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Remind those around you that if we look at the history of pandemics, we have gotten through this before with less resources. Share that positivity and encourage the thinking that we will beat this just as we have beat the spread of other diseases in the past.
As part of my series about the the things we can do to remain hopeful and support each other during anxious times, I had the pleasure of interviewing David Maman,CEO and founder of Binah.ai, a leading provider of video-based vital signs monitoring application, using artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
Can you share with us the backstory about what brought you to your specific career path?
I have always had an interest in artificial intelligence (AI), cyber security and entrepreneurship. My goal is to guide business leaders, including my current team at Binah.ai, to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems. For example, half of the world’s population lacks access to basic healthcare and are suffering from the burden of outrageous health expenses. This was part of the inspiration behind Binah.ai, which is now a leading provider of video-based health and wellness monitoring solutions, being used for remote vital signs extraction and even aiding in preventing the spread of coronavirus through the app, Bvue. My master’s was in computer science, so by combining my love for science and entrepreneurship, I became the founder of many start-ups, Binah.ai being my thirteenth.
Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?
When I was younger I remember picking up the novel “Moment in Peking,” written by Lin Yutang, and I just fell in love with the main character, Yao Mulan. I fell in love with her bravery and resilience despite the obstacles she faced in her life, including living through the Boxer Uprising and beginning of the second Sino-Japanese War. This story instilled the notion in me to never give up, no matter how many challenges are thrown your way.
Many people have become anxious about the dramatic jolts of the news cycle. The fears related to the coronavirus pandemic have heightened a sense of uncertainty, fear, and loneliness. From your perspective can you help our readers to see the “Light at the End of the Tunnel”? Can you share your “5 Reasons To Be Hopeful During this Corona Crisis”? If you can, please share a story or example for each.
Looking at this historically, we have seen waves of epidemics over the years with much less technology available to support and aid us as we have today. The way technology has become a huge player in fighting COVID-19 is amazing and this is only the beginning of how medical technology, telehealth and telemedicine will continue to provide resources, which we did not have in the past. I’m hopeful that Binah.ai’s app, Bvue, will become another tool for people to use as a way to test their vital signs remotely to help determine if their symptoms are pointing to COVID-19, before they need to leave home to see a doctor.
During this pandemic, we have been encouraged to practice social distancing. Even just ten years ago, this would have been very difficult for our society, which is extremely social and active. Today, social media and internet connectivity offers a sense of support and prevents feelings of loneliness by allowing people from around the world to connect with each other during this time.
Some of the smartest people in the world are trying to resolve this crisis, and are working hard to do so as soon as possible. The dedication, persistence and tireless efforts of researchers and medical leaders is really inspiring and should give us hope that there will be an end to this crisis.
There is reason to be hopeful when you look at the number of coronavirus cases and focus on the fact that over a quarter of the people with the disease are recovering. These statistics offer a promising future and I hope that more people continue to recover and that we flatten the curve.
We’ve already seen positive movement with people listening and staying home to do their part. This gives me hope that we are coming together as a society to do what we can to protect one another, and flatten the curve. Because of this, I believe that we will be traveling and resuming life as we knew it before the end of the year.
From your experience or research, what are five steps that each of us can take to effectively offer support to those around us who are feeling anxious? Can you explain?
Remind those around you that if we look at the history of pandemics, we have gotten through this before with less resources. Share that positivity and encourage the thinking that we will beat this just as we have beat the spread of other diseases in the past.
It’s important to remember not to panic. Everything is led by example, so if we panic, the people around us will panic as well. Stay as calm as you possibly can and remember that there are resources available, whether it’s checking your vitals to calm fears of having the disease or simply video chatting a friend for support. We are all in this together.
If you or someone around you is feeling under the weather and are anxious about leaving the house, remember there are telemedicine services that are available online for you to receive high quality medical consultation. There is no need to worry about not having access to quality healthcare at this time, which can help alleviate stress.
Focus on what you can control. This means taking proper precautions like washing your hands, not touching your face, and encouraging others to stay at home.
Focus on the facts: Make sure to read through credible sources for education on what’s going on, such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website. This is where you can learn about what the real symptoms are of COVID-19.
What are the best resources you would suggest to a person who is feeling anxious?
A great way to ease anxiety is through measuring these feelings so that you can manage them. By becoming aware of your heart rate and mental stress level (which can actually be measured on our Bvue app once it is available) you can identify these emotions. Once they are identified, I suggest finding an outlet, whether it’s an app that allows you to practice breathing exercises or meditation, doing an at-home workout or calling a friend.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”?
I like to live by the lesson that if you always do good and don’t expect to be rewarded, then good will eventually come to you.
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
I always encourage passing it forward. Once something good happens in your life, it’s important to continue passing that forward to others.
What is the best way our readers can follow you online?
I am active on LinkedIn and Twitter but encourage followers to connect with our team at Binah.ai via Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Dr. Ely Weinschneider, Psy.D.
Mar 31 · 5 min read