The spread of coronavirus has sent shockwaves across the global economy and the world is changing dramatically because of it.
From work to learning to our personal lives, no area has remained untouched by the global pandemic. Many of the effects are negative.
I mean, how long must we stay away from our friends and family and wear masks everywhere we go? But still, others have the potential to be positive.
Technology is one area that is, in fact, thriving and has the potential to change the world for the better. Certain technological fields have been experiencing unprecedented growth even in this time of locked down.
In the coming weeks and months, the world will return to some certain degree of normality.
Just which innovations are proving successful during the pandemic and will reach unprecedented heights even after our lives return to normal, or at least some semblance of normalcy?
Here are a few to have on your radar, so let’s explore what technologies might thrive following the return to ‘normality.’
#1 Telehealth Tech
For all of you how don’t know what is telehealth tech— well let me give you a brief about it.
Telehealth is the use of digital information and communication technologies, such as computers, laptops and mobile devices, to access health care services remotely and manage your health care.
These may be technologies you use from home or that your doctor uses to improve or support health care services.
Telehealth technology has certainly proven to be required during the pandemic, with platforms like the Aarogya Setu app, Doxy.me, WebEx for Healthcare, and many others allowing providers and patients to connect virtually and safely without risking their health.
But even before COVID wreaked havoc on the world, telehealth was one of the emerging technologies.
Nowadays, many in-person medical visits can be handled virtually or over the phone and telehealth saves both patients and providers a lot of wasted time.
Moreover, telehealth helps accommodate numerous populations, including those with limited or no access to in-person care such as individuals living in rural areas.
Thanks to the pandemic, people are realizing that telemedicine is a feasible and in some ways viable and superior alternative to in-person care in many cases.
#2 Artificial Intelligence (AI)
It might be easier to say that what part of our modern society AI hasn’t touched to show how important it is to our daily lives, business operations and society.
This may seem like a no-brainer. But recently COVID has given AI new significance.
For one, employers are increasingly relying on AI to pick up the slack because many employees are feeling overworked and stressed beyond normal limits,.
For example, chatbots can respond to basic customer queries without human intervention.
The most popular use of AI comes in the form of digital smart assistants, such as Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant.
These are able to take your voice commands and translate them into actions, such as calling a friend or send a message to a friend.
Furthermore, AI is not subject to the same errors and mistakes that humans are. It doesn’t take sick days or require a salary. It can’t get COVID, either.
It can speed up, as well as improve, business operations — making it a technology employers will be embracing more and more now and in the future, so get used to it.
#3 Augmented Reality (AR)
AR has implications across industries, from education to hospitality and doing wonders. The technology allows people to experience situations without actually being there, by simulating reality which is terrific.
AR will prove indispensable as businesses of all types consider how to safely transition their employees back to the in-person workplace or choose to stay remote after the pandemic.
For example, AR will be necessary for helping train workers in a range of scenarios and operations.
These aren’t the only technologies that are set to explode in a post-pandemic world or have already.
Every day, for instance, we leverage telecommuting and remote work platforms like Zoom, Hangouts, Google-meet to complete our jobs.
While some of these technological booms may be momentary, but innovations like telehealth tech, wearable technology, AR, and others are definitely here to stay for the long haul.
Also Read: 10 Useful Remote Working Tips
#4 Wearables
There is no doubt that, we all are probably familiar with the fitness trackers like Fitbits and smartwatches like the Apple Watch.
But wearable technology amplifies far beyond these devices. They provide easy, effortless ways of tracking, measuring and analyzing aspects of your life, such as your health (heart rate, oxygen etc.).
Smart jewelry like the Oura ring, for example, it gives you access to see data about your health, including your heart rate, sleep, and activity.
It also helps you to give your body exactly what it requires each day to hold out to its full potential.
There are implantables that can go a step beyond, such as pills individuals can devour. It helps to monitor your blood pressure from inside your body than outside.
Before COVID these technologies were popular, but now, the skyline for wearables is looking immense.
For example, some governments are already grasping contact-tracing apps to monitor the spread of COVID in their regions.
While there are some notable privacy concerns, we can perceive wearable technology to be used to track the virus and those who come in contact with it in the future. So overall, in tough times like pandemic, wearables are doing wonders for the people.
#5 E-Commerce
Chances are, you’re leaving your house a lot less frequently than you used to in this pandemic.
But with technology, this has been possible — primarily thanks to the magic of eCommerce.
You can buy all your essentials, from soap and shampoo to clothing to furniture. You can even have your groceries delivered to you at your doorstep.
eCommerce has seen rapid, global growth because of COVID-19. Let’s take for example, in Brazil, online sales rose 66% in 2020.
Brazil is not unique in this respect. eCommerce has surged across the world and showing no evidence of slowing down. Even after the pandemic, this market will reach new heights.
Now that we’ve seen the convenience and, of course, the measure of safety — this alternative has over brick-and-mortar shopfronts.
#6 Remote Learning Apps
Online learning is another industry that’s flourishing during Coronavirus-enforced isolation.
Thanks to a widespread transition among businesses offering more WFH options for employees, now many of us will leverage online education platforms well after the Coronavirus pandemic and learn new things.
It’s also fair to expect more usage from employees who have found themselves between jobs due to the crisis, and are looking to pick up new skills.
Learning apps are quite beneficial for school goings kids too. Now sitting at home they can study online using these learning apps and continue with their studies even in the lockdown period.
#7 Collaboration Technology
Since the arrival of Coronavirus, shares in Zoom, a video conferencing app, have leaped over 120 percent.
As global lockdown measures have forced the world to work from home (WFH), remote collaboration tools such as Zoom, google-meet, hangouts, Microsoft teams, have experienced a profound rise in popularity.
Given the circumstances, some may say that the collaborative technology industry is experiencing a bubble that will inevitably burst once governments allow workers to return to their offices.
However, for many app development companies, the pandemic has acted as a large-scale road test for WFH readiness which, by far has proved that a transition towards more remote work is possible.
It’s reasonable to expect more businesses to embrace technology to enable WFH (Work from home) initiatives after the virus. Collaboration technology is undoubtedly set to flourish over the coming years.
Final thoughts
This new world allows no time for complacency or nostalgia. Because of the pandemic, there is no going back to what used to pass as normal.
The opportunities to enhance the quality of human life lie in the countless, innovative emerging technologies.
Emerging technologies are on their never-ending journey as with time, it’s only going to be more innovative. And we as humans should embrace this modern change with open arms.