An old English proverb says, “necessity is the mother of invention”, but nothing breeds invention like a crisis does, and right now, the world is facing its worst pandemic since the 1918 Spanish Flu that killed millions around the world. As countries shore up their defences against a fourth wave of COVID-19, 20-something Ching Shu Yi meets Singapore’s young changemakers who think their new inventions can help manage COVID-19’s fallout and stave off future pandemics. From a breath test that diagnoses COVID-19 in just one minute to a microbe-killing light source and a wearable device that monitors a patient’s vital signs remotely. But can their innovations tackle the social challenges that follow on the heels of the crisis, like when fatigue sets in or when a trickle of misinformation turns into a flood of fake news?
About On The Red Dot: CNA’s weekly programme documents the stories of ordinary Singaporeans and celebrates their resilience, identity and sense of belonging.