KT, 'Shine' App Revamped... Research Scope Expanded to Include COVID-19

Officials are promoting participation in COVID-19 response research using the Shine app.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] KT announced on the 15th that it has expanded the research scope of its AI-based infectious disease response research application 'SHINE' from influenza to COVID-19. 'SHINE' stands for Study for Health Information on New Epidemics.

SHINE is a mobile app designed for research data collection, developed since 2020 by KT with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to conduct AI and big data-based infectious disease response technology research. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 2000 by Bill Gates, founder and former chairman of Microsoft (MS), and his wife Melinda Gates.

KT expanded the research scope from influenza to COVID-19 and added functions for collecting COVID-19 related data. KT explained that the reason for this revision is the need to collect data on currently prevalent infectious diseases to prepare for the next pandemic.

Users can enter self-checks for COVID-like symptoms, PCR test results, vaccination history, and adverse reactions in the SHINE app. The SHINE app also provides locations of nearby PCR testing centers and overseas entry and exit information. It updates and guides social distancing guidelines such as capacity limits and operating hours of multi-use facilities.

KT is also conducting analysis to predict COVID-19 infection risk based on individual movement paths using communication data such as smartphone GPS and mobile communication base station location data. All collected data is stored using Medibloc’s blockchain technology after obtaining consent for personal data collection and use.

As part of AI and big data-based infectious disease response technology research, KT and ‘Mobile Doctor’ are developing a COVID-19 infection risk self-check AI model by analyzing data collected in SHINE along with other open data. Through clinical research with Korea University Guro Hospital, viral genome data is also being collected and analyzed. The Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI) is developing COVID-19 spread route analysis, inflow prediction, and AI-based variant virus tracking technology.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.