ZzappMalaria – The new app that can beat back malaria-bearing mosquitos
The app is designed to work even in environments where the Internet is not always available, as well as on low-cost phones.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFZzappMalaria's app to help eliminate malaria(photo credit: Courtesy)
An app development team, called ZzappMalaria, which developed an app that uses AI to combat malaria, has become one of three finalists in the IBM Watson XPRIZE “AI for Good'' challenge, according to a statement by the company.The team is one only three finalists chosen from 10,000 teams interested and will receive $500,000 to continue its fight against malaria. They are still competing for the $2.5 million grand prize which they will use to extend their operations of eliminating malaria from its current scope in Ghana, Zanzibar, Kenya and Ethiopia to a global scale.ZzappMalaria's development targets malaria-bearing mosquitos. The app tracks them using a predictive algorithm, which processes satellite imagery, climate, and topography data to tailor optimal malaria-elimination interventions for given locations and ensures their thorough execution, as well as being easy to use.The team is also collaborating with IBM on a system which predicts the impact of weather on mosquito populations.The app is designed to work even in environments where the Internet is not always available, as well as on low-cost phones."With our app, even inexperienced field workers are able to locate over 90% of the stagnant water bodies – which makes eliminating malaria possible. We’re talking elimination, not harm reduction," said Arnon Houri-Yafin, CEO of ZzappMalaria."In many areas burdened with malaria, smartphones are the most advanced (and sometimes the only) modern technology, and ZzappMalaria's app – which is GPS-based and works offline – is suited to work in the harshest conditions.”The app's algorithm focuses on places where mosquitoes breed. Its algorithm tailors optimal and localized malaria elimination strategies by instructing workers and guiding them on the field, as well and enabling them to easily upload data to a designated dashboard.
