A Stellenbosch startup recently launched a new chatbot which it hopes will help combat Covid-19.
Part of what the local startup, Vollar, aims to do with the Concorona chatbot, is to capture data that can be used to gain valuable insights into the virus, according to Kyle Ueckerman, Vollar CEO and founder.
“What we wanted to do is to help first responders be more effective with the limited resources they have and that those can be used more strategically, through the data we’re capturing through this platform,” said Ueckerman.
Vollar CEO and founder Kyle Ueckerman. PHOTO: Supplied by Kyle Ueckerman
One of the ways the chatbot, which was launched in mid-April, works, is through users doing a daily symptom check, said Ueckerman.
“Through these daily symptom checks, we’re able to get a real time stream of symptom information per different towns. This becomes really valuable because what you can start to do when you have enough data, is predict outbreaks,” said Ueckerman.
Since its launch, Concorona has had over 20 000 users and has performed about 10 000 symptom checks, according to Ueckerman.
At present, the data captured by the app is not being supplied to anyone, however Ueckerman hopes that the government can use the data eventually.
“We are reaching out to different organisations that could use the information we’ve gathered,” he said.
According to Uekerman, the company had reached out to the Solidarity Fund, which also aims to aid workers by capturing data on the virus.
Concorona chatbot can be used via Moya Messenger and Facebook Messenger. PHOTO: Supplied by Kyle Ueckerman
Concorona also aims to help people be responsible with their information about the virus, during this time, said Uekerman.
Ueckerman and his team decided to include quizzes with the daily symptom checks through which users can then earn reward points called concora.
“What we want to happen is that people can earn these points and get some kind of deduction on essentials that they have to buy,” said Ueckerman. This way people can save money during the current tight financial situation, he said.
So far, users can use their points at Stellietech and Adventure Bootcamp, but Vollar is also hoping to get more businesses involved where users can use their points, said Ueckerman.
“The hope we have is that we can eventually partner with bigger chains that can provide food and medicine,” Ueckerman said.
The chatbot can be used via Facebook Messenger or Moya Messenger, a data-free messaging app, said Ueckerman.
Hazel Lottering, a Malmesbury resident, uses the app, and is fond of the chatbot app.
“I enjoyed the quiz. It’s a really interesting way to entice people and keep them simultaneously well-informed,” she said. “I highly recommend it for everyone who wants to stay updated about Covid-19.”
According to Louwrens Labuschagne, a data scientist, data analysis is definitely beneficial in the fight against the virus.
“I think it has aided the world in curbing the spread, being able to identify hotspots. So, it has definitely flattened the curve,” said Labuschagne.
* This article has been updated to include new figures in the number of users and symptom checks.