com/us/app/aggie-covid-19/id1525591476, or from the Stocker App by searching for “Aggie-COVID-19”.