The Defense Ministry is reportedly exploring ways to use mobile-based technology for coronavirus testing, Israel Hayom learned Tuesday.
The ministry's Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure is currently attempting to develop new technologies to curb the spread of the virus that, as of Wednesday morning, has already claimed the lives of five Israelis.
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According to the Health Ministry, 2,030 Israelis have been diagnosed with the coronavirus. Of those, 37 are in serious condition, 54 are in moderate condition, and the rest are experiencing only mild symptoms. To date, 58 Israelis have recovered from the virus.
The Defense Ministry said that the national emergency task force, led by Dr. Danny Gold, is exploring an artificial, intelligence-based, voice-recognition app that could potentially allow for the home-diagnosis of initial symptoms.
Gold's team is scheduled to begin initial testing on this technology in the coming days. As part of the experiment, the voices of coronavirus patients will be sampled through an application developed by Vocalis Health.
The Tel Aviv-based company Vocalis Health – formed by the merger of Beyond Verbal and Healthymize, two early-stage Israeli AI health-tech companies – develops artificial intelligence-based platforms that use one's voice to evaluate the condition of their health.
The national emergency task force hopes that the coronavirus produces a unique voice imprint that could help identify suspicious symptoms that may indicate infection among the general public.
The data collected as part of the experiment will be analyzed using neuronal network mapping. Initial results are expected within four to six weeks.
"The purpose of this study is to develop a unique algorithm, based on machine-learning methods and sound characteristics, that will allow the healthcare system to make initial assessments as well as monitor the symptoms of corona patients in their homes."
"This aims to prevent the spread of disease and prevent further burden to the already overloaded healthcare system," a Defense Ministry statement said.
The ministry added that the research was conducted in collaboration with health organizations in Israel and around the world.
Participants include, among others, the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, the Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva, the Afeka College of Engineering in Tel Aviv, and other academic research groups and military units.
