‘Smart’ Thermometers Record Spread, Intensity of Influenza
时间:2019-01-03 作者:英语课 分类:2018年VOA慢速英语(二)月
When a child feels sick, one of the first things a parent does is reach for a thermometer.
That common reaction got one man thinking.
Inder Singh is a health policy expert. He wondered what if the thermometer, in addition to measuring body temperature, could serve as a communications device? Could it then connect people with information about infections and gather real-time data on diseases as they spread?
That is the idea behind Singh’s health data business. The San Francisco-based company, called Kinsa, sells “smart” thermometers.
Worst flu season in years
Many people in the United States are sick with influenza 1 this winter. In fact, this is reported to be the country’s worst flu season in 15 years.
Over the past several weeks, Kinsa has been following the spread and severity of flu-like symptoms across the country. The company says its findings are similar to those reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Singh told VOA that the CDC collects information about the spread of the flu from state and regional reports. But he adds Kinsa is able to identify high rates of infection in even smaller areas or by cities.
Fast and detailed 2 information about how disease is spreading can make a difference during a health crisis.
Singh said, “If you knew when and where a disease was starting, you could target the people who needed the treatment and potentially prevent pandemics and epidemics 4 from occurring.”
How the smart thermometer works
A Kinsa thermometer sells for anywhere between $14.99 and $49.99 in the U.S.
Users connect the device through Bluetooth wireless 5 technology to a smartphone app. The software program asks questions about a person’s condition. The user’s personal information is kept private, the company said.
With its thermometers in 500,000 homes nationwide, Kinsa says it receives 25,000 temperature readings every day.
The company cannot identify diseases or recognize differences between different kinds of diseases.
But from gathering 6 data about individuals’ body temperatures and other information, Kinsa can report where flu-like symptoms are rising. In recent weeks, it found the flu has infected many people in two states: Missouri and Kansas.
Selling aggregated 7 data
In addition to selling thermometers and advertising 8 on its app, Kinsa makes money by selling data to businesses. Singh says that his company removes any personally identifiable information.
The buyers, such as drug companies, want to know where and how sickness is spreading. They fill stores with products and change marketing 9 plans if they know how a sickness is progressing.
Kinsa has launched a program in schools, where it gives away thermometers, so parents can learn about the general health of the community. The company is also starting an effort with some U.S. businesses, which buy the smart thermometers for their employees. When an employee has a high temperature, Kinsa can inform the person about available health care assistance.
Currently, Kinsa thermometers are sold just in the United States. But the company plans to sell them overseas.
“Imagine a living breathing map where you can see where and when disease is spreading,” Singh said. “That’s what we want.”
I’m Jonathan Evans.
Words in This Story
thermometer – n. an instrument used for measuring temperature
data – n. facts or information that is produced or stored on a computer
smart – adj. controlled by computers
symptom – n. a change in a person’s health which is a sign of a disease
regional – adj. related to or involving a part of a country or state
pandemic – n. an event in which a disease spreads quickly and affects many people over a wide area
epidemic 3 – n. an event in which a disease spreads quickly and affects many people
- They took steps to prevent the spread of influenza.他们采取措施
- Influenza is an infectious disease.流感是一种传染病。
- He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
- A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。
- That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
- The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。
- Reliance upon natural epidemics may be both time-consuming and misleading. 依靠天然的流行既浪费时间,又会引入歧途。
- The antibiotic epidemics usually start stop when the summer rainy season begins. 传染病通常会在夏天的雨季停止传播。
- There are a lot of wireless links in a radio.收音机里有许多无线电线路。
- Wireless messages tell us that the ship was sinking.无线电报告知我们那艘船正在下沉。
- He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
- He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。
- He aggregated her to a political party. 他吸收她参加一政党。
- The audiences aggregated a million people. 观众总数达100万人。
- Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
- The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。