IOL
TECHNOLOGY
SA’S FREE MONTHLY TECH AND INNOVATIONS MAG
HEALTH TECH ISSUE African Vaccines delivered courtesy of Drones
Editor’s letter I am honoured to start the process of working with the IOL Tech team team as an editor. I’m looking forward to playing a role in enhancing the quality of technology content in South Africa. I’m also looking forward to engaging further with you as loyal readers of IOL Tech magazine. I’m joining IOL Tech when South Africa is reflecting on the first year of the pandemic and also sharpening its response to Covid19. In the pages of IOL Tech digital magazine we highlight the intersection of health and technology and how technology can keep you in good health.
Our Live editor, Yasmine Jacobs, focuses on how games can keep you fit, while Floyd Matlala takes us through gadgets that can keep us in good shape. If you are big on apps you will appreciate the apps review by Masabata Mkwananzi as it focuses on what we need to keep our health in check. Our guest contributor, Farah Khalfe, goes behind the scenes of the famous N95 mask. As far as health tech matters are concerned on the continent, I was deeply impressed by the drone delivery of vaccines in Ghana. Sit back read all about it in this edition of IOL Tech digimag.
As I write this editorial there are noises about a third wave as we approach the Easter weekend. Although there’s a vaccine rollout, we may need to continue to work from home. We are keen to hear your technology experiences during lockdown. Tell us what it’s like to use technology from home, which devices have been useful on your work-from-home life, and we may just publish your experiences in our next digital magazine. Stay connected online with us and each other via https://twitter.com/ TechIol
Wesley Diphoko
CONTENTS CONTACT US PUBLISHER Vasantha Angamuthu vasantha@africannewsagency.com EDITOR Wesley Diphoko wesley@fastcompany.co.za
Device makes wearing an N95 mask less stuffy
How games can keep you fit and healthy
DESIGN Dominique Owen dominique.owen@inl.co.za PRODUCTION Renata Ford renata.ford@inl.co.za BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Keshni Odayan keshni.odayan@inl.co.za SALES Charl Reineke charl.reineke@inl.co.za ENQUIRIES iol.magazines@inl.co.za
Drones are delivering vaccines in Africa
Gadgets to keep the doctor away
Top 5 apps to boost your healthy lifestyle
Researchers at Stanford University developed a device that makes wearing an N95 mask less stuffy. This is particularly important for nurses and doctors who have to wear them for hours at a time
Mask innovations
FARAH KHALFE farah.khalfe@anapublishing.com
What started as personal protective gear for health-care workers has become something of an entire industry on its own, with demand far outweighing supply and new variations being invented constantly. What exactly is an N95 mask? And what are some of the innovations since the compulsory wearing of masks? N95 masks derived their name from the fact that they filter out 95% of airborne particles. They have been the gold standard of PPE during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, many people claim they find it hard to breathe while wearing a mask. N95 masks are hot and humid on the face. Research has indicated that when wearing an N95 mask, we breathe in 5% to 20% less oxygen than normal unfiltered air, and higher proportions of the carbon dioxide we would normally exhale. To combat this, researchers at Stanford University developed a device that makes the experience of wearing an N95 mask less stuffy. The leader of the project, John Xu, aimed to create a device that created its oxygen and pumped it to an N95 mask. The working prototype is a waist-mounted machine that plugs into any standard N95 mask. The machine is filled with water, and the battery can be charged to turn water into oxygen, which then flows into the N95 mask. At the same time, the second tube in the mask sucks away carbon dioxide. In theory, someone wearing Xu’s invention will breathe in a mix of gases that closely resembles normal air. Xu envisions the invention will go for about $300 (about R4 400). However, production has been put on hold as they the iron out a few details.
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The future of health and gaming looks bright as more companies embrace the need to make health a priority
How games can KEEP YOU FIT YASMINE JACOBS yasmine.jacobs@inl.co.za
BE HONEST: when you think g aming, the first thing that springs to mind is probably not “health”. However, as time goes on, more and more companies are realising there are far-reaching benefits to developing games that promote good health. Pokemon Go was one of the first games that promoted fitness and health. Niantic was the mastermind behind the gaming phenomenon. It developed other popular AR games such as Ingress and Harry Potter. The games encouraged players to walk safely to their destinations, such as pokestops and pokegyms. The only way to win was to be active. Many apps have been
“gamified” so players feel motivated to keep playing and remain fit. How do they work? Games that promote your health track your movements by counting the amount of steps you have done, as well as making use of your GPS. Often, the games can be connected to your health apps and gadgets. You might be thinking: “If I throw my phone around, that will count my steps, right?” Not necessarily. Niantic and other companies have taken steps to prevent cheating and vow strict action against those who try. The future of health and gaming looks bright as more companies embrace the need to make health a priority – as they should.
The use of drones by Ghana and Rwanda illustrates how tough conditions can inspire innovation
Drones delivering vaccines WESLEY DIPHOKO wesley.diphoko@inl.co.za
GHANA became the first country in the world to receive a consignment of Covid-19 vaccines by drone. The Covax doses, which arrived in Accra a week earlier as part of a cargo of 600 000 vaccines manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, were collected by healthcare workers after a precisely targeted parachute drop. By day’s end, Zipline, the world’s first national-scale drone delivery service, had dropped 36 consignments of the Covid-19 vaccines, facilitating 4 500 vaccinations. UPS, Zipline and Gavi – the Vaccine Alliance – had teamed up to deliver vaccines by drone across Ghana almost two years ago, for immunisation and other health purposes. For Gavi, the aim was
to support Ghana’s vision for the expansion and improvement of its national routine immunisation programme and, in doing so, to create a platform that could benefit the wider health agenda. Since then, Zipline’s fleet of fixed-wing flyers has delivered more than a million doses to rural health-care centres, many hard to reach over land, or which struggle to ensure an unbroken cold chain. Zipline is a Californian automated logistics company that uses drones to make on-demand, emergency deliveries of high-priority products, among them emergency and routine vaccines. With the Covid-19 vaccine deliveries, the broader health benefits are bearing fruit. On-demand deliveries of vaccines and other medical
essentials are “an integral part of daily life” at thousands of health facilities in Ghana. “Across the country, Zipline is a mission-critical, reliable and resilient part of Ghana’s medical supply,” the company said. It is working on helping the government achieve “the fastest, most convenient, safest and most equitable roll out” of Covid19 vaccines in the world. Ghana is building on the success of the partnership between the Rwandan government and Zipline, facilitated by Gavi and supported by philanthropic grants and in-kind support from The UPS Foundation, which pioneered just-intime drone delivery of other health products to hardto-reach clinics in Rwanda. The use of drones by Ghana and Rwanda illustrates how tough conditions can inspire innovation.
GADGETS TO K
Let’s take a dive into health gadgets that can help you get moving, get inspired and stay healthy
KEEP THE DOCTOR AWAY FLOYD MATLALA floyd.matlala@inl.co.za
part in meditation challenges on the app.
FOR years, many health gadgets had not been embraced or been used to their full potential. However, since the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a spike in the use of these digital trends. They are more appreciated during lockdown as people spend more time at home. Here are health gadgets that can help you get moving, be inspired and stay healthy.
Withings Smart Body Analyzer Withings Wi-Fi Smart Scales deliver a comprehensive picture using sensors to help anyone have a positive impact on their weight and health goals in just 30 seconds. Developed with cardiologists, the Wi-Fi smart scale features an advanced body composition and cardiovascular health analysis on demand. You can monitor your trends and heart health history on the Health Mate app.
Apple Watch Series 6 See your fitness metrics at a glance with the enhanced Always-On Retina display. With Apple Watch Series 6 on your wrist, a healthier, more active, more connected life is within reach. Measure your blood oxygen level with a revolutionary new sensor and app. The MUSE 2 Brain-Sensing Headband The assistive headband is a wearable device that provides soundscapes that guide wandering minds into focus and links with your smartphone to provide feedback on your body and mind signals during each meditation session. MUSE 2 allows you to track your progress over time and take
Upright GO Posture Trainer and Corrector The innovative strapless device is worn on your upper back and uses vibration reminders in real-time to notify you to sit straight or adjust your stance. Sync your trainer with the Upright app on your smartphone to engage in a personalised training programme and tackle daily challenges to improve your posture. Galaxy Watch Active2 Its advanced sensors track up to 39 distinct activities, keep pace on a jog and help you better achieve your goals. It automatically tracks seven popular activities: walking, running, cycling, rowing, elliptical trainer, dynamic workouts, and swimming. Blueair Blue Pure 411 Air Purifier The compact air purifier allows you to breathe easier knowing that your home is cleansed of harmful airborne pollutants. The device comes equipped with a unique particle filter that promises to capture 99% of air pollutants including pet dander, smoke, and pollen. Each purifier boasts an eco-friendly, energyconserving design and offers three fan speeds to suit room sizes in your home.
Boost your healthy lifestyle with TOP 5 APPS
MASABATA MKWANANZI masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za
There is a lot that goes into maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and many times you will hear people say you should visit the gym, eat fruits and vegetables, meditate, and visit your doctor regularly. This was all easy and possible until Covid-19 struck the world. Before we knew it, we had to reduce or stop our daily routines as lockdowns started happening around the globe. Yet we are living in a world where we have access to hundreds of apps that claim to be helpful in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Here we take a look at the top five health apps that will help track your diet, your work out and help you meditate.
MyFitnessPal This popular app uses gamification elements to motivate users to track nutrients. Users can set their personal goals and the app will break down the number of calories to consume each day and how much water to drink. It is available on iOS and Android. Fitplan With this app, users can have a personal trainer on their smartphones. It offers step-by-step video training sessions ranging from 20 to 90 minutes. The fun part is that users get to choose from Olympic athletes to celebrity personal trainers. It is available on iOS and Android. Health and Nutrition Guide & Fitness Calculators This app provides users with an understanding of the choices they make about their diets, rather than obsessing on certain nutrients that affect their health and nutritional intake. It provides information about the benefits of healthy food for vegetarians and meat lovers. It is available on iOS and Android. Headspace This app teaches users how to meditate. In managing stress meditation has been proven to be effective by helping people focus more and sleep better. The app allows users to choose guided meditation sessions specific to their mood and lifestyle. The library is curated with a variety of programmes aimed at helping you sleep, relieve anxiety, and manage stress. It is available on iOS and Android. Samsung Health Users get a chance to automatically record their activities, check various health records on the Samsung Health home screen, add and edit the items they want to manage such as daily steps, activity time, and body weight. It is available on Android.
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