Easier corona checks for organizers and health authorities: A Munich IT expert has developed a free alternative to the Luca app and is annoyed that other countries are spending hundreds of thousands on Luca.
Munich - While politicians are grappling with incidence values * due to the pandemic *, the argument of contact tracking is always put forward to set the target marks 35, 50 and 100.
Health authorities would have to inform those affected and monitor compliance with the quarantine.
There have long been pragmatic tools on the market that could help the authorities with this work in the event of further openings.
So far, apart from the "Luca" app *, they have hardly received any attention.
One of the rather unknown tools is the "Hello Q!" App from Dr.
Florian Ziemann.
Long before the pandemic, the physicist started his own business with a software company in Munich and works with large companies such as Daimler *, BMW * and the Fraunhofer Academy.
Today, Ziemann and his employees develop apps, maintain, program and look for IT solutions for all kinds of problems.
Coronavirus: Software developer and musician from Munich wants to facilitate contact tracking
As a passionate hobby musician, the owner was already seized by private ambition last summer.
“The culture was viewed as not systemically relevant, more and more closed,” recalls Ziemann.
When his and other bands slowly fell silent in the Corona * silence, his thought was: “What can I do to counteract this?” His solution: to get involved with what he can do best - “a software”.
A few months later - Ziemann had developed a concept - the two employees he had commissioned were ready: The Hello Q! App * has been available for download in the app stores since September.
But what can it actually do - and why has it hardly been used so far?
The principle is simple.
After the download, users enter their name and telephone number once.
Anyone who is a guest shows the created QR code at the entrance to organizers or service providers - and whoever is the host scans these codes.
The app creates a visitor list that could be transmitted to the health authorities with decentralized encrypted data.
And: The app offers an internal chat function to quickly make an infection known to the guests.
App for health authorities too: Coronavirus infections can be tracked for large and small celebrations
Ziemann explains: "There is no big difference between guest and host - everyone can switch between these roles - that makes the app incredibly practical." It can be used for large events as well as for private wedding celebrations.
“Wherever contact tracking * is important.” Even if celebrations are hardly an option in the middle of the second wave, Ziemann could imagine that the app could be an important support when slowly ramping up the culture.
What annoys the owner of the software company is the, in his opinion, almost exclusive awareness of the "Luca" app, which works with a similar principle, but is prominently advertised with the license purchase by Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania *.
“And that although there are certainly ten or more usable solutions that are just as good,” Ziemann judges.
Even if the Hello Q! Developer has "no financial interest" himself and is currently offering his app free of charge, he would have wished for a fair tender for an entire federal state before buying the Luca license.
"It's about competition and transparent comparison."
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As
heise.de
reports, the state is taking 440,000 euros in hand for the licensing of the system and the technical connection to the health authorities.
According to the news site, Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) explained: "Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is the first federal state in which the Luca app can be used across the board." open again to the public.
"At the same time, we relieve the health authorities, who can quickly and safely track and interrupt chains of infection."
But why was there no advertisement?
The portal reports that state digital minister Christian level (SPD) has declared that they would not have decided on a month-long tendering process in order to be able to implement a solution in good time.
Of the solutions available on the market, Luca best meets the requirements.
Munich: Hello Q! App for coronavirus tracking also interesting for FC Bayern?
Ziemann could also imagine white labeling his app: “I was in contact with Herbert Hainer *, President of FC Bayern *, and the Hello Q!
with the FCB logo. ”At first, FCB showed interest, but since the second wave that has been on hold.
However, it is important to realize that there is no need for a uniform app: “It is not my goal, Hello Q!
necessarily to be marketed to a federal state. "
Rather, it is about making the health authorities aware of the possibilities and promoting acceptance in the cities.
"In Munich I was in conversation with the second and third mayors - both were enthusiastic." The problem: "According to their speakers, Katrin Habenschaden * and Verena Dietl * are waiting for instructions from above which app they should support" - although Hello Q!
Do nothing else than the notes for data collection that were already on display in restaurants in the summer - just more digital and, from Ziemann's point of view, more practical.
Software developer from Munich: Luca monopoly "not necessary" - Hello Q!
is only intended to replace lists
Compared to the "Luca" app, registration with Hello Q!
According to Ziemann, it has been easier so far.
The developer deliberately decided not to incorporate a verification of the telephone number: "If the registration is uncomplicated, more people use the app." If necessary, he can easily retrofit this.
Random samples at two events in the Muffathalle in Munich in October would have resulted in an estimated 98 percent correctness of the information.
"And people without a cell phone can be recorded directly at the entrance," explains the software developer.
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Now it is important to prevent a threatening monopoly by “Luca” and to make it clear that Hello Q!
like many other apps is a viable solution.
"The health authorities do not necessarily have to work with it, but should accept the app and, if possible, accept lists from different providers in order to give users freedom of choice," says Ziemann.
A central solution is not necessary for this - all usable apps could be useful in the event of relaxation.
(nap)
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