barefootstache @barefootstache@qoto.org

A shortcut doesn't always have to be the fastest.

Imagine implementing an early warning system to pre-empt future pandemics named SENTINEL.

> This was the inspiration for Sentinel: a multi-pronged pandemic preemption system that will use cutting-edge diagnostics and sequencing technologies, data analysis and visualization tools, and consumer-centered mobile applications to respond to emerging pathogens in real-time.

> From these experiences, we understood that the system you would put in place for pandemic preemption is the same that you would integrate for response and recovery. In understanding our current pandemic, we must build tools that can directly curb the next pandemic.

---

The main issue I see with such a program is that it is only put into place in the medical field such as clinics or hospitals. Assuming that this would cover most sick people, it wouldn't cover those who think the symptoms are nothing to worry about.

Thus I suggest to take it one step further and take home monitoring also into account. Whereas sewage waste pathogen tracking is a known method just as well as big data via Google search, they lack the ability to be specific. We would have to create a technology that is not invasive, promotes our health, and gives back to the community.

Probably best would be a nose swab or spit analyser, though both of these methods are fairly invasive. That's why I suggest to monitor toothbrushes. (The science would still have to be done if the data measured from such a device is enough to be an acceptable data point.)

The device would be fairly simple. All you would have to do is place your toothbrush into the device. It would analyse the pathogens on the bristles, send the data to the collection center, and then disinfect the bristles with ultraviolet light.

We know that it is advisable to replace your toothbrush after each illness you have tackled. Thus this suggests that some of the pathogens still could be found on the hairs.

Remarks:

- The data that is being sent has to anonymized otherwise scientific bias will creep up fairly quickly.
- Anonymized data should not take effect on location data other than making it less specific. Like instead of being 2m exact being 100m exact. Maybe even more depending on the human movement flow charts of the area.
- This tech could also be installed into other facilities like hotels to see if anyone brought a new pathogen to the region. It can be questioned if it then makes sense to bind the device to the guest to prevent the guest of becoming a super spreader.
- The device partially infringes on the right to be forgotten, though if implemented correctly initially, this should not be an issue.

References:

https://www.springernature.com/gp/researchers/the-source/blog/blogposts-communicating-research/research-in-the-time-of-a-pandemic-sentinel-pandemics-preemption/18201894

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-78704-5

https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-10-31

https://www.educationnext.org/google-search-data-reveals-about-learning-pandemic/

https://sfamjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jam.14112

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4399776/

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1601-5037.2009.00384.x

#science #technology #futuretech #pandemic #thoughtexperiment

It seems like conspiracy theorists have hijacked The BMJ to push articles that follow their agenda, since in the scientific realm The BMJ is a well recognized source.

This just points out that a prestigious brand name is enough to put trust in what they offer without double checking if it is a fake.

https://respectfulinsolence.com/2021/11/15/wtf-happened-to-the-bmj/

Someone want to do a similar case study of their significant other?

https://jabde.com/2021/05/23/girlfriends-mood-time-series-analysis/

Imagine using your garden and/or house plants as a battery

https://newatlas.com/electronics/watering-plants-oligomers-roots-electronic/

Mainly used by anecdote hunters:

IDIOT (internet derived information obstructing treatment) Syndrom

Android Mobile OS Snooping By Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei and Realme Handsets

"We find that even when minimally configured and the handset is idle these vendor-customized Android variants transmit substantial amounts of information to the OS developer and also to third-parties (Google, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Facebook etc) that have pre-installed system apps. While occasional communication with OS servers is to be
expected, the observed data transmission goes well beyond this and raises a number of privacy concerns. There is no opt out from this data collection."

https://www.scss.tcd.ie/doug.leith/Android_privacy_report.pdf

Something to contemplate

"Here we document 47,381 individuals from 38 species, including 31 protected species sold between May 2017 and November 2019 in Wuhan’s markets. We note that no pangolins (or bats) were traded, supporting reformed opinion that pangolins were not likely the spillover host at the source of the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. While we caution against the misattribution of COVID-19’s origins, the wild animals on sale in Wuhan suffered poor welfare and hygiene conditions and we detail a range of other zoonotic infections they can potentially vector. Nevertheless, in a precautionary response to COVID-19, China’s Ministries temporarily banned all wildlife trade on 26th Jan 2020 until the COVID-19 pandemic concludes, and permanently banned eating and trading terrestrial wild (non-livestock) animals for food on 24th Feb 2020. These interventions, intended to protect human health, redress previous trading and enforcement inconsistencies, and will have collateral benefits for global biodiversity conservation and animal welfare."

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-91470-2

#science #nature #covid19 #china #wetmarkets

A nice tool for sharing/receiving files, hosting a static website, and anonymous chatting; all based on the Tor network.

https://onionshare.org/

(Currently no mobile app, though can be accessed through the Tor browser.)

"Conservatives are less able to distinguish political truths from falsehoods than liberals, mainly because of a glut of right-leaning misinformation, a new national study conducted over six months shows.

Researchers found that liberals and conservatives in the United States both tended to believe claims that promoted their political views, but that this more often led conservatives to accept falsehoods while rejecting truths.

One of the main drivers of the findings appeared to be the American media and information environment."

https://news.osu.edu/conservatives-more-susceptible-to-believing-falsehoods/

Checkout this website to see how normal you are

https://www.hownormalami.eu/

Finally found a good excuse not to use predominantly video calls:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/coronavirus-zoom-fatigue-is-taxing-the-brain-here-is-why-that-happens

TL;DR the act of scrolling is enough to cause nausea. This can be triggered faster when on a phone in a dark room. It seems scrolling slower and/or in a dim lit room can help mitigate nausea, because of "stable frames", which in return could be the reason why nausea is not proned to happen in augmented reality in contrast to virtual reality.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/endless-scrolling-through-social-media-can-literally-make-you-sick-cybersickness