Collective COVID19 Control

The goal is to create a low-code platform, which will become an open source app-generator for society, generating large amounts of data and enabling better grip on the pandemic and containing it. With the platform, smart digital solutions can be developed for, f.e. detection of potential infections, insight into social movements (anonymised per neighbourhood), self-monitoring, remote care consultation, remote supervision of people with complaints in self-isolation and supervision of high-risk groups.

The applications and building blocks themselves are open and therefore verifiable, and can be used by all citizens and companies for adjustments and new developments. Because of the low code approach, almost everyone will be able to develop, share and maintain own applications. The stakes are high. Many people want to do something! But feel powerless. Through our platform we can convert people's will and all energy into usable applications. This is fast, cost effective and easy to maintain.

The world needs a quick solution for getting grip on social distancing, and reducing the spreading of the COVID19 virus. But one that is safe and flexible! The current focus is on a one-size-fits-all approach, in which an app should offer a solution to get the entire society and economy going, while every situation and opportunity requires a different approach. For hospitality companies, the challenge is different, compared to educational institutions and even between hospitality businesses there is a difference. Keeping a grip on the pandemic therefore requires tailor-made solutions.

We make use of new available techniques, new insights from scientists and ideas from citizens who think along with us about smart solutions via a discussion platform that we set up around the app and with which we build our own intelligent unlock community. There is a lot of knowledge in the crowd. Think of people in the healthcare sector, but also in the security sector, who are able to come to well-founded input based on security in the public domain. This group is valuable and. We involve them through our public issue tracker so that everyone can think along with us.

We basically have a platform based on low code; this is a way to develop software applications without the need to know a programming language. Such a platform offers a powerful tool to think up, create, share and optimize all kinds of apps easier and faster than ever before. This enables anyone to easily develop PWA (Progressive Web Applications) using building blocks. Building Blocks are pre-programmed blocks of functionality that can be reused over and over again. Because you use pre-programmed blocks, people don't need to be able to program your app themselves. We need to make the platform suitable for and expand it with pandemic-specific building blocks and build an app that makes use of these functionalities.

We can quickly build a basic app according to reliable and well-known principles:

• GPS logging of one's own movements. Logging only goes 'on' after leaving the house, or can be switched on/off manually by the user.
• Setting your own status: diagnosed with corona, no corona or doubt about being infected.
• Data will also be removed from the database after 24 hours, after everyone has had their message.

The application will initially be of extra interest to the sectors in the economy that are hit the hardest. Together with the people from the sector, but also creatives, IT specialists, etc., we will be building blocks for apps that are relevant to them. We will also do the same in collaboration with healthcare institutions, where it is extremely important that they do not infect vulnerable target groups with the virus.

In terms of methodology, we opt for agile/scrum. Within a few weeks, the platform will be finished so that apps can be built. We get to work with an app ourselves where we get to the end result in 5 sprints (2 weeks per sprint). Intermediate versions can be tested on a small scale and when they work, we can immediately put them into practice. In terms of user numbers, we expect reacht up to 50,000 people at sprint 5, to be mobilised via municipalities, sectoral organisations and care institutes.

Our solution has been specifically shaped in response to the COVID19 crisis. Many governments opt for a lockdown or largely limit people's freedom. This affects people's well-being, social life and economies. Governments are diligently looking for solutions. But these are often top-down formulated. There is so much knowledge in general society that is not used .

Because of the low code approach, almost everyone will be able to develop, share and maintain their own applications. Many people want to do something! But feel powerless. Through our platform we  convert people's will and all energy into usable applications.

That is easy in use because of low-code. And that we make it Open Source. 

Innovative is also our use of blockchain. With blockchain we can store data anonymously and anyone can notify us that this has gone well. In addition, you could delete data every day, as long as the majority of blockchain nodes agree. The source code is open source, but encrypted with blockchain technology so that the data remains private and everyone can see if a change has been made. By the way, the system will also function fine without this blockchain. If this aspect turns out to be too complex to allow a quick launch, we will implement it further down the line with experts. The whole system evolves iteratively anyway; it gets better and better/extended/safer with the help of experts etc...

We basically have a platform based on low code; this is a way to develop software applications without the need to know a programming language. Such a platform offers a powerful tool to think up, create, share and optimize all kinds of apps easier and faster than ever before. This enables anyone to easily develop PWA (Progressive Web Applications) using building blocks. Building Blocks are pre-programmed blocks of functionality that can be reused over and over again. Because you use pre-programmed blocks, people don't need to be able to program your app themselves. We need to make the platform suitable for and expand it with pandemic-specific building blocks and build an app that makes use of these functionalities.

Depending on the building block, a number of simple settings can be made per building block, in a human readable (YAML / JSON) format. Building blocks are selected and configured in this format. The advantage is that someone with little technical knowledge can easily create apps here. Someone with a lot of technical knowledge can create complex apps and freely share the building blocks he has built himself with others. Subsequently, everyone can make their own changes just as easily.

With regard to data management we will use Blockchain.  Blockchains can be designed to enable data sharing without the need for a central trusted intermediary. They provide transparency about who has access to data, and blockchain can automate data sharing, also reducing operating costs. 

Our app generator already works. The main thing now is to program specific COVID19 apps and building blocks so that everyone can develop their own application. 

For proof of our current concept see:

https://gitlab.com/appsemble/appsemble

https://appsemble.com/

We use the crowd, we give them te power to create the best solutions together. We make use of new available techniques, new insights from scientists and ideas from citizens who think along with us about smart solutions via a discussion platform that we set up around the app and with which we build our own intelligent unlock community. There is a lot of knowledge in the crowd. Think of people in the healthcare sector, but also in the security sector, who are able to come to well-founded input based on security in the public domain. This group is valuable and. We involve them through our public issue tracker so that everyone can think along with us.

Important is that we make everything Open Source. But we protect the data right. Because the platform on which the apps are built and also the apps themselves are open source, we by definition provide openness. The app is therefore fully verifiable by the buyer (governments), users (citizens) and privacy watchdogs. It is completely clear: how does data get in, how does it get out. The app can be hosted in the cloud, or in your own data centre. It is important that the user is 'sovereign'; and decides for himself how much data is transferred. Even a transparent and once again verifiable blockchain-like solution for traceable data storage is feasible.

The platform uses modern standards. All data and apps are secured according to the latest standards. Verify it yourself, the source is available. Only if a user wants to make use of the hosting functionality that the platform offers, it needs to apply for an account. Only the functional data is requested (email, password) and this data is stored encrypted on the server, not shared with third parties.

Another advantage is that our apps cannot be downloaded in the app stores. This is a feature of PWA, which benefits the privacy aspect because it offers the shortest route to the end user, who can also get the app on the phone at the push of a button, and even functions without installation.

Currently a couple of thousand. Within the project we strive for 50.000 people in the pilot. Afterwards in the different countries we expect to grow to 400.000 in a couple of years. If it goes worldwide it can go up to millions.

Main project results

1.            Low-code App-generator with usable building blocks for COVID19 monitoring and control.

2.            One specific application for contact tracing, and with a 1st graphical user interface based on YAML protocol.

3.            Open Source and Data Private.

4.            Data-driven community of governments, citizens, companies and research institutions that create, use and share ideas, apps and building blocks together, so that they can democratically share the public interest.

5.            Online divisible video tutorials with handy explanations about the use of the platform.

6.            Research results from 3 pilots in at least 3 communities/regions.

After this project we ar going to scale up. For ourselves we want to be mainly busy in The Netherlands. IN the other countries we have named, we already have partners. Because it is Open Source then can use it freely. We only give consultancy. We expect a lot of new counctries to join and use this platform. Because it is Open Source, free of charge and available in English, it can affect millions of people in quite a short term.

The most important barier would be that we are a rather small company. To scale-up the initiative is hard on our own.

We are working on internationals contacts and setup a network of sortlike organisations who are interested in low code solutions for scocietal issues.

On this specific project we now have 5 fulltime people. 

Description of the team:

(1) Kees van de Broek - experienced CTO and entrepreneur; background: tu / e technical informatics. (2) Wessel Kuipers - senior full stack developer - security minded; background hbo computer science. (3) Remco
Haszing - lead senior full stack developer - security minded; background hbo computer science. (4) Linda - UI / UX and community manager (involves citizens, companies, scientists, municipalities). Our entire team is still
much larger, so we have a good backup: https://d-centralize.nl/team We already have experience with low-code and deliver SAAS solutions in other areas, which takes the logistics off our hands also have a beginning of the unluck community. Fontys ICT from Eindhoven goes with a whole
participate in class and generate ideas with the municipality of Eindhoven, elaborate and test in practice.
The City of Amsterdam will cooperate with its developers and Data Scientist. VNG will contribute to knowledge dissemination. The Municipality of Amersfoort and Montfertland are also already interested.

We already have experience with a public low-code platform, with which apps have been made before, such as the 10 second dance app (in collaboration with Fontys ICT), observations app for direct alerts in case of nuisance in public space, Broodcontainer app, Container management app (in collaboration with the municipality of Amsterdam), Woninggebreken App (in collaboration with tenants and a housing association). See next page for some visuals of previously realised products.

Gemeente Amsterdam (CTO Ger Baron) already works with Appsemble for various reasons but also because it is in line with their purchasing policy: "open source unless". In addition, there is a good relationship with the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG), which allows us to quickly bring our product to the attention of all municipalities in the Netherlands. The municipality of Eindhoven is also interested.  Fontys ICT from Eindhoven wants to work with about 20 students to build Appsemble to solve cases for Eindhoven.

With a healthy revenue model, we ensure that the product is sustainable for the long term. The platform and the App are made available free of charge to all end users. Ultimately, we try to ensure continuity at all levels of government (national, provincial, municipal).

A promising business model consists of consultancy services. After all, large amounts of data are being collected, with which some parties would like to participate even more. An average consultation assignment yields € 40,000. The product offers a lot of value to society, which leads to exposure at Appsemble, which will eventually lead to paid assignments, probably from the government, being our primary market. But companies that want to copy the App and want to use it for other purposes will also pay our SAAS hosting service (€ 35 per month).
In other words, the income we expect will all be indirect, so we consider making the investment. With a contribution from SIDN i.c.m. our marketing budget we can carry the initial development with hosting.
If the solution works, more countries will be excited to use it. Via the extra data that is generated with this, we can receive assignments for data analyzes or further development.

The revenue model is not paramount. Our corona application is made available free of charge for the common good. Above all, we see that our technology can help society and want to use it to that end. It is Open Source and can be freely shared. This sets us apart from other platforms. There are a number of no-code / low-code providers, including Mendix, Betty Blocks, Outsystems, but they do not have open applications.

Currenty we already have different municipalities that offer us assignments to develop specific low code apps for them, but on other subjects then COVID19.

We also have our own fund raiser, looking for subsidies in Europe. And we also have contacts with investors. So we have a nice network to stay financial sustainable.

Because we think we have a nice solution for COVID19. At this moment evertything is arranged really top-down from the governments. We want to empower the people. We have a scalable model that can be used in each country.

We know enough about business modelling and technology. But marketing, sales and communication is not our core competence.

Research organisations are also interesting. But mostly marketing and sales would be great.

We think our solutions is radically diverse. Companies usually look for the shortest way to make money quickly. We are not in the game like that. Especially in the present time it is important to show solidarity. And first develop something that benefits everyone. Health is paramount and the economy needs to get going again. We cannot do this alone or with a few organizations. We need to involve as many people as possible. That is why we offer a solution that all citizens and companies can work with. We do not keep the codes and data with ourselves, but share them, so that we arrive at the best solutions as quickly as possible. Own profit is not paramount, while there is a business model behind our idea, which allows us to grow and make this project even bigger. So you should see us more as a social enterprise.

Because we already have various applications, we also have a lot of data. Within our solution, we are certainly also looking at how we can give AI a place. As a result, we can make the platform much simpler and, for example, detect COVID19 outbreaks much faster and contain them in time.

We also happen to be working on a completely different application, via ITSLanguage. See https://www.itslanguage.nl/

We use AI to recognize speech. We are currently setting up a project with a Dutch NGO to provide language support to 1,000 refugees.
This is separate from the Appsemble app, but we would like to have said that. Moreover, if we integrate the refugees faster, we can also teach them to use the COVID19 low code platform.