Google introduces new features to assist Pakistan’s coronavirus effort

ISLAMABAD: AS lockdowns and social distancing continue to keep people indoors, Google has been taking steps to support and relieve stress on national telecommunications networks in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak, according to a PTA press release.

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“Google has introduced new features and resources to provide locally relevant information to Pakistani users. These include expansion of #COVID19 SOS Alerts and Knowledge Panels on Google Search, as well as YouTube Information Panels.”

 

@Google has introduced new features and resources to provide locally relevant information to Pakistani users. These include expansion of #COVID19 SOS Alerts and Knowledge Panels on Google Search, as well as YouTube Information Panels. pic.twitter.com/PokbUnx35O

— PTA (@PTAofficialpk) April 1, 2020

The new features and resources are designed for Pakistani users; to help them stay connected and updated with the latest authentic local information.

These include an increase of COVID-19 SOS Alerts and Knowledge Panels on Google Search, as well as YouTube Information Panels with links to the National Institute of Health (NIH).

Alongside this, the search engine giant is assisting the Ministry of National Health Services with ad inventory so they can provide timely, helpful information to the public.

Life under lockdown is hard, especially if you have kids that are missing school time due to the coronavirus outbreak, keeping this in mind Google has introduced tips and resources for remote workers and students.

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These include a new collection of distance learning solutions, training, and resources to help teachers and students stay connected.

Google has also launched Bolo a speech-based reading app that uses machine learning to help children to read aloud confidently, using their own voice.

To reach masses the Bolo app has been made available in Urdu for adults a free  English app has been launched that includes fast and easy lessons on business, marketing, management, and more.

The company has taken a proactive role in eliminating misinformation that has been surfacing the web post coronavirus outbreak.

Increased internet and video-streaming usage have caused pressure on the network operators systems to counter this, Google will be temporarily defaulting all videos on YouTube to standard definition.

Netflix has also informed that in order to reduce its traffic on telecommunication networks in Pakistan during the COVID-19 outbreak it has developed ways to reduce the streaming service traffic on telecommunications networks by 25% while also maintaining the quality of service.

This will be applicable for 30 days and will be re-evaluated after this duration ends.