COVID 19 contact tracing tool by Apple and Google

A Bluetooth based Covid contact tracing

Tuesday, 14th April 2020

Apple and Google have come together to set up a covid contact tracing platform which works on Bluetooth. They announced on Saturday that this helps people track the source of their corona virus infection. Apple now, reveals how this tracing tools works.

 They had announced about building an application program interfaces (APIs) and OS-level technology to aid in tracing the contact. The APIs would enable interoperability.

The users, according to Apple, “would have to opt-in for the API, post which the API would begin sending out Bluetooth signals to nearby phones and recording signals sent to it by other phones”. Being in close proximity to a person will exchange a key if their phones use the app-enabled Bluetooth signals. If one person is infected, he can update about it in the app, which in turn, will notify users who have been in contact with him. This will let them get tested for corona virus infection. But, users won’t be notified if a random person walking on the street is infected as the Bluetooth signal has a set range. Users will know that they have come in contact with an infected person without knowing who it actually is.

Apple and Google have jointly stated that, “Second, in the coming months, Apple and Google will work to enable a broader Bluetooth-based contact tracing platform by building this functionality into the underlying platforms. This is a more robust solution than an API and would allow more individuals to participate if they choose to opt-in, as well as enable interaction with a broader ecosystem of apps and government health authorities. Privacy, transparency, and consent are of utmost importance in this effort, and we look forward to building this functionality in consultation with interested stakeholders. We will openly publish information about our work for others to analyze”.