To help people assess themselves the risk of catching coronavirus infection, the Narendra Modi government on Thursday has launched a mobile app called Aarogya Setu.
The app developed in public-private partnership will calculate the chance of infection based on users interaction with others, using cutting edge Bluetooth technology, algorithms and artificial intelligence.
Once installed in a smart phone through an easy and user-friendly process, the app detects other devices with Aarogya Setu installed that come in the proximity of that phone. The app can then calculate the risk of infection based on sophisticated parameters if any of these contacts is tested positive.
"The app’s design ensures privacy-first. The personal data collected by the app is encrypted using state-of-the-art technology and stays secure on the phone till it is needed for facilitating medical intervention," an official statement said.
"The app is aimed at augmenting the initiatives of the government of India, particularly the Department of Health, in proactively reaching out to and informing the users of the app regarding risks, best practices and relevant advisories pertaining to the containment of COVID-19," it added.
The Aarogya Setu app is available in 11 languages and has been launched on
Andriod and
ioS.First Published: Apr 2, 2020 8:23 PM IST
