By: Dr. Ir. Manerep Pasaribu
Big data is relatively new for us both applications in business, politics, social and health.
Sources of big data come from social media (for instance: Facebook, Google, Instagram,Twitter, Linkedin), smartphones, social interactions, sensors, Internet of Things (IoT), web/online interaction, algorithms, machine learning, cloud computing, payment transactions, etc
Currently, the world is facing a big case with the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19)
globally. Almost all countries worry about the presence of Covid-19 and each country
takes optimal steps so that the virus does not penetrate throughout the country. Big data
can be one solution to minimize the spread of Covid-19. Big data has expanded its scope
to be used in various fields including: business, banking, insurance, weather forecasts,
health, electrical utilities, higher education, retail services and online shopping, search
engines, and social media etc.
Health is an area in which big data has the potential to make dramatic improvements in
quality of life. The increased availability of big data in large numbers and the ability of
computers (speed and capacity) are increasing rapidly which allows users/researchers to
make breakthroughs such as: predicting epidemics / pandemics such as the spread of
Covid-19, gaining a better understanding of the effectiveness and side effects of new
medicines, developing special treatments based on patient history (based on big data),
and reducing the cost of developing new care treatments.
Meanwhile, health services come from various sources including: public health records,
government databases, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, patient
medical history, and personal tracking devices.
While the potential benefits of using Big Data in healthcare are (1). An increased ability of
patients to monitor their own care; (2). An increased ability of doctors to choose the best
care for patients; and (3). Matching patients with appropriate health professionals more
efficiently.
Beginning in 2020, the spread of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) has had a massive global
impact. The spread of Covid-19 began in Wuhan (China). Very high human movement /
mobility has caused other countries to be exposed to Covid-19 such as South Korea,
Japan, Iran, USA, Italy and Europe. Indonesia is no exception, experiencing an
extraordinary number of cases, especially in Jakarta (DKI). Nowadays the health threat
has become chaotic and caused a commotion in our country.
Each country has implemented measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Each
country has a different strategy, with the same goal of narrowing the spread of Covid-19.
China implemented a very tight lockdown. Malaysia also has a lockdown in its country.
Italy also has a slightly looser lockdown. Most countries apply lockdowns in different
ways.
Indonesia, with various considerations, including economic and geographical
considerations, applied “social distancing” or social restrictions. Later, the WHO revised
the term social distancing to physical distancing. The implementation of social
distancing/physical distancing has become an important decision of the Government of
Indonesia with a variety of very clear implementation guidelines (SOPs). A social
distancing strategy requires awareness and cooperation from all walks of life to minimize
the spread of Covid-19.
Have social distancing been effectively implemented? We observe that the
implementation of social distancing has not been effective; there is still much that needs
to be addressed. The indicators, as long as the number of reported cases has not been
reduced, show that the implementation of social distancing needs to be improved. The
latest data from the case of the spread of Covid-19, according to official TVRI news,
reports ranged above 191 people (TVRI, April 04, 2020, at 16.00 WIB). Despite the
strong appeal from the government and community leaders, the implementation of social
distancing has not been maximized.
A precise system is needed that can control the implementation of social distancing
consistently, online, to monitor people individually and see online what activities a person
is carrying out through the application of the system based on big data (big data),
algorithms, machine learning, and cloud computing.
How does big data work? Big data knows a lot about you and us all. This is more than
what Google knows about what we do. This information includes your position at any
time, where are you going, whether at home, work, or worshipping. Big data knows about
you, who your friends are, where you go, what city you are in, which hotel you stay at and
which restaurant you eat at often. Big data knows your age, who your friends/girlfriends
are (sorry those who are not married), and who are your husband, wife, and children are.
Big data knows what your habits are, what sports you play, and which hobbies you enjoy,
etc.
Big data knows whether you are healthy or not at the moment. Big Data knows what your
favorite food is and what color you like. In short, big data knows your whole life, your
history, and your plans for the future. So it is not wrong when Chris Lynch (2015) stated
that big data is the foundation of all trends (patterns), patterns that occur today,
tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and in the future. Besides algorithms and machine
learning, there are other tools that can process and control every aspect of our lives
(Hendrik von Scheel – Advisory Board Member, Google). The bridge that connects big
data technology from the system built to the user is called the application. To maximize
social distancing, big data can help to control implementation.
Everyone can be known/traced what has been done, determine the position at home or
work or other places. Big data can also track what is currently being done online. This is
very helpful for the government to find out whether the communities or someone has
carried out social distancing according to the government’s requests or not. In the UK, big
data has been used to track the movement/spread of Covid-19 so that strategies can be
created that minimize the spread of Covid-19. In Wuhan (China), by tracing someone’s
activities authorities can determine a person’s status and whether the person has been
affected by the spread of Covid-19. When employed in this context, big data knows about
us, our past, present, and future.
Big data is certainly not everything. Even though we are late to use big data, it’s time to
start. Big data and digital culture need to be accelerated in preparing, facing, and
achieving the industrial revolution 4.0 because we have lived in the era of big data and
digitalization. We should consider Covid-19 as a trigger to seize the opportunity to win
the industrial revolution 4.0.
On the other hand, there needs to be honesty and mutual cooperation in all walks of life
to make optimal use of big data. Because what we do can be easily tracked by big data,
how much we contribute to implementing social restrictions in accordance with
government recommendations can be monitored.
The Government needs to take concrete steps to build a system that can truly be
implemented in simple steps, including the operational model. From the system and
operational models, the application can be built as a bridge to the users (communities)
with a smartphone that is already owned by almost all people in Indonesia. With this
application, the public will easily report the conditions they face. It will be very easy for
the Government to monitor and supervise the activities of the communities or someone
and the Government will also be able to immediately make strategies and decisive
actions to take against the spread of Covid-19, and Indonesia will get back to working to
achieve a just and prosperous society.
May be useful…
Dr. Ir. Manerep Pasaribu, Expert Staff of the President Commissioner of NT Corp, Teaching Staff of Master of Management FEB-UI in Strategic Management, Knowledge Management, and Innovation Management is the author of four textbooks about knowledge and innovation. The first book, Knowledge Sharing: Improving Company Performance Services, Case Study of Best Practices Sharing at PT PLN (Persero), was published in January 2010 by Gramedia-Jakarta Publishing. The second book, Best Practices and BUMN, Through Sharing Best Practices BUMN Can Serve Better, was published in April 2013 by Elex Media Komputindo Publishing. The third book, Knowledge, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship, was published in April 2016 by Kompas Gramedia-Jakarta Publishing. The fourth book, Big Data and Strategic Entrepreneurship was published in October 2017 by Publisher Sonvaldy Media Nusantara-NT Corp. A true diver, Dr. Pasaribu wrote his fifth book, “My Underwater Journey … across the Indonesian Archipelago …” (2009) PT Malta Pritindo and CV. Phototrend; Dr. Pasaribu can be contacted by e-mail at: manerep_kupang@yahoo.co.id or on mobile at: +62 811 383861.
