As the ongoing pandemic has exposed the loopholes in the system, tech giants across the world are bracing themselves up to face any such pandemic in the future, informs Joydev. An exclusive for Different Truths.
The ongoing pandemic has added some words like quarantine, contact-tracing, lockdown, etc into our day-to-day conversation. It is aptly said, ‘with crises, comes opportunity’, and we can see how these words are getting synced in our vocabulary. Technology, on the other hand, has been put into various instrumental uses during the pandemic. From contact tracing apps to contactless treatment and deliveries, technology has become handy in fighting the coronavirus. Now, as the ongoing pandemic has exposed the loopholes in the system, tech giants across the world are bracing themselves up to face any such pandemic in the future.
It is aptly said, ‘with crises, comes opportunity’, and we can see how these words are getting synced in our vocabulary. Technology, on the other hand, has been put into various instrumental uses during the pandemic. From contact tracing apps to contactless treatment and deliveries, technology has become handy in fighting the coronavirus.
Airports and other public places may see facial recognition systems to make entry and check-in contactless. Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems may play an influential role by alerting mobile users personally and also connecting the healthcare industry. AI may also help the government checking the geographical densities of the cases if any such symptoms are recorded. And based on that, it may alert the Governments that a pandemic is on the way and there is a need to lock down the country or any specific region. Deliveries of goods and essential supplies can be carried out through driverless cars and drones. AI can also keep a constant track of the pandemic curve and keeping all micro and macro level records, thus enabling Governments to make decisions based on them. Internet of Things (IoT), another significant technology, has the potential to give real-time information on the status and supplies of goods, movements of humans, etc.
Most tech companies have already started exploring all of the above steps. It is said that one needs a trigger to start something new, and once any technology gets its way, it surely steps in. For example, after the incident of 9/11, the surveillance system became a state of reality. Similarly, the Covid-19 crisis will also bring some notable changes in the due course of time, and any innovation in this sector may be globally practised after a successful trial. For example, if a tech company comes up with Bluetooth enabled transparent hygienic mask, which may become compulsory at all public places like airports, train-bus stations, and other places of large gatherings.
PC: wired.com
If we talk about some must-have apps today like Whatsapp, Instagram, and some well-known brands like Uber, Ola, Pinterest, Xiaomi were only launched after the financial crisis of 2007-08. In the same way, the current crisis may see a number of tech startups trying their hands into healthcare, AI, contact tracing, and government tracing. In a similar crisis, after World War II, cryptography, CDMA, computing, jet planes, nuclear energy, and rocketry including NASA, GPS, & Satellite TVs came into existence.
If we talk about some must-have apps today like Whatsapp, Instagram, and some well-known brands like Uber, Ola, Pinterest, Xiaomi were only launched after the financial crisis of 2007-08. In the same way, the current crisis may see a number of tech startups trying their hands into healthcare, AI, contact tracing, and government tracing. In a similar crisis, after World War II, cryptography, CDMA, computing, jet planes, nuclear energy, and rocketry including NASA, GPS, & Satellite TVs came into existence. Besides creating havoc, every global tragedy leaves a positive impact behind, and that leads to technology acceleration among others. It will be interesting to see what tech companies offer, post the ongoing pandemic, i.e., by 2021-22. Neither the stock market will act differently from what it has acted post the previous tragedies and pandemics. It has always come stronger after recessions.
Joydev Majumdar completed his Masters in Journalism and Mass Communication from Central University of Orissa and is working as Technology News Writer in CIO Review Magazine. He has also worked with a UK based company as Language Consultant on a project. He completed his graduation from the Steel City, Rourkela. Settled in Bangalore, he loves travelling, reading books, interacting, writing poems and stories. Has passion for photography and writes for theatre too.
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The ongoing pandemic has added some words like quarantine, contact-tracing, lockdown, etc into our day-to-day conversation. It is aptly said, ‘with crises, comes opportunity’, and we can see how these words are getting synced in our vocabulary. Technology, on the other hand, has been put into various instrumental uses during the pandemic. From contact tracing apps to contactless treatment and deliveries, technology has become handy in fighting the coronavirus. Now, as the ongoing pandemic has exposed the loopholes in the system, tech giants across the world are bracing themselves up to face any such pandemic in the future.
