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Ask HN: What can programmers do to help with the coronavirus?

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Re: Ask HN: What can programmers do to help with the coronavirus?

#21
Using tech skills specifically? Not a lot comes to mind right this minute. Maybe if you're a licensed ham radio operator, join ARES[1] or RACES[2].

Outside of that, one way to help very directly, depending on where you live, is to join a volunteer fire department / EMS squad. But not all areas are covered by volunteer departments, and there's a lot of latency in terms of training time to do a lot of things (eg, you can't just become an EMT overnight). But there are always people needed around the station to do maintenance on equipment, clean, help with paperwork, etc.

[1]: http://www.arrl.org/ares

[2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Amateur_Civil_Emergency_...

Re: Ask HN: What can programmers do to help with the coronavirus?

#22
post #7

Realize this is a non-technical problem that won't be solved by an App with location tracking and ad-based monetization model... Follow the CDC advice, wash your hands, social distancing, encouraging smart policies at your company. Avoid contact with the elderly and stop thinking you're so smart surely YOU'RE the one who's going to solve this problem (with your magical skillset to build CRUD apps).

This is the kind of argument I see from people who say things like "busses, you invented busses".

Use tech skills to help people setup video conferencing so that more people can be less emotionally isolated, while still be physically isolated.

Create a crud app where you can "trade grandmas" - I help bring groceries to your relatives nearby me, you help to bring some to my relatives near you.

This situation is serious we can no longer afford nihilists.

Re: Ask HN: What can programmers do to help with the coronavirus?

#24
post #7

Realize this is a non-technical problem that won't be solved by an App with location tracking and ad-based monetization model... Follow the CDC advice, wash your hands, social distancing, encouraging smart policies at your company. Avoid contact with the elderly and stop thinking you're so smart surely YOU'RE the one who's going to solve this problem (with your magical skillset to build CRUD apps).

This is such a ridiculous, outrageous take.

Hospitals don't just need doctors, they also need plumbers, electricians and janitors. If you think programmers can't put their skills to use against this, you're not a good programmer.

Re: Ask HN: What can programmers do to help with the coronavirus?

#25
We need an app that tracks any nearby (few meters) MAC address it encounters and stores it on device. When someone finds out they are infected , they post their address to a database online. People can check in every day to see if they have been nearby the phone of an infected person

Re: Ask HN: What can programmers do to help with the coronavirus?

#26
post #22
post #7

Realize this is a non-technical problem that won't be solved by an App with location tracking and ad-based monetization model... Follow the CDC advice, wash your hands, social distancing, encouraging smart policies at your company. Avoid contact with the elderly and stop thinking you're so smart surely YOU'RE the one who's going to solve this problem (with your magical skillset to build CRUD apps).

This is the kind of argument I see from people who say things like "busses, you invented busses". Use tech skills to help people setup video conferencing so that more people can be less emotionally isolated, while still be physically isolated. Create a crud app where you can "trade grandmas" - I help bring groceries to your relatives nearby me, you help to bring some to my relatives near you. This situation is seriou…

> Create a crud app where you can "trade grandmas" - I help bring groceries to your relatives nearby me, you help to bring some to my relatives near you.

There could be unforeseen consequences of this, such as criminals using it to find vulnerable people to rob. If you were a grandmother living alone, would you be comfortable opening your door to a random person who found you on a web site? Or would you rather trust a neighbor who lived in your own apartment building?

Re: Ask HN: What can programmers do to help with the coronavirus?

#28
While I'm fully agree with the "this isn't a tech problem" comment, there are indirect ways that people can help.

I think the biggest problems many are going to face aren't related to the illness itself, but the effects of self-isolation and the outcomes, such as:

* Dealing with your loved ones getting sick or dying - online services to talk to others that are suffering or going through tough times would be good.

* Boredom - putting that "empty time" to good use by building your skills.

* Loneliness - providing a platform to utilise existing or new social networks to make people feel that they aren't alone.

* Volunteering - one of the biggest hit areas is going to be in elderly care, and to be honest it wouldn't be unsurprising to see care homes shut down and relatives being left to look after their relatives. Anything that can help people in these situations would be welcomed, whether it's supplies, stuff for people to do, etc.

* Aiding remote workers. For many, remote working is an alien concept, so if you've got experience in working from home in an optimal way create an in-depth guide to help others.

* Small gym relief funds - many gyms or martial arts schools have shut down, and many practitioners rely on teaching as their sole form of income. Building a relief fund for those small businesses would help tremendously, on the basis that it can be "paid forward" in the future through private lessons, online instructionals, etc.

Re: Ask HN: What can programmers do to help with the coronavirus?

#30
post #25

We need an app that tracks any nearby (few meters) MAC address it encounters and stores it on device. When someone finds out they are infected , they post their address to a database online. People can check in every day to see if they have been nearby the phone of an infected person

This does not work anymore due to MAC randomization by most newer devices.
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