Stellenbosch University (SU) has launched a study to develop a smartphone app that will determine if a cough caused by Covid-19 sounds different to a normal cough.
This was according to professor Thomas Niesler of SU’s Department of Electronic Engineering and principal investigator of the study.
This study was launched by the university’s Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences and the Faculty of Engineering in July. The researchers are aiming to have the app developed by December.
The app will be available free of charge and can be used by anyone who suspects that they have the virus, said Niesler.
“In developing the app, a computer will be trained to recognize the difference between a cough caused by Covid-19 and other lung problems,” said Niesler.
According to Niesler, the researchers need the recordings of coughs from individuals who have tested positive for Covid-19, in order for the study to be conducted. However, any individual, irrespective of whether they are positive or negative for Covid-19, can take part in the study.
An anonymous online survey has been distributed via social media, where individuals who want to take part in the study will be asked to complete a questionnaire and upload a recording of their cough, said Niesler.
“This data will be analysed and used to build a model of artificial intelligence that can distinguish between the cough caused by Covid-19 and a ordinary cough,” Niesler said.
Participation in the study has been slow and currently only around 20 participants have joined, Neisler said. Ideally, the researchers would want to enrol about 2 000 participants for the study, he said.
Dr Marisa Klopper and Professor Thomas Niesler, two researchers from Stellenbosch University, are conducting the study and wish to develop the smartphone app to reduce the number of Covid-19 infections and lighten the load of health care workers.
According to dr Marisa Klopper, another researcher of the study from SU’s Department of Biomedical Sciences, the researchers are anticipating that the app will have reasonable accuracy in determining whether a cough is caused by Covid-19 or not.
“This does depend on the quality of data we get. The app will only make a recommendation as to whether you should have a lab test done or not,” Klopper explained.
The importance of the app
The university welcomes the study as it will contribute towards the fight against the virus, said Martin Viljoen, SU spokesperson.
“The innovative nature of the research project, and the fact that the research is done across various disciplines on campus, should be applauded,” said Viljoen.
This app is important for resources to be applied effectively and to limit transmission of the virus, said Klopper.
“The app will be available to anybody with a smartphone. This has the advantage of not needing an appointment with a health professional to conduct an active screening,” said Klopper.