Reply To: Week 1 Topic discussion 2

[Kevin Zam]

One digital technology I like most apart from contact tracing app from Budd et al. (2020) is the chatbot used in the COVID-19 public health response. Chatbots are computer programs that can talk with people through websites, apps, or messaging platforms. They use artificial intelligence to answer questions, give advice, and guide people on what to do if they have symptoms.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, chatbots were used by the World Health Organization (WHO) and many national health agencies to provide accurate and timely information to the public. They helped people check their symptoms, learn about testing and vaccination, and avoid misinformation.
This technology is very important because it allows health authorities to reach millions of people quickly, even when healthcare workers are busy or when movement restrictions are in place. Chatbots are available 24 hours a day and can respond in different languages, making them a useful and low-cost tool for improving public communication and surveillance during health emergencies