Touch Points

Our aim is to create an information service that targets those commonplace contagious illnesses that lie below the radar of the NRDM. This information service would provide an easy to read data map (including possible charts) showing indicators of illness moving through a community, much like a weather forecast presents climatic changes moving through an area. It is important to note that this service aims to be informative and useful in only the most positive way, and not to create paranoia or panic.

As with weather forecasts, touchpoints for this service are the same channels the newsmedia uses: print (newspaper), broadcast (tv and radio), and internet. The most detailed touchpoint would be the internet version of this service, for it will allow users to “dig deeper” to understand the source of various indicators, and to customize the data map in a way that suits them best.

If a user is notified to an upsurge that indicates the presence of an illness, they are presented with simple, effective precautions they can take against contaigion. These can range from the use of barriers (gloves) to antibacterial agents to preventative supplements (vitamin c, Echinacea) to simply taking it easy.