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How the Pandemic Has Changed Our Relationship With Technology

From virtual theater to smartphone-driven distress, covid-19 is changing the digital landscape for what appears to be both better and worse..

When the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in the spring of 2020, Americans became more isolated than ever. Suddenly work, social events and live entertainment migrated from the realm world onto digital platforms. Between social media, video calls and entertainment, people around the world began to spend a staggering amount of their waking lives in front of screens.

While the deleterious effects of compulsive technology use are often cited, the same platforms have also allowed many people to stay social, stimulated and productive while stuck at home. In a 2021 Pew Research Center survey , 90 percent of Americans said that the internet has been important or essential to them during the pandemic. A majority of respondents said video calls had helped them stay connected with friends and family. 

Even after the initial wave of COVID-19 waned, Americans continued to use the internet at unprecedented rates. In a second Pew study from last year, nearly half of respondents between 18 and 29 years old reported using the internet “almost constantly.” 

So after two years of excessive screen time, how has our collective internet obsession actually affected our health?

Problematic Use

Long before COVID-19, scientists had already recognized the serious impacts of technology misuse. “Going back 15 years ago, we found that problematic use of the internet was associated with a number of negative health outcomes,” says Marc Potenza, a psychiatrist at Yale Medical School.

In 2019, the World Health Organization adopted the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). It included two emerging disorders that stem from compulsive online behaviors: internet gaming disorder and gambling disorder (predominantly online). Experts argue that online shopping, pornography and social media may cause addictive disorders as well. “During the onset of the pandemic, there seemed to be increases in online engagement for all of these behaviors," Potenza adds.

Currently, there isn’t enough data to make any sweeping generalizations about how the pandemic has affected internet addictions. But the anecdotal evidence is alarming: In the week following the WHO’s official declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic, the website PornHub experienced an 11.6 percent rise in traffic worldwide, with a particular increase in use in the wee hours of the morning. “It suggests that there might have been an increase in insomnia and disregulated pornography viewing,” Potenza speculates.

Addiction Versus High-Frequency Use

A long-term study that analyzed problematic gaming and smartphone use in Chinese schoolchildren hints at a more complex story. While compulsive gaming was associated with psychological distress pre-pandemic, the two were not correlated after the onset of COVID-19. The results, published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine last March, support a preliminary theory that gaming might actually provide an avenue to cope with loneliness and emotional stress during periods of isolation. 

Interestingly, the same research noted that problematic smartphone use was increasingly associated with psychological distress after the onset of the pandemic. This result points towards another theory — that social media can exacerbate COVID-19 anxiety . This effect, coupled with the well-documented link between social media and depression, may have led to the outcomes observed in the study.

Overall, the pandemic has highlighted the importance of discerning frequent internet use from addictive behaviors. While many people use the internet extensively during their waking hours, only a small percentage experience the pitfalls of addiction. “For a disorder to be present there needs to be some sort of impairment in a major area of life functioning,” Potenza says. “It’s important to try to disentangle high-frequency use from unhealthy and problematic use.”

Silver Linings

Despite the downfalls of isolation, crises can also inspire creativity. For example, the pandemic spurred a virtual reality boom in the art world.

This technology came in handy in March 2020, when England’s Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) was in the early stages of a production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” As the pandemic shuttered venues across the U.K., they were forced to quickly find ways to adapt. The company worked feverishly with partners in tech to create a prototypical VR theater production. Though the complexity of Shakespeare’s original story was boiled down to an eight-person cast and a single narrative strand, the result was highly immersive. “We had to find a way to embody this narrative,” says Sarah Ellis, RSC’s director of digital development 

In the final production, the actors' movements and speech were tracked and projected into a virtual forest. Audience members entered the fictional realm as fireflies and buzzed around the Shakespearean sprites’ heads as they propelled the story to an inevitable conclusion.

The performance reached the widest audience of any RSC production to date. The 65,000 attendees hailed from 92 countries and 76 percent of them were at their first-ever RSC production. Ellis was elated. “We often talk about new audiences, but we don’t talk about new content,” she says. “It was amazing to see the younger generation show up.”

While COVID-19 has stuck around for nearly two years, the broader impacts on our collective habits, mental health and culture remain unclear. But it is evident that the pandemic changed our relationship to technology — for better and worse.

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• 1. How the internet and technology shaped Americans’ personal experiences amid COVID-19

Table of Contents

• 2. Parents, their children and school during the pandemic
• 3. Navigating technological challenges
• 4. The role of technology in COVID-19 vaccine registration
• Acknowledgments
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As the pandemic unfolded in spring 2020, many Americans saw their lives swiftly reshaped by  stay-at-home orders , school closures  and the onset of  remote work . From video calls with  isolating or sick family members  to  holiday celebrations by video call  amid  canceled travel plans , social distancing recommendations altered major life events and elements of daily life alike. 

Technology bridged physical distance as restrictions continued.  Religious services ,  doctor appointments  and  essential errands  moved online. At the same time, organizations implementing remote work and Americans spending more time online worried about “ Zoom fatigue ” and tech burnout.

Relationships also evolved during this uprooting of typical routines. Pandemic “pods” helped some Americans  maintain connection , but they  complicated relationships  and family dynamics at the same time. In some cases, friendships  relied on technology  to stay afloat. And others needed to find new ways to connect amid  growing isolation . 

With this broader societal context in mind, this chapter explores the ways in which Americans’ lives changed in the pandemic – and the ways that technology was a part of several transitions. Results from the April 2021 Pew Research Center survey show that even as a majority of Americans considered the internet essential to them personally during the pandemic and four-in-ten used tech in new ways, some feel worn out or fatigued from video calls and a quarter feel less close to close family members than before the coronavirus outbreak. The following sections explore these findings. 

58% of adults say the internet has been essential during the pandemic, and for some groups, its importance grew over the past year

The share of Americans who describe the internet as essential for them during the pandemic has risen slightly over the past year. As of April 2021, 58% of U.S. adults say this,  compared with 53%  in an April 2020 Center survey. 

Americans varied in their reliance on the internet and some of the key differences relate to age, race and ethnicity, educational attainment, income and community type. For example, roughly seven-in-ten adults ages 18 to 49 (69%) say the internet has been essential to them personally, compared with half of those ages 50 to 64 and about four-in-ten Americans 65 and older. 

Additionally, about six-in-ten of those living in urban or suburban areas (61% each) say the internet has been essential to them, compared with a smaller share of those living in rural locales (48%) who say the same. While at least half of adults across major racial and ethnic groups say this connectivity has been essential, Hispanic adults (65%) are more likely to say so than White adults (54%). Some 58% of Black Americans say the internet has been essential in this way.

Several of the groups that are less likely to say the internet has been essential also have lower rates of home broadband adoption and smartphone access, according to  other Center research . For example,  digital divides have persisted  in recent years even as Americans with lower incomes have made gains in tech adoption. And as of 2021, a quarter of U.S. adults 65 and older  say they do not use the internet .

For some groups, the importance of the internet has grown over the past year – especially when it comes to age and educational attainment. The share of adults ages 18 to 29 who say it has been essential during the pandemic rose 10 percentage points between April 2020 and April 2021. Similarly, roughly four-in-ten adults 65 and older (38%) now say the internet has been essential to them, compared with about three-in-ten who said so in April 2020. 

Americans with higher levels of educational attainment are more likely today than a year ago to say the internet has been essential to them during the pandemic. For example, 71% of those with a bachelor’s or advanced degree say this, up from 65% in 2020. This uptick also appears for those with some college experience, while sentiments among those with a high school education or less have remained stable.

Looking at older Americans specifically, adults ages 65 and older with a bachelor’s degree or more education are more likely now to say the internet has been essential to them personally (50% say so) compared with a year ago (39%) – an 11 percentage point increase. By contrast, among those 65 and older who have less education, the shares saying it has been essential are similar between the two time points (27% in 2020 and 32% in 2021). 

Adults ages 50 to 64 with a bachelor’s or advanced degree are also more likely now to say the internet has been personally essential (a 7-point increase since 2020), while there has been no change for those in that age group with less formal education.

81% of Americans have used video calling and conferencing during the pandemic

As Americans increasingly lived their lives from home, video calling and conferencing platforms became a venue for everything from  celebrating holidays with family and friends  to conducting remote meetings or  visiting doctors . 

Roughly eight-in-ten Americans (81%) say they have talked with others via video calls since the beginning of the pandemic. One-in-five have done so about once a day or more often, including 12% who say they are on video calls several times a day. Another three-in-ten have done this about once a week (12%) or a few times a week (18%), and a similar share use video calls every few weeks (16%) or less often (15%).

While there are  many ways  people can spend their time on video calls, the survey finds that working from home is particularly associated with this type of screen time. 

In this survey, 17% of Americans say they were employed full or part time and working from home all or most of the time as of April. 7 Among them, 46% say they have used video calling about daily or several times a day during the pandemic. Another 12% of the full adult population was employed full or part time and working from home some of the time or rarely at the time of the survey. Among that group, 28% say they have used video calling about daily or more. And among the 28% of U.S. adults who were working but never from home, 13% say they are on daily or more frequent video calls. 

Aside from work-from-home status, how often people use video calls varies by several other demographics. Black and Hispanic adults are more likely to have used video calling than White adults. Hispanic adults are more likely than White Americans to have done so several times a day or about daily. Meanwhile, while about two-thirds of adults 65 and older have made video calls in the pandemic,  daily  use is more common among younger adults. About a quarter of those 18 to 29 (28%) and 30 to 49 (26%) say they have done this about daily or more often, compared with 16% of those 50 to 64 and 7% of adults 65 and older. 

Frequency of video calling varies by education as well. About a third of adults with at least a bachelor’s degree say they have done this at least once a day, compared with smaller shares of those with less formal education.

In their own words, Americans describe how they have used technology or the internet in new or different ways during the pandemic 

As the severity of the pandemic grew, some Americans were faced with performing everything from their social interactions to their work or schooling online. Four-in-ten Americans say they used digital technology or the internet in new or different ways compared with before the outbreak began. Still, an even larger share – 59% – say their tech use has not changed in this way.

As is the case with  digital divides in internet use  and  tech adoption  in general, those with more formal education and higher incomes are more likely to have had new or different experiences with tech in the pandemic. For example, 56% of those with at least a bachelor’s degree say they have used technology in ways new or different to them, compared with 37% of those with some college experience and 29% of those with a high school diploma or less. Similarly, 46% of those with higher household incomes say so, compared with a smaller share of those with lower (38%) or middle incomes (40%).

Women are also more likely than men to say they have used digital technology or the internet in new and different ways (43% vs. 36%), as are adults under 50 (46%) compared with those who are 50 and older (33%). 

When asked to describe what these new and different ways are, 43% mention encountering at least one form of video calls or conferences new to them in the pandemic. From weddings to funerals, church meetings to calls with family, some of these adults report their lives moved largely onto video platforms:

“We now hold bi-weekly family meetings on Zoom to make sure we are all doing okay. Before we just had individual phone calls with family members. We used Vimeo for my mother’s funeral so people could watch her funeral mass. She died of COVID-19. I used Zoom for work meetings.” – Woman, 57

“[I have had] Zoom meetings [and] Microsoft Teams meetings. [I’ve had] increased FaceTime family meetings. [I had] job interviews via the internet.” – Man, 46

“[I have been] teaching writing classes over Zoom [and I] dated someone over FaceTime for 3 months. [I] attended various online events.” – Woman, 24

While about a quarter of Americans who have used tech in new ways mention video calls generally, roughly one-in-ten (8%) referenced the remote work aspect of video conferencing specifically:

“Most of my work-related meetings are no longer in-person, but on Zoom or Teams. Instead of attending professional conferences in person, all of them are now virtual meetings. It took a bit to get comfortable with such drastic change.” – Man, 63

A similar share (8%) talk about using video calling to connect with family and friends, or attend social events or “video holidays”:

“It has opened me up to using video chat to connect with physically distanced friends. I have people that I used to only see on Facebook or in person two times a year but now we do a group video chat once a month and I am closer to them than ever.” – Woman, 39

Smaller shares discuss the move to online learning and the use of video platforms (5%) or using video calls for telehealth (4%):

“[I] had to learn how to use Google Classroom to help my son with his hybrid learning. I also did my first tele-visit with my GP doctor and I am disabled so it turns out I’ll be able to continue to use that technology once the pandemic is over to make it easier! … Not to mention, I’ve attended various social gatherings that, due to my disability, I wouldn’t have been able to attend under normal circumstances!” – Man, 28

Aside from video calls, 16% of Americans said they have used technology or the internet to obtain groceries, food or other essentials, or to perform services like banking or document signing:

“Shopping (especially groceries and home supplies) online through various different places, permanently eliminating the need to physically go to the grocery store for most shopping activities.” – Man, 42

“Ordering groceries, ordering tags for my car, doctor’s appointments, paying insurance premiums, paying bills and keeping in touch with family and friends.” – Woman, 78

In addition to those who mention remote work and online learning in the context of video calls, another 13% mention using technology in new ways for remote work and another 7% for online learning:

“Before the outbreak, I was the typical pen and paper type of middle school math teacher. After the outbreak, I have become a much more proficient virtual math teacher who has embraced many new platforms [that] have made my job easier. I have recently become fully vaccinated and returned to the brick and mortar school environment, but will maintain many of the new skills which I learned virtually.” – Man, 62

“We needed to get the internet for our granddaughter to be able to get her education while she’s home during the pandemic.” – Woman, 53

Others specifically note how they are now relying on the strength or quality of their connection in a new way:

“I upgraded my internet (was just using a hotspot previously) and for my work, I am connected all day through the workday. If the internet goes down, my ability to work at home decreases significantly. Before the work from home started, if I lost the ability to connect to the internet, it only affected me in terms of annoyance at not being able to surf the net.” – Woman, 50

Finally, other Americans have used social media and other technology for entertainment (7%), to keep up social interaction, especially on social media (5%), to find and search for information (4%), or attend online religious services or activities (3%). And their use of these digital technologies has sometimes changed over the course of the pandemic.

“I never really used Twitter before. Now I follow some important public health figures and medical doctors who are working for the CDC, etc., so I can be informed on what is going on with COVID-19 and treatment options.” – Woman, 53

“Pre-COVID-19 and even well into the pandemic, I was using the internet/my smartphone to spend countless hours on social media. Somewhere in there I deleted most of the social media apps from my phone and have been using it to read e-books and plan creative projects, mostly home improvements.” – Woman, 34

“I now attend church services online rather than in person, which I had not done before the outbreak.” – Man, 36

68% of Americans say digital interactions have been useful – but not a replacement for in-person connection

In late March 2020, as stay-at home orders upended American life, a  Center survey  asked U.S. adults to speculate on whether digital interactions – that is, everyday interactions that might have to be done online or by telephone because of recommended limits on social contact during the coronavirus outbreak – would be suitable replacement for in-person contact. At the time, about a quarter of Americans said digital encounters would be just as good (27%), and 8% believed that they wouldn’t be of much help. Some 64% said they would be useful, but not a replacement.

In this new survey, Americans were asked to assess how digital encounters used to replace social contact have actually gone. When asked to think about everyday interactions that happened online or by telephone rather than in person, 17% say that these have been just as good as in-person contact. In line with Americans’ own expectations a year ago, the majority of Americans – 68% – say that interactions that have moved online or to the phone have been useful, but not a replacement for in-person. Some 15% say these interactions haven’t been of much use. 

Considering the more recent findings about people’s experiences, relatively small shares across demographic groups say these types of digital interactions have been just as good as in-person contact. Still, there are some small differences by race and ethnicity, age and formal educational attainment in this respect. Adults ages 18 to 29 were more skeptical than older adults in March 2020 – 21% said these interactions would be just as good as in-person contact, compared with a somewhat larger share (29%) of Americans 65 and older. In the new survey, some 23% of adults ages 18 to 29 say these interactions have been just as good as in-person contact, while a  smaller  share (12%) of those 65 and older who feel this way about the utility of their digital interactions. 

In March 2020, Black adults were more likely than White adults to think digital interactions would be just as good as in-person contact. Black and Hispanic adults are also more likely than White adults to say these interactions have been just as good in the new survey. At the same time, about another quarter of Black adults say that these digital interactions have not been of much use. Smaller shares of White and Hispanic adults say the same.

Both then and now, how useful Americans say these interactions have been also varies by educational attainment.

A quarter of Americans feel less close to close family members than before pandemic; about four-in-ten say the same about friends they know well

Some accounts of the pandemic  have lamented the potential loss of casual friendships and acquaintances as COVID-19 narrowed people’s social circles and family structures into smaller  bubbles . At the same time, some  living with friends or family members  may have faced increased time spent together as stay-at-home orders were imposed to combat COVID-19. Others  living alone  faced possible challenges of staying in touch with those close to them.

The new survey reveals that some people feel their social relationships and their connections to those in their personal networks have been in flux during the pandemic. About half of Americans (53%) say they feel less close to casual acquaintances compared with before the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak in February 2020. Some 38% say the same about friends they know well. And a quarter of Americans say they now feel less close to close family members.

At the same time, about one fifth of adults (22%) say they feel  more close  to close family members than they did before the pandemic. Smaller shares say this about friends they know well and casual acquaintances. 

And despite the pandemic upheaval, about half say their relationships with close family members (53%) and friends they know well (47%) have stayed about as close as before, while roughly four-in-ten (41%) say this about casual acquaintances. 

Some groups are more likely to report change in the closeness of their relationships than others. Hispanic and Black adults are less likely than White adults to say the closeness of their relationships with close family and friends has stayed about the same compared with before the beginning of the pandemic. 

When it comes to close family members, similar shares of Hispanic adults say these relationships feel closer than before (30%) and less close than before (31%). Compared with White adults, they are also more likely to say they feel closer to close family, and friends they know well.

Americans with lower incomes are also more likely than others to say they feel less close to close family members compared with before the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak. About three-in-ten of those with lower incomes say so. At the same time, a fifth of Americans with lower incomes say they feel more close to close family, and 48% say they feel about as close to these family members as before the pandemic.

There is little difference in how Americans in various age groups describe the pandemic’s impact on closeness of their family relationships. But when it comes to friends they know well, young adults ages 18 to 29 are more likely to say they now feel closer to these friends than those in any other age group. Still, only about a fifth (22%) of young adults say so.

Finally, small shares of adults across gender, racial and ethnic, age and income groups say they feel closer to casual acquaintances than they did before – no more than about one-in-ten across any of these groups. In each case, far larger shares say they feel less close now.

Women are slightly more likely than men to say they feel less close to acquaintances, as are Americans with lower incomes compared with those in the upper-income tier. Those who live in urban (57%) or suburban (54%) areas are more likely to say their relationships with casual acquaintances are less close now, compared with those who live in rural areas (46%).

Majorities say texts or group messaging apps, voice and video calls have helped them at least a little to stay connected to family and friends

For some, technology became a way to stay in touch with others whom they could not visit in person since the pandemic began. About seven-in-ten Americans say text messages or group messaging apps have helped them personally to stay connected with their family and friends at least a little. Roughly six-in-ten or more say the same about voice (65%) and video calls (59%). Smaller shares say this about social media sites or email.

Americans’ reliance on technology early in the pandemic was apparent in several ways, from  using technology to communicate with others  to  hosting virtual gatherings . Over a year into the pandemic, results from the new survey show that key communications platforms have been more likely to be helpful for some groups than others. 

For each of the five technologies asked about in the survey, Black and Hispanic adults are more likely than White adults to say these technologies have helped them a lot to stay connected. For example, 58% of Hispanic adults say that text messages or group messaging apps have helped them a lot, personally, to stay connected with their family and friends. Some 49% of Black adults and a smaller share (39%) of White adults say the same. Voice calls have helped about half of Black and Hispanic adults a lot to stay in touch, compared with a third of White adults. Similar patterns hold for video calls, social media sites and email.

There are also differences by gender, with women being more likely than men to say that each of these technologies have helped them a lot to stay connected to friends and family.

Adults ages 18 to 29 are more likely than those 65 and older to say video calls and social media sites have helped a lot in staying connected with family and friends.

The reverse is true for email: Some 28% of Americans 65 and older say that this has helped them a lot to stay in touch, compared with smaller shares of younger Americans. Those 65 and older are also more likely than those 30 to 64 to say voice calls have helped a lot. 

Other technologies – for example, text messages or group messaging apps – have been similarly helpful for Americans across age groups. Across age groups, four-in-ten or more Americans say these have helped a lot with staying in touch. 

36% of Americans say their personal lives changed in a major way

As context for this exploration of how people’s technology use and experiences were affected by the pandemic, the survey also asked Americans about the overall impact of the pandemic on their personal lives.

Some 36% of Americans say their own personal life has changed in a major way as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. Another 47% say their personal life has changed, but only a little bit. And 16% say that it has stayed about the same as it was before the outbreak. 

Women are somewhat more likely than men to say life has changed in a major way (39% vs. 33%), as are those with a bachelor’s or advanced degree (40%) compared with those with some college (35%) or a high school diploma or less formal education (34%). And Americans living in urban (41%) and suburban areas (37%) are more likely to say this than those living in rural areas (30%).

About half of those who say their personal lives have changed in a major way (52%) say they have used technology in new ways during the pandemic, compared with 38% of those who say their personal lives have changed a little bit and 19% of those who say life stayed about the same. At the same time, roughly seven-in-ten Americans reporting major changes in life (73%) or with more modest levels of change (69%) say digital interactions have been useful, but not a replacement for in-person interactions, compared with a smaller share among those who say their personal lives stayed about the same (52%). 

Those who say their lives stayed about the same are also more likely than others to say interactions they have had online or by phone instead of in person haven’t been of much use: 26% of these adults think these virtual interactions haven’t been useful, compared with smaller shares of those who say their personal lives changed a little bit (14%) or in a major way (11%).

At the same time, those who say their lives have changed in a major way are more likely to say each of the five technologies asked about in the survey helped a lot to keep them connected, compared with those who say their lives have changed a little or stayed about the same.

Among those who said their personal lives have changed in a major way, the shares who say text messages or group messaging apps, video calls or voice calls have helped a lot are roughly 20 points higher compared with those who say their lives stayed about the same. About half or more of those who say their personal lives have changed in a major way say text messages or group messaging apps (55%) or voice calls (49%) helped them a lot to stay connected with family and friends, and 40% say the same about video calls. 

Those who say their lives have changed in a major way are also more likely to say they now feel less close to close family members (35%) than those whose lives changed only a little (22%) or stayed about the same (9%). And about half (53%) of those with major change in this aspect of their life say their relationships with friends they know well are now less close.

The diminishing closeness of casual relationships is especially prominent for those whose personal lives COVID-19 changed profoundly – roughly seven-in-ten (69%) of adults with major change say that they now generally feel less close to casual acquaintances. By comparison, about a quarter (26%) of those whose personal lives stayed about the same say they feel less close to these acquaintances now.

40% of those who have used video calling during the pandemic feel worn out from such calls at least sometimes

As some Americans intensified their tech use and tried new online activities, there was a possibility that some might become “worn out” by this screen time – leading to a phenomenon commonly known as “Zoom fatigue” in the context of  personal  and  work-related  video calls. Some  accounts of the pandemic  also raised the question of whether Americans would try to purposefully “unplug” or otherwise manage their screen time, as many children and adults alike spent more time on their devices. 

Overall, among those who have used video calling during the pandemic, four-in-ten say they have often (13%) or sometimes (27%) felt worn out or fatigued from spending time on these calls. Looking at the population overall, one-third of all adults say that they feel worn out or fatigued from video calls often (11%) or sometimes (22%).

Reported fatigue increases with greater time spent on video calls. Fully 74% of those who have used video calling several times a day during the pandemic say this is the case at least sometimes, including 36% who say they feel worn out or fatigued often. About half or more of those who are on calls less often than this, but at least a few times a week, say the same. 

But even a portion of those who rarely use video calling report fatigue. About a quarter of those who have talked with others via video calls only every few weeks during the pandemic say they feel worn out at least sometimes.

The new survey shows that among those who’ve made video calls in the pandemic, there are differences in reported video call fatigue by age, formal educational attainment, and work-from-home status.

Among those who have made video calls, about six-in-ten of those ages 18 to 29 say they feel worn out or fatigued from these calls at least sometimes. By comparison, 21% of those 65 and older say so. And about half of those with a bachelor’s or advanced degree report feeling this way at least sometimes, compared with 31% of those with a high school diploma or less.

Among pandemic video call users who work from home all or most of the time, some 65% say they feel worn out or fatigued at least sometimes from the time they spend on video calls. (A  separate Center study  conducted in October 2020 that used a different definition of remote work and call fatigue found that about four-in-ten teleworkers who used video conferencing often were worn out by the time spent on them, compared with 63% of that group who said they were generally fine with the amount of time spent on video calls.)

As many daily activities moved online, Americans’ reactions to increased screen time were not just limited to issues related to video calling. A third of adults also say in this survey that they have tried to cut back on the amount of time they were spending with screens – specifically on the internet or their smartphone – since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak. 

Fully 49% of adults ages 18 to 29 have tried to cut back on their screen time, compared with roughly four-in-ten of those ages 30 to 49. Smaller but notable shares of those 50 to 64 (27%) and 65 and older (19%) say they’ve tried cutting down. 

And Americans who use social media are more likely to say they’ve tried to cut back on screen time than those who don’t – an 8 percentage point gap.

Screen time issues also became  paramount for families and children  during the pandemic. The  next chapter  of this report discusses parents’ views on their children’s screen time, alongside other findings on the experiences of parents and children during the pandemic.

• In October 2020, a  separate Center study  also asked about work and video calling. The estimates in this report should not be interpreted as changing over time due to the different sets of individuals asked the question in the two surveys and because the questions in each survey had different wording. ↩

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The Surprising Role of Digital Technology During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Many of us were already using our phones for the majority of our waking hours, but during the current shelter-in-place-measures, digital technology has become more important than ever.

Now that we are unable to engage in face-to-face contact, remote communication through our personal digital devices, such as our smartphones, is essential for staying connected with friends, family and co-workers.

I would like to highlight three other ways that our digital devices could have a tremendous influence during this pandemic, but also discuss the challenges and the important role of data science herein.

1. Mental health apps might help to decrease anxiety and stress

The widespread media coverage on COVID-19, combined with social distancing measures, can make us feel anxious and stressed. There are smartphone apps backed up by research that can help people to cope with this difficult time. Therefore, it is critical that we take advantage of the digital tools at our disposal.

Multiple meditation and wellness apps designed by the private sector have now opened up free memberships to aid in easing anxiety. One example is Headspace, which has recently provided a collection of meditation and mindfulness content, specifically for COVID-19. You can find some more examples here

One caveat of these health and wellness apps is that many people download them, but most use them only for a short period of time. This may be because many apps are not personalized and engaging enough, leading to their users quickly losing interest. We may be able to use data science to improve these apps. For example, machine learning algorithms can deploy user data to create recommendation engines that predict user behavior and optimize the content of these apps. This is a great challenge in mobile health that needs significant work, but has tremendous potential. 

2. Apps can allow us to track COVID-19 symptoms and other measures of health

Multiple governments, universities and companies have ferociously been working on apps that allow people to track their COVID-19 symptoms and other health information, and receive updates on who in their surroundings has contracted the virus. For example a COVID symptom tracker has already been downloaded by 75,000 people in the UK, and was made available in the US recently. This will eventually give researchers a gigantic dataset, to assess why COVID-19 symptoms vary so widely across people, and potentially identify where outbreaks are starting. Further, scientists at the University of Oxford have rolled out an app that allows people to trace who they have been in contact with, and warns people if any of their contacts has been tested positive for the corona virus so that they can decide to self-isolate.

Because smartphones save information about a user's location through their GPS history, many have argued that the widespread use of smartphones provides a unique opportunity for more effective contact tracing. In the U.S., the government is discussing the possibility of using GPS and movement data from Americans’ smartphones with the help of big tech companies to combat the coronavirus. 

However, the use of these apps is not without significant risks: critics say that this could lead to increased government surveillance even after the pandemic is over, at the cost of the public’s privacy. Ideally, this data should be encrypted and not be shared with third parties, but questions have been raised by privacy experts on how governments save and use this data. Thus, there is an important need for dialogue about the ethics of contact tracing by smartphones, and there is a crucial role for cybersecurity experts to weigh-in during this pandemic. Finally, for these apps to be effective in the first place, enough people need to use them. 

3. Mobile apps could help to distribute reliable information

Recently, in the United Kingdom, the National Health Service (NHS; the publicly funded healthcare system) started  working with tech companies to provide the public with accurate information about COVID-19. Further, Singapore has been utilizing websites and social messaging platforms on a daily basis to keep the population informed and advised about what to do to reduce the risk of infection. Similarly, doctors and health institutions could make use of social media and text-messaging to provide accurate information to their patients and the public.

However, social media platforms are notorious for spreading misinformation and ‘fake news’. Large social media platforms are reportedly taking steps to remove false content or conspiracy theories about the pandemic using artificial intelligence, and distribute reliable information, such as developed by the World Health Organization. However, because of the overload of information on social media, that misinformation might spread too fast for these algorithms. After all, false news may spread more rapidly than factual information on social media platforms. 

In conclusion, our personal digital devices, combined with rigorous data science, are of crucial importance during this COVID-19 pandemic. Though potentially revolutionary, the way that digital technology can be used during this pandemic also comes with many challenges and risks. Thus, we must be critical and think about how we can ensure that this technology will truly benefit our society in this time of crisis.

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Role of technology in COVID-19 pandemic

Novel Corona Virus is the most recent pandemic, which has struck more than 210 countries and territories all over the world placing states in a perilous position. Enormous research are being done on the virus detection, providing treatments to relief symptoms and developing its vaccine, which, according to an estimate, might take one to two more years. Therefore, WHO has laid stress upon the governments worldwide to guarantee competent surveillance and identification of infected individuals to control severity of COVID-19 pandemic effects. Latest technologies, such as IoMT, drones, robots, UVs, GPS, and Bluetooth, can play a primary role in such circumstances to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 outbreak. Therefore, our study highlights numerous technological solutions, which are of great help in controlling disease spread and facing challenges caused by it.

5.1. Introduction

Pandemics leave a tremendous effect in our lives both socially and economically. Over the past hundred years, world has seen quite some deadly pandemics. Although, COVID-19 is the newest of its kind but relating to the past pandemics and how people benefited at that time by technology can be a great guide in current scenario. A few successful solutions deployed in past pandemics are discussed in this chapter.

Examining the technology and related systems that are helpful in the disease identification, limiting disease spread, and disease prevention is of paramount importance. Different new age technologies can be adopted by the government as an initial response strategy. This chapter mainly focuses on the use of the Internet of Things (IoT), Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), and other smart emerging technologies like drones, robots, autonomous vehicles (AVs), Bluetooth, and global positioning system (GPS), which can be helpful in handling this pandemic.

IoT is a promising technology of interconnected computing devices, transmitting data over the network without any human intervention. In the recent times, IoMT has captivated major attention from the field of healthcare. It is a blend of medical devices and software applications connected to healthcare IT systems.

In the current critical scenario of nCOVID-19, the most significant issue after the development of vaccine is an efficient way of reachability to the patients. This can be best done by using the concept of IoT.

Drones, robots, and AVs technology not only ensure minimum human interaction but also can be beneficial to access contagious COVID-19 patients. Wearables, making use of the Bluetooth and GPS technology, is another efficient way to monitor individual’s health and their day-to-day stress levels in isolation. Altogether, these technologies can add a consequential share in the new paradigm of Tele Medicine, either for prevention of disease or identification and monitoring of the masses, paramedical staff, symptomatic, and asymptomatic COVID positives during the pandemic.

5.2. Technology and medical science

Medical science and technological innovation go together for a healthier future. Technology has made substantial and revolutionary contributions to the field of medical care, which has eventually helped in extending the life span of people throughout the world. Besides, it has also improved the quality of life by an efficient way of disease diagnosis and treatment. Thermometer, microscope, ophthalmoscope, stethoscope, laryngoscope, and X-ray are among the initial inventions in medical technology. Fig. 5.1 shows how the modernization in medical industry has been grouped [1] .

Modernization of medical industry.

As this chapter mainly focuses on the impact of technology in medical science, the below section describes the evolution of technology in healthcare.

5.2.1. Electrocardiography (EKG)

This technology benefits from the fact that an electric current exists in the heart, which allows it to be monitored with the help of an external device by the physicians. In electrocardiography (EKG), electrodes are attached on the skin externally, which monitors the electrical activity across the thorax. The result is known as an electrocardiogram [2] .

5.2.2. X-ray

A German professor of Physics, Wilhelm Roentgen discovered a radiation, which could penetrate solid objects with a low density, and the resulting process could be seen on a fluorescent screen and recorded on a photographic film. This discovery aided the physicians to see the inside of human body and facilitate the process of disease diagnosis [3] .

5.2.3. Ultrasound

An ultrasound yields the pictures of the inside body. It makes use of high-frequency sound waves. As ultrasound images are taken in real time, they can show the structure and movement of the organs.

This technology uses magnetic field and radio waves to picturize organs inside the body ensuring minimum damage. It is being used extensively for the detection of neurologic and musculoskeletal disorders and for the examination of cancer patients. MRI is superior to other imaging techniques as it can show problems that could not be seen otherwise [2] .

In the recent times, technological and digital transformations have joined hands together for a healthier future. Some of the latest developments are remote consultations, telemedicine, targeted treatments, and healthcare mobile apps.

5.3. Past pandemics and technology

No doubt, current pandemic has changed the world totally. But unfortunately, a plethora of disease outbreaks and epidemics are observed in the last century. While corona viruses such as SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV have been responsible for a majority of these outbreaks, different types of influenza viruses, such as H1N1, H2N2, and H3N2, have been at the helm of all the four pandemics in the past years. The H1N1 further caused outbreak of two pandemics:

• 1. Spanish Flu of 1918–19
• 2. Swine Flu in 2009–10

While the H2N2 and H3N2 influenza viruses have been responsible for the Asian Flu of 1957–58, and the Hong Kong Flu of 1968–69, respectively [4] ( Fig. 5.2 )

A view of past pandemics.

Pandemics can cause serious threats locally and globally if not handled in time and wisely. Intensity of hazardous effects by pandemics varies among regions, proportional to the factor of population density. Disease outbreaks of avian flu, Asian flu, and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) were raised from densely populated Asian-Pacific region. According to data collected from 2003 outbreak, SARS affected 29 countries, resulting in 8096 infections and 774 deaths [5] .

5.3.1. Simulation models

Then the mobilization among people who are with close contact to each other is next factor that can result in uncontrolled diseases spread. Various simulation models were designed after 2003 SARS pandemic to closely predict different scenarios and disease spread among urban areas. Kwok-Leung Tsui and Zoie Shui-Yee Wong, with their coworkers, developed a simulation model that can evaluate an epidemic scenario influenced by intervention techniques and disease parameters [6] .

5.3.2. Electronic surveillance system

During 1920s, a lot of work was done for the implementation of surveillance system for early detection of disease spread. Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community-Based Epidemics (ESSENCE) is one such example. This surveillance system provides very early warning of unusual health conditions among entries using clinical and nonclinical data or more precisely any syndrome or untraditional health information [7] .

5.3.3. Monitoring online search engines

The seasonal influenza disease’s spread is of major concern in health sector. A new strain of influenza virus for which no immunity among people exists may result in pandemic with millions of fatalities [8] . This is why new versions of the vaccines are developed twice a year, as the influenza virus rapidly changes [9] . A way to do early detection of virus spread was proposed in 2009 by Jeremy Ginsberg and their colleagues. According to their work, early spread detection is possible by monitoring health-seeking behavior in the form of online search engine queries. These queries can reach huge number by millions of users around the world each day. The gathered data are then analyzed to track influenza-like illness in a population with large number of relevant Google search queries. But this approach can be applied in the areas where the population of web searchers is large.

5.4. Use of technology during COVID-19

5.4.1. internet of things (iot) and internet of medical things (iomt).

IoT is also known as the Internet of Everything or the Industrial Internet. It is a new technology paradigm, which comprises a network with machines and devices that can efficiently interact with each other. IoT has gathered major attention from many industries all over the world and is expected to be an integral part of future technology [10] .

IoT is becoming popular for many reasons. The most important reasons being the wide availability of broadband Internet, the reduced cost of hardware, and an enormous amount of people using smartphones, wearables capable of collecting data, and other “smart” products ( Fig. 5.3 ).

IoT in current era.

IoT can possibly affect every single sector of our life. However, the fields that will be significantly affected by this technology include:

• • Manufacturing and production.
• • Health and medicine.
• • Transportation.

This chapter highlights the use IoT in healthcare.

IoMT combines medical devices and applications to connect the information technology systems of healthcare by using various networking technologies. IoMT is making its place in society at a fast pace with a big percentage of global healthcare organizations already making use of it.

IoMT is a smart platform, which makes use of smart sensors, smart devices, and innovative communication protocols in order to examine the biomedical signals and subsequently diagnosing the disease of patients without much human involvement. Figure 5.4 shows a brief architecture of IoMT [11] .

Architecture of IoMT.

IoMT applications

IoMT may find its applications in the following:

• • Remote monitoring of patients.
• • Order tracking for medications.
• • Transmitting the medical information monitored by the wearables to the concerned healthcare professionals [10] .

5.4.1.1. IoMT device classification

IoMT devices can be classified as below:

5.4.1.1.1. Wearables

Wearables are further classified in to two categories:

Fitness wearables.

Clinical grade wearables.

5.4.1.1.2 Remote patient monitoring devices

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) has enabled the physicians to monitor and manage patients in a nontraditional manner. RPM collects the health data from individuals in one location, which can be a patient’s home and then transmits this information electronically to healthcare providers who might be in a different location so that they can make their assessments and provide recommendations [12] .

This approach saves time and provides services while ensuring patient’s comfort. It can be used to send reminders and revised medical plans to patients based on their physical activities. According to IHS (Information Handling Services), more than four million patients will monitor their health conditions remotely by 2020. Some famous examples include remote blood sampling devices, continuous glucose monitoring device, and affordable surgical robots ( Fig. 5.7 ).

Remote patient monitoring architecture.

Smart pills are also known as digital pills, which are equipped with ingestible electronic sensors in order to track patient’s compliance with medication. They contain drug sensors that get activated on coming in contact with stomach acids and then send wireless message to devices like tablets, smartphones, or patches outside the body. Abilify MyCite is a popular example of a smart pill ( Fig. 5.8 ).

Deployment of smart pills [14] .

5.4.1.1.3 Point-of-care devices

Point-of-care devices are diagnostic devices that can be found in doctors’ offices, hospitals, and mostly in patients’ home. They are used to acquire diagnostic results while they are with the patient or close to the patient. Common examples are devices used to test glucose and cholesterol levels, pregnancy testing, oximeter, tests for drugs of abuse, etc. The most prominent advantages of these devices include portability, convenience, and speed ( Fig. 5.9 ).

Point-of-care devices.

5.4.1.2 Internet of Medical Things in COVID-19

The unprecedented outbreak of the novel coronavirus also known as COVID-19 poses a major global challenge. As the treatment of the disease is still under way, an optimal approach will be to find an efficient mechanism of disease diagnosis and management. A healthcare system capitalizing on the IoT can help achieve the utmost goal ( Fig. 5.10 ).

A step-up process chart for using IoT during COVID-19 pandemic.

5.4.1.2.1. Disease diagnosis

The standard testing method being used currently for COVID-19 screening is the reverse real-time PCR assay (rRT-PCR). It is a time-consuming, molecular-based test, which on the average needs 4–6 h to deliver the results. It also requires trained specialists and a well-resourced laboratory. This eventually puts a limit on the number of tests that can be conducted, which is not satisfactory in such critical circumstances. Hence, alternative rapid diagnostic tools are urgently needed.

In such a situation, a promising technique can be the point-of-care (POC) devices that employ lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) technology to detect COVID-19 in human serum. This technology relies on the fact that after the COVID-19 infection, IgG and IgM antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 can be detected in human blood and their levels in the blood can offer an insight into the disease stage and its growth. With an increase in the number of cases worldwide, numerous POC LFIA devices have come to the front as rapid diagnostic tools [15] .

5.4.1.2.2. Disease monitoring

In the current pandemic situation, the number of COVID-19 patients is increasing at an alarming rate, which calls for an efficient monitoring and surveillance system for impactful patient tracing.

IoT can play a vital role during this pandemic in context to contact tracing, cluster identification, and compliance of quarantine.

It is critically important to identify infected individuals in crowded places, which is being done mostly by using infrared thermometers. However, it does not seem to be much efficient as first, thermometer might not cover all the people in crowd and second, it might lead to the spread of virus as it has to be done by a health officer, who is examining many people standing in a queue and anyone among them can be infected. Hence, an alternative technology is required and IoT seems to be promising in this regard [16] .

Following are some useful IoT technologies adapted for effective identification of patients:

• 1. Smart thermometers: Smart thermometers are medical thermometers that can transmit their readings to be collected, stored, and analyzed.These thermometers can be deployed in public areas to screen people with high fevers. As these are mostly linked to some mobile application, it allows them to be immediately transmitted their analysis to concerned establishments. Upon receiving, the establishment assimilates the data and produces maps on daily basis presenting regions facing an upsurge in high fevers in order to allow the authorities to locate potential hotspots.

These battery-operated buttons can be rapidly deployed in facilities of any size. They function to signal quick alerts to the supervisors so that they can be warned of any issues related to cleaning and maintenance as they can be a risk for public safety [17] .

5.4.1.2.3. Disease management

With the rapid spread of COVID-19, the whole world has implemented strict lockdown measures to reduce the spread of disease. According to an estimate, approximately 10 billion people have been self-quarantined at home. On the other hand, essential medical supplies and equipment have been on high demand. In order to seek medical help, the citizens, some of whom can be potential patients, must leave their homes, which contradicts the efforts being done for isolation and quarantine. Also, due to the lack of proper isolation wards, the health community has prompted the patients with minor or suspected symptoms to stay in their homes.

Additionally, the lack of isolation wards and proper medical devices has prompted the medical community to encourage those with mild or suspected symptoms to remain at home. In such critical situation, IoMT can be used as a medical podium not only to aid the affected individuals to get the suitable healthcare facilities at home but also to create an extensive disease management database for governments and healthcare organizations.

Fig. 5.11 shows such a platform where the process of disease management will follow the following sequence of steps:

• • Individuals who are experiencing insignificant symptoms do not have to be in the hospital. Instead, they can acquire the diagnostic and healthcare requirements such as thermometers, masks, gloves, sanitizers, and POC kits used for detecting and monitoring COVID-19 and medications at their homes.
• • Patients can then use the Internet in order to upload their regular health status to the IoMT platform from where their details will be broadcasted to the closest hospitals, Centre for disease control (CDC), and local health agencies.
• • Hospitals can then provide consultations online depending on the health condition of every patient. Subsequently, the CDC and health agencies could assign equipment and places of quarantine, if needed.

Use of IoMT for disease management.

IoMT platform has many advantages. It allows the disease status to be dynamically monitored by the patients and receive their medical requirements without transmitting the disease to others. Such a platform will also be less expensive and will offer more systematic database for efficient monitoring of virus spread [15] .

5.4.2. Drone technology

A drone is an aircraft without a human pilot on board and a type of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). It has a ground-based controller, and a system of communications between the two. There are different ways to operate UAV flights:

• 1. Remote control by a human operator
• 2. Autonomously by onboard computers [18]
• 3. Piloted by an autonomous robot

UAVs in general and drones specifically were originally used for targeted missions that could be dangerous, risky, or trivial for humans. Sometimes, people misunderstand the terms UAV and autonomous drone and wrongfully use them for each other. Yes, many UAVs are automated as clear from its title, that is, they can achieve independent goals but still rely on human operators or some control. However, an autonomous drone itself is a UAV, but can operate without human intervention [19] . To make it clearer, these drones can take off, fly, complete the assigned target, and land completely at their own (autonomously). Hence, we can derive a statement from this discussion that UAV is not always an autonomous drone, but an autonomous drone is a category of UAVs.

So, in autonomous drones, any ground control system or communications management software plays an important role to carry out operations; thus, such drones are also considered part of UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System). To deploy such control, drones also employ host of advanced technologies such as cloud computing, computer vision, artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, and thermal sensors [20] .

The drones are mostly used in military applications, commercial purpose, scientific researches, agricultural field, medical (in current COVID-19 pandemic, which we will discuss in next section), and other applications [21] such as policing and surveillance usually in masses, aerial photography and drone racing as hobby, infrastructure inspections, and smuggling of prohibited goods and drugs ( Fig. 5.12 ).

A modern drone.

5.4.2.1 Versatility in drones

There is further classification of drones depending upon multiple factors; they are as follows:

In this category, the classification of drones is done by the type of wings deployed or how the drone takeoffs, flies, or lands. The main classes differentiated by structural build are multirotor systems and fixed wings system. The third type is hybrid systems, which combine features of both multi-rotor and fizzed systems.

Because of the absence of a pilot, drones always have a certain level of autonomy. An important distinction within the concept of autonomy is the difference between automatic and autonomous systems. In this category, we have different levels of autonomy by which drone is achieving its goals.

This category will differentiate drones from the range or altitude they can cover without any accident or defect.

Other important characteristics of a drone are its size and weight. They can be categorized as nano, micro, mini, small, and tactical drones [22] . Clarke distinguishes large drones and small drones and divides the small drones in multiple subcategories [23] . The lower weight limit of large drones is 150 kg for fixed-wing drones and 100 kg for multirotor drones.Mini drones can vary in weight from several grams up to several kilograms. These mini drones are mainly suitable for indoor applications and recreational applications.

Such type of drones is just for hobby purpose and used at homes. These drones do not require any license to operate and are usually controlled by controller and fly with less precision.

The payload is extra function or feature added with drone to achieve the required goal. Sensors and cameras are most common payloads attached to any drone nowadays. Some drones can be used to transport parcels, drugs, goods, or any information between two destinations. All such loads can differentiate drones from each other.

Drones run from energy source and serve different targets. The energy source selected to run any drone relies on difficulty level in achieving the required target. Also, the type of drone defined by characteristics discussed above can decide fuel type. The main energy sources that differentiate the drones are:

• a. traditional airplane fuel,
• b. battery cells,
• c. fuel cells, and
• d. solar cells.

5.4.2.2 Usability of drones during COVID-19 pandemic

The involvement of drones in military operations has increased since late 1990s. But civilian drones with commercial-grade low-cost technology are also getting popular and are already been used for various rescue tasks and natural disasters around the world. In this section, we will present the possible ways that can be helpful in fighting and disaster or disease spread specifically during COVID-19.The first country to face the wrath of COVID-19 has made great use of drone technology to counter its spread. Taking that as an inspiration, countries around the world have joined forces with numerous researchers and innovators in an attempt to find ingenious ways of using drones to fight any future or current pandemic at the best.

5.4.2.2.1 Drones as telemedicine and transfer units

Drones can be used to facilitate access to medical care in demoted communities. Demoted communities lack infrastructure and proper transportation. Therefore, drones are particularly helpful in such communities to help in the delivery of necessary health services and supplies in a time-effective manner. Drones travel faster than any manned vehicle and hence can overcome topographic challenges that would be very challenging to overcome by other forms of transportation.

As the person with COVID-19 is contagious, medicines and food can be transferred to the person in isolation. An example of autonomous drone is Beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) [24] . These drones can fly far beyond visual line of sight while maximizing production, reducing costs and risks, and ensuring site safety and security, hence protecting the human workforce in times of a pandemic [25] . They can also be used for consumer-related missions like package delivery, as demonstrated by Amazon Prime Air, and critical deliveries of health supplies.

5.4.2.2.2 Drones for surveillance and screening

Drones with camera as payload are being used mainly for surveillance other than hobbyist photography. They can be ideal for crowd surveillance due to their feature to provide current location bird eye or aerial view in no time. That is why many countries around the world are deploying drones for crowd surveillance especially during COVID-19 pandemic.

Surveillance drones added with temperature sensor can updated about body temperature of peoples in any community area. Countries including China and India have also adopted the drone technology for crowd surveillance. The drones deployed are equipped with surveillance cameras that can effectively monitor sensitive areas in the city and allow the police to handle any unwarranted situation promptly.

5.4.2.2.3 Drones for public announcements

In addition to crowd surveillance, drones can prove to be highly useful for broadcasting important information, particularly in areas that lack open channels for communication. In California, Florida, and New Jersey, officials have used drones to get messages to homeless communities or notify and warn people about social distancing. The police authority in Madrid, Spain, used a drone equipped with a loudspeaker to inform people of the guidelines put in place regarding the state of emergency that was imposed [26] .

European countries are also getting benefit from drones; many countries have deployed drones for making public announcements for public awareness during pandemics to stop spread of diseases [27] or disasters.

5.4.2.2.4. Drones for disinfecting places

Drone technology is benefiting people where there is need to avoid direct contact with viruses and bacteria. Using drones, disinfectants can be sprayed in contaminated areas. Increase of demand has been observed for spraying drones in agricultural lands during last decade. The Spanish military has recently adopted the use of agricultural drones made by DJI, a leading Chinese drone manufacturer, to spray disinfecting chemicals over public spaces [28] . On average, these spraying drones have a load capacity of 16 L and can disinfect one-tenth of a kilometer in an hour [27] .

5.4.3 Robots

5.4.3.1 usability in covid-19 pandemic.

Robots are smart machines and remained helpful during current COVID-19 pandemic. Robots can easily be deployed as frontline warrior in medical units due to less risk of contagious disease spread from the patients who are suffering.

Additionally, ultraviolet (UV) disinfection method (method to disinfect the areas from contagious diseases) is easily achieved with robots through preprogrammed procedures; hence, limiting the transfer of the disease via contaminated surfaces in hospitals or isolation centers. The autonomous disinfecting robots with very little or no human contact are recommended as compared to the manual decontamination, which involves the cleaning staff and may risk their lives [29] .

Many countries all over the world took advantage from robot technology for not only mitigating the spread of COVID-19 disease but also for the sake of monitoring social and emotional health of patients and people in isolation. Other than the above-mentioned services, a few more helpful features of robots during the disaster are concluded below;

• • Delivery : Robots are deployed during COVID-19 pandemic to deliver medicines, medical equipment, and serving food in medical units to avoid contact with patients directly, hence giving relief to medical staff. A Kerala-based Indian startup named Asimov Robotics has developed a three-wheeled robot that can be used to perform all these tasks while assisting patients in isolation wards [4] .
• • Social distancing : Robots with cameras are helpful to keep check in public, if social distancing is being followed or not. In addition, guiding public about preventive measures should be observed in public especially in affected areas.
• • Disinfecting : As discussed earlier, robots are safer for disinfecting equipment and places of concern. A Danish robotics company has developed multiple disinfection robots, which disinfect effected area or equipment by UV light radiation. The UV rays tear apart strands of virus’ DNA, hence making it harmless. The company named UVD has delivered its robots in China, healthcare markets in Europe, and United States. Their claim is that the robots can operate for about 2.5 h and disinfect about nine or ten rooms on a single charge [30] .
• • Emotional support : Many countries during pandemic underwent into strict lockdowns for months. Prolonged isolation affects mental health of people in negative way. Special robots are developed to share the emotions of people in isolation. These robots are virtually controlled by doctors to keep check of patient’s health condition.
• • Medical procedures and surgeries : The contagious nature of COVID-19 put many medical experts at added risk while performing regular procedures and surgeries. As the virus easily spreads through mouth and droplets, the dentist, oncologist, and ENT surgeons [31] stand at front of the danger zone. Although, general-purpose procedures were postponed during the pandemic by almost every country effected but still emergencies need special attention. Robotic surgeries are already being successfully done in different medical fields far before the pandemic crisis. Even with personal protective equipments (PPEs), physical distancing is the key to avoid virus spread. Consequently, during pandemic nonautonomous robots can prove to be safer alternative where close contact through patient’s mouth and nasal cavity become necessity.

5.4.3.2. Robots replacing humans

Before we take a dive into the robot’s history and their present-day prominence, it is significant to mention here a few statements defining robots.

Robot in Czech is a word for worker or servant. According to Robot Institute of America, a robot is, “A reprogrammable, multifunctional manipulator designed to move material, parts, tools, or specialized devices through various programmed motions for the performance of variety of tasks.’. Similarly, by Merriam Webster Dictionary, robot is, “A machine that resembles a living creature in being capable of moving independently (as by walking or rolling on wheels) and performing complex actions (such as grasping and moving objects)” [32] . According to Greg Freiherr, while science fiction robots have been capable of independent thought, emotions, even a little cooking and sewing, scientists are finding that endowing a mechanical being with even the most basic human functions is a monumental challenge.

In the mid-1900s, robots break into three categories, namely industrial, research, and educational. The first industrial robot, “Unimate” was developed in United States in 1954. George Devol, who coins the term Universal Automation, designed the very first programmable robot. He later shortens this to Unimation, which becomes the name of the first robot company in 1962 ( Fig. 5.13 ).

Devol, Engelberger, and their colleagues working on the development of the unimate.

Robot technology is maturing with time and in developed countries, large academic medical centers and health systems are the early adopters of robots. However, the increasing demand of robots indicates soon they will be found everywhere in abundance. Robots are designed to perform assigned tasks with high precision. They have extraordinary operational efficiency and are cost-effective. Normally, humans do work for their employers around 8–10 h at average. Robot has the ability to perform with efficiency rate almost three times greater (excluding one to two hours’ time of charging) effectively than the capability of any human.

It is true; today, robots have replaced humans by way of performing precarious, detailed, and recurring tasks in various industries including agriculture, automobile, construction, entertainment, healthcare, laboratories, manufacturing, military, mining, transportation, warehouses, and law enforcement. The overview of different tasks done by them in industries is compiled below ( Fig. 5.14 ).

Visual chart for robots in different fields and application.

5.4.3.3 Unmanned vehicles

Unmanned vehicles are without involvement of any human driver aboard. They can cover far-flung and difficult areas, impossible by any human driven vehicle. As compared to traditional vehicles, they have additional features of high safety, reliability, intelligence, and efficiency because of small size.

These vehicles can either be remote-controlled, remote-guided vehicles or autonomous, which are capable of sensing and navigating on their own. These autonomous driverless vehicles work according to the paths defined by installed sensors to sense surrounding environment or obstacles on the way with the help of intelligent software. The destination is fed by the software installed in these vehicles or at control station.

The vehicle and equipment that operate with little or no operator intervention are always an attraction because they save the labor cost in commercial areas and remove the direct involvement of operator specifically during dangerous applications. During the disaster or any global health crisis like COVID-19 pandemic, AVs can be of great help. They can ease the stress on existing delivery mechanisms while mitigating the spread of virus spread [33] . During 2016, a company JD.com, an e-commerce company, began testing the country’s first developed self-driving vehicle for domestic usage. The other companies in market soon joined this race to compete each other. During the pandemic, China led the charge in the use of AVs. Beijing-headquartered White Rhino Auto Company, in alliance with UNIDO’s Investment and Technology Promotion Office (ITPO), dispatched two autonomous delivery vehicles from Beijing to the Guanggu Field Hospital in the Hubei Province of China [34] .

These UVs proved to be very useful during pandemic; hence, they can serve in various ways. These tasks may include delivering medical supplies within hospitals, distributing meals and medicines in isolation centers, on demand groceries delivery home-to-home during lockdowns, decontaminate infected surroundings, awareness announcements in large gatherings, and much more ( Fig. 5.15 ).

Unmanned Vehicle for delivery medicines and grocery, in China.

5.4.4 Bluetooth and GPS technology

Bluetooth technology is a short-range technology that operates in UHF radio waves spectrum (ultra high frequency 300 MHz–3 GHz). Mainly, it is used to deploy low-cost, low-power, and short-time wireless connections between desktops, laptops, and Bluetooth devices like mobile phones, printers, digital cameras, headsets, keyboards, and even a computer mouse. This cutting-edge technology uses globally available radio frequency band between 2.402 and 2.480 GHz, which is dedicated for industrial, scientific, and medical use. In a nutshell, Bluetooth technology unplugs your digital peripherals and makes cable clutter a thing of the past [35] .

The Bluetooth technology is very helpful for proximity calculation and preferred over other technologies because of its least invasive nature. With this technology, it is easy to monitor relative distance between two nodes without getting actual location of devices.

GPS is a navigation system that uses satellites to provide positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services to its users [36] .

During COVID-19, governments can make use of the GPS technology for tracking the current and the historical location of positive patients. This will eventually help in backtracking other potential COVID-19 patients.

5.4.4.1. Applications of GPS

Some common uses of GPS during COVID-19 pandemic are:

During this deadly pandemic, many countries have released different versions of mobile applications leveraging GPS in order to identify the COVID-19 patients and help control the spread of virus. Most of these applications are downloadable for free using individuals’ mobile numbers. Once launched, it will categorize the users as safe or unsafe using different criterions such as existence of virus symptoms, or international travel history. The GPS location of the suspected cell phone users will be stored in the database. This information can be later used for various purposes such as (1) to alert a safe user if he meets a suspected virus victim and (2) to send the GPS location of the victim to the healthcare officials if any emergency help is needed [4] .

Many countries are making use of smart helmets equipped with built-in GPS modules, optical camera, and infrared thermal camera for screening the suspected COVID-19 carriers. The infrared camera scans the given area for any high temperature. Once an individual with a high temperature is detected, the optical camera captures the face of the suspected individual. The GPS module then determines the position coordinates and after tagging it, a notification is sent to assigned smart mobile through a GSM, which will be subsequently used for various purposes mentioned above [16] .

Another efficient approach to combat the effects of COVID-19 can be the use of Smart Ambulance System, which is an integration of GPS and GSM. The GPS component is used to identify the location of the patient and the ambulance, whereas the GSM is used for data transmission. This system consists of an end-to-end smart health application. Once an emergency request is generated by a registered GSM mobile user facing extreme virus symptoms, such a system can track the location of the patient using the GPS embedded in the mobile, identify the nearest hospital with available beds, and urgently send them smart ambulances equipped with major requirements of a critical COVID-19 patient such as oxygen cylinder, oximeters, and other instruments for measuring the vitals. The timely delivery of patient to the hospital is extremely important. The ambulance is also equipped with (1) GPS module to determine updated ambulance location so that the paramedics can select the ambulances, which are already in the same route as the patient and for calculating the shortest/fastest possible route to the selected hospital; (2) GSM module in order to transmit any essential information to the paramedics’ database or the hospital. It will be even better if the time for patient’s transportation can be utilized to gather major medical information about him/her and transmit it to the hospital using GSM in order to enable them to make prior emergency arrangements [37] , [38] .

5.4.4.2. Asymptomatic and suspected patients tracking

Controlling the coronavirus spread is the key factor to mitigate COVID-19 disease. So far, many advancements and inventions in the technology have been done, in order to reduce direct virus exposure in societies, decontamination of suspected places, and effected surveillance of masses. Before looking further at possibilities to control virus spread, it is important to dig down to the level of coronavirus transmission biological details. The virus may enter the body through mouth, nose, and eyes, if a person with prior COVID-negative exposes to exhaled droplets of an infected person, touched the contaminated surface, aerosol, and possibly through fecal–oral contamination [39] .

Here, we discuss all the possible transmission routes that may be cause of catching virus for a healthy person. Later on, these can be helpful in prevention of disease spread.

• 1. Symptomatic transmission : It is transmission of virus by getting in direct contact of a person having known symptoms of COVID-19.
• 2. Presymptomatic transmission : This is transmission by a person who is going to develop COVID-19 disease obvious symptoms. But at time of contact, both people are unaware of it.
• 3. Asymptomatic transmission : Some COVID positive patients develop delayed symptoms or none at all. Indication of being virus carrier is indicated by routine or follow-up checkups.
• 4. Environmental transmission : The transmission of disease can also occur via contaminated surfaces, and specifically in hidden way which in general could be unknown and typically not to be attributable to contact with the source.

5.4.4.2.1. Contact tracing

In all such cases, discussed before, prompt contact tracing can assuredly reduce the disease spread. By informing concerned authorities, which formerly contact without any hassle targeted people in need of quarantine or isolation.

Contact tracing mechanism is done on one suspected individual by strenuously tracing the infected person’s footsteps, and later following up anyone with whom they may have crossed the paths. Many countries, badly affected by current pandemic, are spending millions of US dollars for deploying contact tracing network. Massachusetts recently allocated US$ 44 million to hire 1000, New York State announced it will hire 17,000, and California plans to hire as many as 20,000 contact tracers [39] . A few apps are developed while many are in testing phase, which could be helpful in tracing either asymptomatic or presymptomatic COVID positive patients.

Digital apps for contact tracing mostly use GPS and Bluetooth technology to trace contacts. GPS technology can give information of exact location for the concerned contact with correct time stamp, that is, what time person A was at location X. An example of such app deployed in Utah uses GPS [40] . If any person using that app is diagnosed with COVID-19, the concerned person guides them and asks to share the history of their locations during past days; it is usually the period of 14 days. After collection and compilation of location data, all the relevant people were informed to go in isolation in case of close contact. The app’s cofounder and chief strategy officer, Jared Allgood made sure that the identity of patient remains hidden in all process.

Whereas, some apps which trace the contact with Bluetooth technology in smart phones collect data of close contacts that have been around near proximity during last 14 days (in case a person is tested COVID positive). Bluetooth technology is more reliable in contact tracing, as it will directly list down all those who got near to asymptotic or presymptomatic patient because of it short-range nature. But still one needs to keep on Bluetooth all time and only pairing is possible to those who also have Bluetooth in their smart phone turned on. Moreover, even if Bluetooth is on for both parties, it will not pair with the second party until both have close contact for few seconds. Hence, no data will be recorded of a COVID positive passer-by even with obvious symptoms ( Fig. 5.16 ).

Concept of contact tracing using Bluetooth technology.

5.4.5. Telemedicine: a new era

A very recent development that is ushering in the field of medical science is telemedicine. Telemedicine refers to the practice of remote patient care when the healthcare provider and patient are not physically present with each other. It offers the following advantages:

• 1. With telemedicine, a patient can consult a specialist anywhere on the globe.
• 2. It reduces the workload of overburdened hospital staff.
• 3. In case of disease outbreaks, it lessens the chances of disease speed from the patient to the healthcare personnel.
• 4. It can prove to be a lifesaver in emergency situations requiring immediate critical care.
• 5. From the perspective of patients, it means a shorter waiting time and hence a faster recovery.
• 6. It also enables people in rural parts of a country with unsatisfactory medical services have a quicker and easier access to healthcare.

Fig. 5.17 shows the basic idea of telemedicine. It is an integration of various technologies discussed above in order to make the healthcare facilities available at patient’s doorstep.

Telemedicine, an integration of technologies.

5.5. Case study

Although many case studies can be quoted in the context of technology’s use to combat COVID-19. The one mentioned below is a contact tracing mobile application using GPS in order to track the positive COVID-19 patients.

5.5.1. AAROGYA SETU app

As an attempt to minimize the spread of COVID-19, this contact tracing application has been developed by National Informatics Centre, which is a part of Ministry of Electronics and IT, India. The application can be downloaded by any Indian citizen for free and is available for both iOS and Android users. When launched, the application will enquire the users if they had a recent international travel history or if they are experiencing some symptoms of the disease. If none of these holds true, then the patient is said to be in green zone. A database will contain the list of all positive COVID-19 patients who are marked to be in the red zone.

This application integrates GPS location of the cell phone user with the Bluetooth technology to check if he has been exposed to a COVID-19 patient existing in the database.

If the individual in the green zone comes in close contact with another individual in the red zone, then the former will be alerted. In addition, he/she will also receive the guidelines to be followed and required relevant information. The application became extremely popular among the citizens and within first 5 days of its launch, 10 million downloads were recorded [4] .

5.6 Conclusion

The current pandemic has drastically affected every aspect of our life. It has changed peoples’ way of viewing different things. The whole world is on the lookout for best alternates of the available technological solutions. All the technologies discussed in this chapter are for prevention, mitigation, and restoration from aftermath of the disease spread.

IoMT has made a sizeable contribution in current pandemic. It is a promising technology that has shown potential in the collection, analysis, and effective transmission of health data to the concerned departments. Therefore, it is a choice of preference to be deployed for disease monitoring and management during this deadly pandemic. Drones have changed the entire concept of how things are delivered. Similarly, robots are replacing humans. UMVs are approaching to places where traditional man driven vehicles are unable to reach. Bluetooth and GPS are being deployed to look out for disease carriers in the surroundings.

IoMT, drones, and robots have joined hands together for the advancement of telemedicine field, which can be used for spreading limited clinical resources across a wide geographic area. It improves quality of care and access during the ongoing pandemic. All these technologies are on the way of maturing to help us fight against the deadliest pandemics.

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• Published: 25 January 2021

Online education in the post-COVID era

• Barbara B. Lockee 1  

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The coronavirus pandemic has forced students and educators across all levels of education to rapidly adapt to online learning. The impact of this — and the developments required to make it work — could permanently change how education is delivered.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the world to engage in the ubiquitous use of virtual learning. And while online and distance learning has been used before to maintain continuity in education, such as in the aftermath of earthquakes 1 , the scale of the current crisis is unprecedented. Speculation has now also begun about what the lasting effects of this will be and what education may look like in the post-COVID era. For some, an immediate retreat to the traditions of the physical classroom is required. But for others, the forced shift to online education is a moment of change and a time to reimagine how education could be delivered 2 .

Looking back

Online education has traditionally been viewed as an alternative pathway, one that is particularly well suited to adult learners seeking higher education opportunities. However, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has required educators and students across all levels of education to adapt quickly to virtual courses. (The term ‘emergency remote teaching’ was coined in the early stages of the pandemic to describe the temporary nature of this transition 3 .) In some cases, instruction shifted online, then returned to the physical classroom, and then shifted back online due to further surges in the rate of infection. In other cases, instruction was offered using a combination of remote delivery and face-to-face: that is, students can attend online or in person (referred to as the HyFlex model 4 ). In either case, instructors just had to figure out how to make it work, considering the affordances and constraints of the specific learning environment to create learning experiences that were feasible and effective.

The use of varied delivery modes does, in fact, have a long history in education. Mechanical (and then later electronic) teaching machines have provided individualized learning programmes since the 1950s and the work of B. F. Skinner 5 , who proposed using technology to walk individual learners through carefully designed sequences of instruction with immediate feedback indicating the accuracy of their response. Skinner’s notions formed the first formalized representations of programmed learning, or ‘designed’ learning experiences. Then, in the 1960s, Fred Keller developed a personalized system of instruction 6 , in which students first read assigned course materials on their own, followed by one-on-one assessment sessions with a tutor, gaining permission to move ahead only after demonstrating mastery of the instructional material. Occasional class meetings were held to discuss concepts, answer questions and provide opportunities for social interaction. A personalized system of instruction was designed on the premise that initial engagement with content could be done independently, then discussed and applied in the social context of a classroom.

These predecessors to contemporary online education leveraged key principles of instructional design — the systematic process of applying psychological principles of human learning to the creation of effective instructional solutions — to consider which methods (and their corresponding learning environments) would effectively engage students to attain the targeted learning outcomes. In other words, they considered what choices about the planning and implementation of the learning experience can lead to student success. Such early educational innovations laid the groundwork for contemporary virtual learning, which itself incorporates a variety of instructional approaches and combinations of delivery modes.

Online learning and the pandemic

Fast forward to 2020, and various further educational innovations have occurred to make the universal adoption of remote learning a possibility. One key challenge is access. Here, extensive problems remain, including the lack of Internet connectivity in some locations, especially rural ones, and the competing needs among family members for the use of home technology. However, creative solutions have emerged to provide students and families with the facilities and resources needed to engage in and successfully complete coursework 7 . For example, school buses have been used to provide mobile hotspots, and class packets have been sent by mail and instructional presentations aired on local public broadcasting stations. The year 2020 has also seen increased availability and adoption of electronic resources and activities that can now be integrated into online learning experiences. Synchronous online conferencing systems, such as Zoom and Google Meet, have allowed experts from anywhere in the world to join online classrooms 8 and have allowed presentations to be recorded for individual learners to watch at a time most convenient for them. Furthermore, the importance of hands-on, experiential learning has led to innovations such as virtual field trips and virtual labs 9 . A capacity to serve learners of all ages has thus now been effectively established, and the next generation of online education can move from an enterprise that largely serves adult learners and higher education to one that increasingly serves younger learners, in primary and secondary education and from ages 5 to 18.

The COVID-19 pandemic is also likely to have a lasting effect on lesson design. The constraints of the pandemic provided an opportunity for educators to consider new strategies to teach targeted concepts. Though rethinking of instructional approaches was forced and hurried, the experience has served as a rare chance to reconsider strategies that best facilitate learning within the affordances and constraints of the online context. In particular, greater variance in teaching and learning activities will continue to question the importance of ‘seat time’ as the standard on which educational credits are based 10 — lengthy Zoom sessions are seldom instructionally necessary and are not aligned with the psychological principles of how humans learn. Interaction is important for learning but forced interactions among students for the sake of interaction is neither motivating nor beneficial.

While the blurring of the lines between traditional and distance education has been noted for several decades 11 , the pandemic has quickly advanced the erasure of these boundaries. Less single mode, more multi-mode (and thus more educator choices) is becoming the norm due to enhanced infrastructure and developed skill sets that allow people to move across different delivery systems 12 . The well-established best practices of hybrid or blended teaching and learning 13 have served as a guide for new combinations of instructional delivery that have developed in response to the shift to virtual learning. The use of multiple delivery modes is likely to remain, and will be a feature employed with learners of all ages 14 , 15 . Future iterations of online education will no longer be bound to the traditions of single teaching modes, as educators can support pedagogical approaches from a menu of instructional delivery options, a mix that has been supported by previous generations of online educators 16 .

Also significant are the changes to how learning outcomes are determined in online settings. Many educators have altered the ways in which student achievement is measured, eliminating assignments and changing assessment strategies altogether 17 . Such alterations include determining learning through strategies that leverage the online delivery mode, such as interactive discussions, student-led teaching and the use of games to increase motivation and attention. Specific changes that are likely to continue include flexible or extended deadlines for assignment completion 18 , more student choice regarding measures of learning, and more authentic experiences that involve the meaningful application of newly learned skills and knowledge 19 , for example, team-based projects that involve multiple creative and social media tools in support of collaborative problem solving.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, technological and administrative systems for implementing online learning, and the infrastructure that supports its access and delivery, had to adapt quickly. While access remains a significant issue for many, extensive resources have been allocated and processes developed to connect learners with course activities and materials, to facilitate communication between instructors and students, and to manage the administration of online learning. Paths for greater access and opportunities to online education have now been forged, and there is a clear route for the next generation of adopters of online education.

Before the pandemic, the primary purpose of distance and online education was providing access to instruction for those otherwise unable to participate in a traditional, place-based academic programme. As its purpose has shifted to supporting continuity of instruction, its audience, as well as the wider learning ecosystem, has changed. It will be interesting to see which aspects of emergency remote teaching remain in the next generation of education, when the threat of COVID-19 is no longer a factor. But online education will undoubtedly find new audiences. And the flexibility and learning possibilities that have emerged from necessity are likely to shift the expectations of students and educators, diminishing further the line between classroom-based instruction and virtual learning.

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How COVID-19 has pushed companies over the technology tipping point—and transformed business forever

In just a few months’ time, the COVID-19 crisis has brought about years of change in the way companies in all sectors and regions do business. According to a new McKinsey Global Survey of executives, 1 The online survey was in the field from July 7 to July 31, 2020, and garnered responses from 899 C-level executives and senior managers representing the full range of regions, industries, company sizes, and functional specialties. their companies have accelerated the digitization of their customer and supply-chain interactions and of their internal operations by three to four years. And the share of digital or digitally enabled products in their portfolios has accelerated by a shocking seven years. 2 We looked at the past results for the degree of digital adoption reported in each of these areas of business operations. Based on the average percentage of adoption in each survey, we calculated a trendline to represent the average rate of adoption in 2017, 2018, and just before the crisis, which respondents were asked about in the 2020 survey. The acceleration time frame was calculated from the amount of time it would have taken to reach the current level of digital adoption respondents report if the precrisis pace of change had continued. Nearly all respondents say that their companies have stood up at least temporary solutions to meet many of the new demands on them, and much more quickly than they had thought possible before the crisis. What’s more, respondents expect most of these changes to be long lasting and are already making the kinds of investments that all but ensure they will stick. In fact, when we asked executives about the impact of the crisis on a range of measures, they say that funding for digital initiatives has increased more than anything else—more than increases in costs, the number of people in technology roles, and the number of customers.

To stay competitive in this new business and economic environment  requires new strategies and practices. Our findings suggest that executives are taking note: most respondents recognize technology’s strategic importance as a critical component of the business, not just a source of cost efficiencies. Respondents from the companies that have executed successful responses to the crisis report a range of technology capabilities that others don’t—most notably, filling gaps for technology talent during the crisis, the use of more advanced technologies, and speed in experimenting and innovating. 3 We define a successful organization as one that, according to respondents, has very effectively implemented their initial responses to COVID-19-related changes.

Digital adoption has taken a quantum leap at both the organizational and industry levels

During the pandemic, consumers have moved dramatically toward online channels , and companies and industries have responded in turn. The survey results confirm the rapid shift toward interacting with customers through digital channels. They also show that rates of adoption are years ahead of where they were when previous surveys were conducted—and even more in developed Asia than in other regions (Exhibit 1). Respondents are three times likelier now than before the crisis to say that at least 80 percent of their customer interactions are digital in nature.

Chart: The COVID-19 crisis has accelerated the digitization of customer interactions by several years

Chart summary.

2020 adoption acceleration 1

• Global: 3 years
• Asia-Pacific: 4 years
• Europe: 3 years
• North America: 3 years

1 Years ahead of the average rate of adoption from 2017 to 2019.

McKinsey & Company

Perhaps more surprising is the speedup in creating digital or digitally enhanced offerings. Across regions, the results suggest a seven-year increase, on average, in the rate at which companies are developing these products and services. Once again, the leap is even greater—ten years—in developed Asia (Exhibit 2). Respondents also report a similar mix of types of digital products in their portfolios before and during the pandemic. This finding suggests that during the crisis, companies have probably refocused their offerings rather than made huge leaps in product development in the span of a few months.

Across sectors, the results suggest that rates for developing digital products during the pandemic differ. Given the time frames for making manufacturing changes, the differences, not surprisingly, are more apparent between sectors with and without physical products than between B2B and B2C companies. Respondents in consumer packaged goods (CPG) and automotive and assembly, for example, report relatively low levels of change in their digital-product portfolios. By contrast, the reported increases are much more significant in healthcare and pharma, financial services, and professional services, where executives report a jump nearly twice as large as those reported in CPG companies.

The customer-facing elements of organizational operating models are not the only ones that have been affected. Respondents report similar accelerations in the digitization of their core internal operations (such as back-office, production, and R&D processes) and of interactions in their supply chains. Unlike customer-facing changes, the rate of adoption is consistent across regions.

Yet the speed with which respondents say their companies have responded to a range of COVID-19-related changes is, remarkably, even greater than their digitization across the business (Exhibit 3). We asked about 12 potential changes in respondents’ organizations and industries. For those that respondents have seen, we asked how long it took to execute them and how long that would have taken before the crisis. For many of these changes, respondents say, their companies acted 20 to 25 times faster than expected. In the case of remote working, respondents actually say their companies moved 40 times more quickly than they thought possible before the pandemic. Before then, respondents say it would have taken more than a year to implement the level of remote working that took place during the crisis. In actuality, it took an average of 11 days to implement a workable solution, and nearly all of the companies have stood up workable solutions within a few months.

Chart: Executives say their companies responded to a range of COVID-19–related changes much more quickly than they thought possible before the crisis.

1 Respondents who answered "Entry of new competitors in company's market/value chain" or "exit of major competitors from company's market/value chain" are not shown; compared with the other 10 changes, respondents are much more likely to say their companies have not been able to respond.

2 For instance, increased focus on health/hygiene.

A McKinsey Live event on AI at scale: Propelling your organization into the next normal

The largest changes are also the most likely to stick in the long term

Of the 12 changes the survey asked about, respondents across sectors and geographies are most likely to report a significant increase in remote working, changing customer needs (a switch to offerings that reflect new health and hygiene sensitivities), and customer preferences for remote interactions (Exhibit 4). Respondents reporting significant changes in these areas and increasing migration to the cloud are more than twice as likely to believe that these shifts will remain after the crisis than to expect a return to precrisis norms.

Respondents report that the crisis spurred shifts in their supply chains as well. The nature of these shifts varies significantly by sector, and they have taken place less quickly than other changes because of contracts that were already in place before the pandemic. Respondents in consumer-facing industries, such as CPG and retailing, often cite disruptions to last-mile delivery (that is, who interfaces directly with customers). Other shifts, such as building redundancy in the supply chain, are reported more often in sectors that create physical products.

The results also suggest that companies are making these crisis-related changes with the long term in mind. For most, the need to work and interact with customers remotely required investments in data security and an accelerated migration to the cloud. Now that the investments have been made, these companies have permanently removed some of the precrisis bottlenecks to virtual interactions. Majorities of respondents expect that such technology-related changes, along with remote work and customer interactions, will continue in the future. Nearly one-quarter of respondents also report a decrease in their physical footprints. This signifies a longer-term shift than would likely occur among the 21 percent reporting a drop in their number of full-time equivalents—at some companies, that could represent a temporary move in the earlier days of the crisis. What’s more, when we asked about the effects of the crisis on a range of company measures (including head counts), respondents say that funding of digital initiatives has increased more than anything else—more than costs, the number of people in digital or other technology roles, and the number of customers. 4 The other measures tested in the survey were revenues, the total number of full-time equivalents, physical footprints, the number of channel partners, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), enterprise-wide capital budgets for 2020, and digital M&A budgets for the next 12 months.

We also looked at the underlying reasons some changes would or would not stick: their cost-effectiveness, ability to meet customers’ needs, and advantages for the business. In addition, we examined the relationship between the length of the crisis and the permanence of the changes as “new” becomes “normal” over time.

Of the 12 changes, remote working and cloud migration are the two that respondents say have been more cost effective than precrisis norms and practices. Remote working is much less likely to meet customer expectations better than it did before the crisis; the changes that have done so best are, unsurprisingly, responses to the increasing demand for online interactions and to changing customer needs. Investments in data security and artificial intelligence are the changes respondents most often identify as helping to position organizations better than they were before the crisis. Across these changes, remote working is the likeliest to remain the longer the crisis lasts, according to 70 percent of the respondents.

Technology-driven strategy for the win

We’ve written before about the need for digital strategies to be true corporate strategies that take digital into account. And from earlier research, we know that at leading companies, digital and corporate strategies are one and the same . The COVID-19 crisis has made this imperative more urgent than ever. While the alignment on overall strategy and strong leadership have long been markers of success during disruptions or transformations , the extent of technology’s differentiating role in this crisis is stark (Exhibit 5). At the organizations that experimented with new digital technologies during the crisis, and among those that invested more capital expenditures in digital technology than their peers did, executives are twice as likely to report outsize revenue growth than executives at other companies.

The results also indicate that along with the multiyear acceleration of digital, the crisis has brought about a sea change in executive mindsets on the role of technology in business. In our 2017 survey , nearly half of executives ranked cost savings as one of the most important priorities for their digital strategies. Now, only 10 percent view technology in the same way; in fact, more than half say they are investing in technology for competitive advantage or refocusing their entire business around digital technologies (Exhibit 6).

This mindset shift is most common among executives whose organizations were losing revenue before the crisis began (Exhibit 7). Those reporting the biggest revenue hits in recent years acknowledge that they were behind their peers in their use of digital technologies—40 percent say so, compared with 24 percent at companies with the biggest revenue increases—and also say that, during the crisis, they have made much more significant changes to their strategies than other executives report.

What’s more, respondents say that technology capabilities stand out as key factors of success during the crisis. Among the biggest differences between the successful companies and all others is talent, the use of cutting-edge technologies, and a range of other capabilities (Exhibit 8). A related imperative for success is having a culture that encourages experimentation and acting early. Nearly half of respondents at successful companies say they were first to market with innovations during the crisis and that they were the first companies in their industries to experiment with new digital technologies. They are also more likely than others to report speeding up the time it takes for leaders to receive critical business information and reallocating resources to fund new initiatives. Both are key aspects of a culture of experimentation.

The notion of a tipping point for technology adoption or digital disruption isn’t new, but the survey data suggest that the COVID-19 crisis is a tipping point of historic proportions—and that more changes will be required as the economic and human situation evolves. The results also show that some significant lessons can be drawn from the steps organizations have already taken. One is the importance of learning, both tactically, in the process of making specific changes to businesses (which technologies to execute, and how), and organizationally (how to manage change at a pace that far exceeds that of prior experiences). Both types of learning will be critical going forward, since the pace of change is not likely to slow down.

The contributors to the development and analysis of this survey include Laura LaBerge, a director of capabilities for digital strategy in McKinsey’s Stamford office; Clayton O’Toole , a partner in the Minneapolis office; Jeremy Schneider , a senior partner in the New York office; and Kate Smaje , a senior partner in the London office.

This article was edited by Daniella Seiler, an editor in the New York office.

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UNESCO Science Report 2021

Science and the pandemic

During the Covid-19 pandemic, countries have turned to their scientific community for advice and practical solutions. Many governments have established ad hoc scientific committees to manage the crisis, enabling them to witness, first hand, the advantages of having local experts to monitor and control the progression of the virus. 

The Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated the value of digital technologies in an emergency. It has heightened their use in areas such as education (distance learning) and health, with examples including telemedicine, use of drones to detect people in a crowd with a high body temperature or delivery by drone of medical samples for testing. 

The Covid-19 pandemic has exacted a heavy human and economic toll but it has also energized knowledge production systems.  

For instance, in October 2020, the World Health Organization reported that Africa accounted for about 13% of 1,000 new or modified existing technologies developed worldwide in response to the pandemic, close to its share of the global population (14%). Among these technologies, 58% involved digital solutions such as chatbots, self-diagnostic tools and contact-tracing apps. A further 25% of African solutions were based on three-dimensional (3D) printing and 11% on robotics. 

Governments have supported the bioscience industry, such as through advance purchase agreements to facilitate the rapid development of vaccines. Institutions in many countries have accelerated their approval processes for research project proposals in response to the crisis. Governments have provided incentives for small and medium-sized enterprises to tackle the pandemic. 

The Covid-19 crisis has recalled the desirability of strong linkages between the public and private sectors for the production of equipment such as lung ventilators, masks, medication and vaccines. Academics have worked with hospitals and local businesses to develop lung ventilators, for instance, which have been produced by local manufacturers who have repurposed their assembly lines.  

The pandemic has also given rise to an epidemic of misleading information designed to foment division, or ‘infodemic’, as the World Health Organization has termed it. This ‘infodemic’ has demonstrated the crucial need for independent, responsible and pluralistic media, in order to ensure that people have access to trustworthy and science-based information.  

The Covid-19 pandemic has radically transformed our way of life. The crisis may yet redefine scientific processes and science governance in unforeseen ways. It is likely to affect the next generation of researchers and the mechanisms by which science itself is funded’. 

Beyond science and technology, the Covid-19 crisis raises broad, fundamental questions, such as with regard to the role of the state in the economy, the reshoring of supply chains, the organization of work and the value of proximity. 

Two essays on the Covid-19 pandemic

Research on new or re-emerging viruses has surged during epidemics .

 With the year 2020 having been dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic, one might expect there to be a voluminous research record on new or re-emerging viruses that can infect humans. There is not. There were just 7 471 publications on this topic in 2019, 35% of which were produced by scientists in the USA alone. Global output on this broad topic progressed by just 2% per year between 2011 and 2019,  slower than global scientific publications overall: 3.8% per year. There are signs that research in this field has been reactive, not pro-active. 

Growth was much faster in individual countries which had to marshal science to cope with other viral outbreaks over this period. The 2014–2015 Ebola outbreak in Liberia and neighbouring Guinea and Sierra Leone stamped its mark on these countries’ scientific output, as did repeated Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The same was true of the Zika virus, which reached epidemic proportions in Brazil between 2015 and 2018.

• View the figure on the right or in the report: Top 10 countries for growth in scientific publishing on new or re-emerging viruses, 2011–2019

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• Thought leadership
• Public health and social services

How technology is helping in the fight against the pandemic

• By Greg McKay, Microsoft’s Worldwide Public Sector lead for Public Health and Social Services
• Eric Basha, Director of Business Strategy, Worldwide Government Industry

The global pandemic is far from over, we want to take this opportunity to recognize and applaud the continued heroic efforts by front-line workers—healthcare workers, first responders, service workers, and others—around the world. They put their lives at risk every day to save patients and keep critical operations running.

While much of the recent news regarding has been discouraging, it is important to recognize there is some good news regarding the fight against COVID-19. And given the annual Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)  annual conference  is almost upon us, this is an opportunity to reflect on how Public Health organizations have used technology to battle the greatest health crisis of our time. From the earliest days of the outbreak, Microsoft and our global partner ecosystem have used the latest technologies in new and innovative ways to help Public Health officials meet the challenge of COVID-19.

Public Health organizations around the globe continue to face challenges. The Delta variant, vaccine hesitancy, breakthrough infections, continued vaccine and resource shortages all are perpetuating this battle. Still, there have been bright spots, thanks to the tenacity, ingenuity, and unwavering commitment of Public Health professionals and organizations—as well as their use of the latest technology. This has enabled public health to attack the pandemic with unprecedented agility and responsiveness.

From the earliest days of tracking the COVID-19 outbreaks—long before a global pandemic was proclaimed—Public Health organizations began to be challenged with collecting increasing amounts of data from hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices as well as laboratories. This was often a cumbersome, lengthy process. It could take weeks or even months before the massive amount of data could be collected and analyzed to unlock meaningful insights. Technologies such as Azure Data Lake and Azure Synapse helped accelerate and scale data collection and analysis around the world.

Partners like Esri were leveraging their Azure supported ArcGIS Online system to help Public Health officials monitor the spread of the COVID-19 virus by visualizing that data on global maps and dashboards.

When accurate tests were created to detect the virus, many Public Health organizations turned to solutions built on Microsoft Dynamics and Power Platform to help them quickly roll out COVID-19 testing in their communities. This included registration systems to schedule the tests as well as test-result reporting.

As the disease spread, people turned to their Public Health organization for answers. This overwhelmed phone systems and took valuable human capital to address these questions at scale. Virtual assistants using Microsoft Azure Health Bot service played a vital role in reducing the burden on Public Health personnel, allowing them to focus on other aspects of the pandemic.

We all remember that early in the pandemic, ventilators, PPE, and other critical supplies were in short supply. Hospitals and clinics were experiencing a dire shortage of resources, while others were sitting on surpluses. Microsoft worked with public health, hospital networks and others to quickly create the Hospital Emergency Response solution , a Power Platform solution for healthcare emergency response. It allowed visibility into inventories across different care networks. As a result, public health was able to get supplies to the points of greatest need.

As early as last year, while pharmaceutical companies sent newly developed COVID-19 vaccines through clinical trials, Microsoft and our partners are working with Public Health officials to accelerate the pace of vaccine distribution and vaccinations with technology. This included taking steps to ensure distribution from the pharma manufacturing facilities to the vaccination sites.

Vaccine supply chain was just one aspect of this unprecedented global challenge. Prioritizing and scheduling initial appointments—along with the appropriate follow-ups and reminder communications—was a critical need. Then there was integration with existing immunization information systems to update patients’ vaccination records. Microsoft Consulting Services and Microsoft industry and product teams jumped into action to work with an ecosystem of partners around the world including Accenture , EY , Quisitive and their MazikCare Platform , and many others to deliver solutions to quickly and efficiently distribute and administer vaccines to every community .

Vaccine supply is still a challenge in many parts of the world. Even in areas where supply is sufficient, pockets of vaccine hesitancy have started to stall vaccination rates. To help address this major issue, a coalition of non-profits, healthcare organizations, and technology providers, working in collaboration with local communities and Public Health agencies, have embarked on the Vaccination Equity Initiative (VEI). The goal of VEI is to deliver vaccinations and other essential health services to those who are underserved, vulnerable, or have low access to healthcare. Further information about VEI, including how organizations can participate, may be obtained by contacting [email protected] .

One example of how technology can help address vaccine hesitancy comes from our partner Zencity. Zencity is using Azure Cognitive Services to analyze a variety of public data sources —including social sentiment—in order to help Public Health officials understand the underlying concerns of their citizens .¹ Using this insight, mayors, Public Health officials and other government leaders can create communication plans and outreach programs to overcome vaccine hesitancy.

As vaccine rates continue to increase globally and laboratory tests are widely available, worldwide efforts to reopen economies and restore international travel have also created an urgent need for secure, verifiable health information. Businesses, entertainment and sports venues, academic institutions and governments worldwide increasingly need a trustworthy way to verify vaccination status or laboratory test results for those returning to onsite activities and public spaces. Individuals who have been vaccinated or tested for COVID-19 want to access and store a free paper or digital copy of their records to easily carry and share, without fear of misplacing an immunization card or disclosing unnecessary information when sharing their results.

To fill this emerging need, in 2020 Microsoft joined in forming VCI , a voluntary coalition of public and private organizations committed to ensuring individuals have access to a trustworthy and verifiable copy of their COVID-19 vaccination records and test results. The VCI-developed SMART Health Cards framework is being used worldwide to create vaccine certificates that adhere to core principles , including interoperability, equity, privacy, and security.

While there is still a long way to go in the global fight against COVID-19, the new wave of cloud technology will play a significant role in defeating this crisis.

It will also help us prepare for the next one. Because this is not the last global virus we will see.

¹ Governing – “A Powerful Tool for Overcoming Vaccine Hesitancy”, May 19, 2021.

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How science, tech and innovation can help beyond the pandemic

International cooperation on the science, technology and innovation frontiers can fast-track sustainable development progress after the covid-19 crisis, experts say..

© Connect World

The coronavirus pandemic has compelled leaders, policymakers and everyday people to think carefully about what makes healthy and resilient communities.

At the same time, it has prompted a rethink of how to address other pre-pandemic catastrophes, such as climate change, food insecurity and social inequality.

To address these challenges, the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) will examine how to make science and technology work for all, at its inter-sessional panel for 2020-2021 , slated for 18 to 22 January.

During the event, experts will examine two key issues. The first focuses on health and how science, technology and innovation can be used to close the gap on SDG3 for health and wellbeing . The second explores the prospects of blockchain for sustainable development .

International collaboration 

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, scientists in many countries have largely collaborated under the principle of ‘open science’ – where knowledge, methods, data and evidence are made freely available and accessible to everyone.

Collaborative arrangements of open science, especially the mapping of the virus’s genome, helped in the development of the COVID-19 vaccines being administered in various countries.

“In the same way that the development of the vaccines greatly benefited from scientists collaborating in unity for a common cause, governments must also unite in solidarity to ensure that everyone, especially the poorest, gain access to the vaccines,” said Shamika N. Sirimanne, UNCTAD’s director of technology and logistics.

Ms. Sirimanne, who also heads the CSTD secretariat, said international collaboration in scientific research can play a critical role in improving health, equity and sustainable development.

She said the need for countries to come together and share their experiences and lessons learned is no less critical in dealing with emerging issues in the digital age.

“Just as the pandemic sees no borders, digital technologies also transcend national jurisdictions,” she added, emphasizing the importance of the CSTD sessions in helping share lessons in scientific approaches and policy thinking.

The UN and the international community have an important role in shaping global norms and frameworks on frontier technologies.

“It’s important for the international community to better understand the risk-reward tradeoffs,” Ms. Sirimanne said, whether this is for the implementation of blockchain technology in consumer services, or using artificial intelligence, gene editing, and other new and emerging innovations in healthcare.

Avoiding unintended consequences

Digital technologies in health can generate several unplanned risks, with implications for the resilience of social, cultural and political institutions.

These need to be tempered and controlled for as far as possible, according to experts.

For example, “infodemics”, the overabundance of inaccurate health information online, can make it difficult to access trustworthy and reliable guidance on the COVID-19 pandemic.

An area where there is increasing risk is in digital technologies such as blockchain. A widely known application of blockchain technology is cryptocurrency – Bitcoin being the most prominent.

The value of Bitcoin reached an all-time high, by topping the $40,000 mark, during the first week of 2021, only to plummet by more than 20% the following week.

While cryptocurrency has remarkable potential to ensure financial inclusion for marginalized people, there is a growing need to prevent systemic risk from speculative activities that create asset bubbles.

For example, if investors accumulate debt to purchase large sums of cryptocurrency using fiat money (i.e. the US dollar or euro), and there is a devaluation in the exchange rate – as is currently evident – this could lead to payment defaults in the respective fiat currency, potentially leading to personal financial ruin.

“Yet the absence of an international effort for regulating blockchain in financial markets is a serious concern, given the transnational nature of both global finance and digital technologies,” Ms. Sirimanne said. “We need to leverage benefits, but guard against negative impacts.”

The CSTD offers member States a platform to explore ways of strengthening the science-policy interface at the national and global levels and better coordinate STI-focused international cooperation in the spirit of multilateralism.

The CSTD inter-sessional panel will also review progress made in the implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) at the regional and international levels.

These deliberations by experts will then be taken up at the ministerial level during the annual session of the CSTD, scheduled for 17 to 21 May 2021.

Read these 12 moving essays about life during coronavirus

Artists, novelists, critics, and essayists are writing the first draft of history.

by Alissa Wilkinson

The world is grappling with an invisible, deadly enemy, trying to understand how to live with the threat posed by a virus . For some writers, the only way forward is to put pen to paper, trying to conceptualize and document what it feels like to continue living as countries are under lockdown and regular life seems to have ground to a halt.

So as the coronavirus pandemic has stretched around the world, it’s sparked a crop of diary entries and essays that describe how life has changed. Novelists, critics, artists, and journalists have put words to the feelings many are experiencing. The result is a first draft of how we’ll someday remember this time, filled with uncertainty and pain and fear as well as small moments of hope and humanity.

• The Vox guide to navigating the coronavirus crisis

At the New York Review of Books, Ali Bhutto writes that in Karachi, Pakistan, the government-imposed curfew due to the virus is “eerily reminiscent of past military clampdowns”:

Beneath the quiet calm lies a sense that society has been unhinged and that the usual rules no longer apply. Small groups of pedestrians look on from the shadows, like an audience watching a spectacle slowly unfolding. People pause on street corners and in the shade of trees, under the watchful gaze of the paramilitary forces and the police.

His essay concludes with the sobering note that “in the minds of many, Covid-19 is just another life-threatening hazard in a city that stumbles from one crisis to another.”

Writing from Chattanooga, novelist Jamie Quatro documents the mixed ways her neighbors have been responding to the threat, and the frustration of conflicting direction, or no direction at all, from local, state, and federal leaders:

Whiplash, trying to keep up with who’s ordering what. We’re already experiencing enough chaos without this back-and-forth. Why didn’t the federal government issue a nationwide shelter-in-place at the get-go, the way other countries did? What happens when one state’s shelter-in-place ends, while others continue? Do states still under quarantine close their borders? We are still one nation, not fifty individual countries. Right?

• A syllabus for the end of the world

Award-winning photojournalist Alessio Mamo, quarantined with his partner Marta in Sicily after she tested positive for the virus, accompanies his photographs in the Guardian of their confinement with a reflection on being confined :

The doctors asked me to take a second test, but again I tested negative. Perhaps I’m immune? The days dragged on in my apartment, in black and white, like my photos. Sometimes we tried to smile, imagining that I was asymptomatic, because I was the virus. Our smiles seemed to bring good news. My mother left hospital, but I won’t be able to see her for weeks. Marta started breathing well again, and so did I. I would have liked to photograph my country in the midst of this emergency, the battles that the doctors wage on the frontline, the hospitals pushed to their limits, Italy on its knees fighting an invisible enemy. That enemy, a day in March, knocked on my door instead.

In the New York Times Magazine, deputy editor Jessica Lustig writes with devastating clarity about her family’s life in Brooklyn while her husband battled the virus, weeks before most people began taking the threat seriously:

At the door of the clinic, we stand looking out at two older women chatting outside the doorway, oblivious. Do I wave them away? Call out that they should get far away, go home, wash their hands, stay inside? Instead we just stand there, awkwardly, until they move on. Only then do we step outside to begin the long three-block walk home. I point out the early magnolia, the forsythia. T says he is cold. The untrimmed hairs on his neck, under his beard, are white. The few people walking past us on the sidewalk don’t know that we are visitors from the future. A vision, a premonition, a walking visitation. This will be them: Either T, in the mask, or — if they’re lucky — me, tending to him.

Essayist Leslie Jamison writes in the New York Review of Books about being shut away alone in her New York City apartment with her 2-year-old daughter since she became sick:

The virus. Its sinewy, intimate name. What does it feel like in my body today? Shivering under blankets. A hot itch behind the eyes. Three sweatshirts in the middle of the day. My daughter trying to pull another blanket over my body with her tiny arms. An ache in the muscles that somehow makes it hard to lie still. This loss of taste has become a kind of sensory quarantine. It’s as if the quarantine keeps inching closer and closer to my insides. First I lost the touch of other bodies; then I lost the air; now I’ve lost the taste of bananas. Nothing about any of these losses is particularly unique. I’ve made a schedule so I won’t go insane with the toddler. Five days ago, I wrote Walk/Adventure! on it, next to a cut-out illustration of a tiger—as if we’d see tigers on our walks. It was good to keep possibility alive.

At Literary Hub, novelist Heidi Pitlor writes about the elastic nature of time during her family’s quarantine in Massachusetts:

During a shutdown, the things that mark our days—commuting to work, sending our kids to school, having a drink with friends—vanish and time takes on a flat, seamless quality. Without some self-imposed structure, it’s easy to feel a little untethered. A friend recently posted on Facebook: “For those who have lost track, today is Blursday the fortyteenth of Maprilay.” ... Giving shape to time is especially important now, when the future is so shapeless. We do not know whether the virus will continue to rage for weeks or months or, lord help us, on and off for years. We do not know when we will feel safe again. And so many of us, minus those who are gifted at compartmentalization or denial, remain largely captive to fear. We may stay this way if we do not create at least the illusion of movement in our lives, our long days spent with ourselves or partners or families.

• What day is it today?

Novelist Lauren Groff writes at the New York Review of Books about trying to escape the prison of her fears while sequestered at home in Gainesville, Florida:

Some people have imaginations sparked only by what they can see; I blame this blinkered empiricism for the parks overwhelmed with people, the bars, until a few nights ago, thickly thronged. My imagination is the opposite. I fear everything invisible to me. From the enclosure of my house, I am afraid of the suffering that isn’t present before me, the people running out of money and food or drowning in the fluid in their lungs, the deaths of health-care workers now growing ill while performing their duties. I fear the federal government, which the right wing has so—intentionally—weakened that not only is it insufficient to help its people, it is actively standing in help’s way. I fear we won’t sufficiently punish the right. I fear leaving the house and spreading the disease. I fear what this time of fear is doing to my children, their imaginations, and their souls.

At ArtForum , Berlin-based critic and writer Kristian Vistrup Madsen reflects on martinis, melancholia, and Finnish artist Jaakko Pallasvuo’s 2018 graphic novel Retreat , in which three young people exile themselves in the woods:

In melancholia, the shape of what is ending, and its temporality, is sprawling and incomprehensible. The ambivalence makes it hard to bear. The world of Retreat is rendered in lush pink and purple watercolors, which dissolve into wild and messy abstractions. In apocalypse, the divisions established in genesis bleed back out. My own Corona-retreat is similarly soft, color-field like, each day a blurred succession of quarantinis, YouTube–yoga, and televized press conferences. As restrictions mount, so does abstraction. For now, I’m still rooting for love to save the world.

At the Paris Review , Matt Levin writes about reading Virginia Woolf’s novel The Waves during quarantine:

A retreat, a quarantine, a sickness—they simultaneously distort and clarify, curtail and expand. It is an ideal state in which to read literature with a reputation for difficulty and inaccessibility, those hermetic books shorn of the handholds of conventional plot or characterization or description. A novel like Virginia Woolf’s The Waves is perfect for the state of interiority induced by quarantine—a story of three men and three women, meeting after the death of a mutual friend, told entirely in the overlapping internal monologues of the six, interspersed only with sections of pure, achingly beautiful descriptions of the natural world, a day’s procession and recession of light and waves. The novel is, in my mind’s eye, a perfectly spherical object. It is translucent and shimmering and infinitely fragile, prone to shatter at the slightest disturbance. It is not a book that can be read in snatches on the subway—it demands total absorption. Though it revels in a stark emotional nakedness, the book remains aloof, remote in its own deep self-absorption.

• Vox is starting a book club. Come read with us!

In an essay for the Financial Times, novelist Arundhati Roy writes with anger about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s anemic response to the threat, but also offers a glimmer of hope for the future:

Historically, pandemics have forced humans to break with the past and imagine their world anew. This one is no different. It is a portal, a gateway between one world and the next. We can choose to walk through it, dragging the carcasses of our prejudice and hatred, our avarice, our data banks and dead ideas, our dead rivers and smoky skies behind us. Or we can walk through lightly, with little luggage, ready to imagine another world. And ready to fight for it.

From Boston, Nora Caplan-Bricker writes in The Point about the strange contraction of space under quarantine, in which a friend in Beirut is as close as the one around the corner in the same city:

It’s a nice illusion—nice to feel like we’re in it together, even if my real world has shrunk to one person, my husband, who sits with his laptop in the other room. It’s nice in the same way as reading those essays that reframe social distancing as solidarity. “We must begin to see the negative space as clearly as the positive, to know what we don’t do is also brilliant and full of love,” the poet Anne Boyer wrote on March 10th, the day that Massachusetts declared a state of emergency. If you squint, you could almost make sense of this quarantine as an effort to flatten, along with the curve, the distinctions we make between our bonds with others. Right now, I care for my neighbor in the same way I demonstrate love for my mother: in all instances, I stay away. And in moments this month, I have loved strangers with an intensity that is new to me. On March 14th, the Saturday night after the end of life as we knew it, I went out with my dog and found the street silent: no lines for restaurants, no children on bicycles, no couples strolling with little cups of ice cream. It had taken the combined will of thousands of people to deliver such a sudden and complete emptiness. I felt so grateful, and so bereft.

And on his own website, musician and artist David Byrne writes about rediscovering the value of working for collective good , saying that “what is happening now is an opportunity to learn how to change our behavior”:

In emergencies, citizens can suddenly cooperate and collaborate. Change can happen. We’re going to need to work together as the effects of climate change ramp up. In order for capitalism to survive in any form, we will have to be a little more socialist. Here is an opportunity for us to see things differently — to see that we really are all connected — and adjust our behavior accordingly. Are we willing to do this? Is this moment an opportunity to see how truly interdependent we all are? To live in a world that is different and better than the one we live in now? We might be too far down the road to test every asymptomatic person, but a change in our mindsets, in how we view our neighbors, could lay the groundwork for the collective action we’ll need to deal with other global crises. The time to see how connected we all are is now.

The portrait these writers paint of a world under quarantine is multifaceted. Our worlds have contracted to the confines of our homes, and yet in some ways we’re more connected than ever to one another. We feel fear and boredom, anger and gratitude, frustration and strange peace. Uncertainty drives us to find metaphors and images that will let us wrap our minds around what is happening.

Yet there’s no single “what” that is happening. Everyone is contending with the pandemic and its effects from different places and in different ways. Reading others’ experiences — even the most frightening ones — can help alleviate the loneliness and dread, a little, and remind us that what we’re going through is both unique and shared by all.

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Events Other articles in this Edition >>

Technology in times of pandemic, 25 february 2021.

WCO events went digital in 2020, including the WCO annual conference dedicated to technology, recently rebranded as the WCO TECH-CON. The theme of the 2020 edition [1] was dictated by the circumstances, and the 50 speakers were asked to share their experience of how technology had helped them manage the new constraints and challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Below are just some of the ideas gleaned from the event which attracted 1300 participants from 142 countries.

Accelerating the use of technology

Representing Customs, the private sector, international organizations and academia, all speakers agreed that the use of technology had accelerated since the beginning of the crisis, and that a number of lessons could be drawn from the previous few months. They echoed the conclusion of consulting firm McKinsey & Company, along with many others, who noted that “responses to COVID-19 have speeded up the adoption of digital technology by several years and many of these changes could be here for the long haul”. [2]

The pandemic has also provided an opportunity to internalize the idea of digitization, which was always an option, but not necessarily a priority, for governments and their agencies. Customs administrations have used the opportunity to advance digitalization initiatives that were already underway, as well as to instigate new technology projects to eliminate the use of hard copies and cash, for example. It has proven to be a very transformative period. In some instances, governments have made major changes and the private sector has struggled to keep up.

Keeping officers and clients safe

The pandemic has called for solutions to ensure that officers not working remotely, and the people they come in contact with, such as drivers or declarants, do not spread the virus. These solutions include the use of infrared fever measuring equipment, protective shields, and safe passage booths. Some administrations have devised a regional driver tracking system, allowing for COVID-19 test results performed on lorry drivers to be sent in advance of the arrival of the driver in the neighbouring country. Others have turned to remote monitoring tools such as drones, cameras and other devices to enable their officers to reduce physical movements and contact. It was also felt that there was an opportunity to leverage technology for the benefit of Authorized Economic Operators (AEOs), including for validating and re-validating their status in a remote manner, and supporting implementation of Mutual Recognition Agreements/Arrangements (MRAs), thus facilitating cross-border trade.

Advance electronic information is key to efficient clearance

Systems enabling the reception and sharing of pre-arrival information are considered to be the main tools enabling Customs and other agencies to speed up clearance and provide priority passage for critical consignments.

The event highlighted the fact that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often do not provide Customs with advance electronic information. In some countries, it may be necessary to help SMEs identify ways of submitting information in advance and thus benefitting from faster clearance.

Technology is an interagency cooperation enabler

The event recognized the role of single window solutions in facilitating interagency cooperation during the clearance process. It also pointed to the benefits of centralizing and sharing inspection data on a single platform.

Accepting electronic documents has been a game changer and should continue

Many administrations decided to allow the submission of electronic certificates and permits during the pandemic, rather than the paper form. Some participants pointed out that scanned copies could be challenging to process, as optical character recognition (OCR) or Artificial Intelligence technology was needed to extract digital data. Private sector representatives expressed the need for Customs to continue maintaining such practices even after the crisis, and to work towards the digitization of all trade-related documents. The need to build a proper legal framework and develop international standards was also mentioned.

Managing cross-border e-commerce transactions

The biggest challenges were encountered with data availability to Customs and data quality, especially with the tremendous growth of e-commerce transactions where there are new and not yet clearly identified trading patterns requiring higher sophistication and accuracy of data analytics techniques for improved risk management.

Importance of data standards stressed once again

Commercial operators should not be asked to use specific data formats and requirements every time they interacted with a public body, as this generates additional compliance costs. Participants were reminded that, to respond to this issue, the WCO Data Model (DM) had been developed as a compilation of clearly structured, harmonized, standardized and reusable sets of data definitions and electronic messages. It was intended to meet the operational and legal requirements of cross-border regulatory agencies, including Customs, which were responsible for border management. Devised jointly by Customs and the private sector, the WCO Data Model is critical for successful data exchange at both the national, bilateral and multilateral levels.

Blockchain promising but pace of adoption slow

One of the prevailing topics of the WCO TECH-CON was the deployment of blockchain technology. It was widely agreed that this technology is very useful and could help give life to the concept of a data pipeline, which would contribute to improved risk analyses and better controls, and ultimately greater trade facilitation. However, as one speaker noted, while big carriers are investing in and backing blockchain solutions for electronic documents of title and electronic trade finance, there is a need for public blockchain platforms to onboard the small and medium stakeholders. Despite the opportunities it promised, only a limited number of Customs administrations have embarked on pilots, and even fewer on full deployment of platforms based on the technology. Harmonized regulatory frameworks and neutral blockchains were seen as conditions for the uptake of the technology.

Connecting systems should be a priority

The digital format of the information collected from various IT systems can differ. Regulatory bodies such as Customs authorities could theoretically have access to data-rich ecosystems managed by public and private entities, and be able to record the journey of a shipment along the supply chain. However, this goldmine of information is not as valuable if there is no standardized and up-to-date means for Customs to collect and interpret this data.

Shift to teleworking

Most administrations adapted quickly to the new circumstances, with the staff starting to work from home. Members had to increase their bandwidth and reached out to providers for support in obtaining collaborative on-line tools. Clear benefits such as reduced commuting time, in many cases more efficiency, increased possibilities for participation in on-line trainings and events were observed. However, there was agreement that inability of inspection staff to telework, potential security breaches, poor internet connection and lack of opportunities for informal discussions and networking, was a clear disadvantage, especially for officers joining the administrations for the first time.

Need to keep an open mind

Flexibility was a word that was heard a lot during the three days of the conference: when discussing the platforms developed to collect and analyse data, when reviewing processes and workflows in the event of incidents, and when looking at possible measures to respond to a constraint, such as the need to limit physical contacts while enabling safe movements of goods and the people moving them.

The speakers supported a strong role for the WCO in continuing to be a platform for Customs multilateral cooperation and sharing of experiences on digitization. There was also an expectation that Customs should take the lead in promoting digitization not only with public entities, but also with private sector stakeholders participating in international trade.

Technology makes it possible to recalibrate procedures, training, and deployment of staff, among other things. With this in mind, the WCO Secretariat will continue to stimulate the exchange of information on the various technologies used to manage the flows of goods, people and conveyances across borders, and on progress made towards a digital supply chain. Most articles in this edition of the WCO Magazine relate to the implementation of technology, another testimony of the importance of technology for the Customs and trade community.

More information [email protected]

[1] The conference was held from 11 to 13 November 2020

[2] https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/how-covid-19-has-pushed-companies-over-the-technology-tipping-point-and-transformed-business-forever

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The WCO launches its new strategic planning cycle

Project tentacle: enhancing law enforcement capacity to tackle money laundering and terrorism financing, environmental enforcement: overview of wco latest and future activities, new documents added to the wco e-commerce package, data analytics course available on clikc, recovery, renewal and resilience: a few words about the wco theme for 2021, dematerialization of customs procedures: feedback from moroccan customs, digitization of ata carnets: overview of the icc pilot project, how digital tools can improve compliance with sps measures, what the example of montenegro’s new pre-arrival processing capabilities tell us about customs performance measurement, tradetrust: accelerating the digitalization of international trade, improving strategic trade detection and classification through machine learning, improving data sharing with blockchain, malaysia customs conducts online factory acceptance test, waste trafficking: suggestions to improve enforcement, single window and service level agreements facilitate cross border trade in oman, assessing the cargo release process: brazil shares its experience, communications and collaboration tools: understanding the risks and opportunities, harmonization of procedures is still work in progress, transforming customs operations management teams into strategic players, focus: controlling product quality and safety, operation stop: achievements and future prospects, controlling product safety and security in times of covid-19, food and feed safety: identifying missing links to unleash the full benefits of cooperation, nigeria: two agencies, one mission.

• #Technology

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Education technology post-COVID-19: A missed opportunity?

Subscribe to the center for universal education bulletin, emiliana vegas emiliana vegas former co-director - center for universal education , former senior fellow - global economy and development.

March 11, 2022

While technology has transformed most industries—from air travel, to finance, to health care—it has yet to do the same in education. Before COVID-19, most school systems across the world did not look strikingly different from how they did in the 20th or even 19th centuries. And investments in ed tech had mostly focused on deploying devices and connectivity, without much regard to their use by teachers and students for learning. Thus, it is not surprising that impact evaluations of investments — for example, the “ one laptop per child at home” study in Peru — found no impact on student learning.  

In a recent report co-authored with Alejandro Ganimian (NYU) and Rick Hess (American Enterprise Institute), “ Realizing the promise: How can education technology improve learning for all? , ” we built on a simple yet intuitive theoretical framework  created over two decades ago by two of the most prominent education researchers in the United States, David Cohen and Deborah Ball. They argued that the main reason so many school reforms had failed in the U.S. is the failure to pay adequate attention to what matters most to improve learning: the interactions between educators and learners around educational materials—what they termed the “instructional core.”  

My co-authors and I argue that the failed school-improvement efforts in the U.S. that motivated Cohen and Ball’s framework resemble the ed-tech reforms in much of the developing world in the lack of clarity around improving the interactions among educators, learners, and the educational material. We built on their framework by adding parents as key agents that mediate the relationships among learners, educators, and the material.  

After an extensive review of the evidence showing how ed-tech interventions are effective in improving student learning in low- and middle-income countries, we concluded that ed tech is most effective when it complements, not substitutes, the work of teachers. Specifically, we found that ed-tech interventions are most effective when they play to one or more of its comparative advantages: (1) scaling up quality instruction; (2) facilitating personalized instruction; (3) expanding opportunities for practice; and (4) increasing learner engagement (making it more fun to learn!).  

What is perhaps most troubling is that as countries are reopening schools, they are going back to how education was delivered before the pandemic, instead of seizing the opportunity of the disruption to transform education.

This framework is even more useful now to understand the impact of the COVID-19-related school closures on student learning, and how (or to what extent) ed tech has been able to mitigate learning losses.  

Ed tech and mitigating learning loss  

Almost a year ago, I worked with another group of co-authors (George Psacharopoulos, Harry Patrinos, and Victoria Collis) to build on previous research by Harry and George on the economic returns to education around the world to estimate the impact on learning losses and productivity using various scenarios of length of school closures. Our goal was to send a message to policymakers about the urgent need to reopen schools. Our research , which was published in the April 2021 issue of the Comparative Education Review , estimated that the learning losses due to school closures were likely to lead to a reduction in global economic growth equivalent to an annual rate of 0.8 percent. This represents a total loss in constant U.S. dollars of a staggering $15 trillion. And, in absolute dollars, the losses are greatest in high-income countries, where learning levels and productivity tend to be higher. But over a cohort of students’ lifetimes, the losses as a share of GDP are much greater for students in low-income countries (62 percent) as compared to students in middle- (22 percent) and high-income (9 percent) countries. Using different assumptions and models, researchers at the World Bank and OECD have produced similar estimates.

But, a year later, we are seeing a series of empirical analyses of actual learning losses (as opposed to estimates), using data from students who missed out on school in various countries with varying levels of access to digital infrastructure, connectivity, and devices—and what we are seeing from this emerging evidence is sobering.

For instance, the Netherlands is a country that was relatively well equipped for online education, as 96 percent of Dutch households have access to the internet at home. While like most countries, the Netherlands closed schools in mid-March of 2020, it reopened them on May 11 of that year, and until June 7, children went to school part time to make groups smaller and easier to maintain social distance. Beginning on June 8, schools reopened at the regular schedule. By contrast, many countries in the developing world—including in South Asia, Africa, and Latin America , and the Caribbean—closed schools in mid-March and did not begin to reopen them until at least a year later.  

Despite the Netherland’s favorable conditions, a recent evaluation of learning growth among Dutch students found lower learning gains during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the growth of students in previous cohorts. Dutch students in grades one through five during 2020-2021 experienced average learning losses ranging from 0.06 to 0.20 standard deviations in reading and 0.13 to 0.33 standard deviations in math.  

While these are average learning losses, the research finds evidence of growing inequality, as students with less-educated parents and students from lower-income households experienced greater learning losses than their counterparts with more educated parents and from higher-income households. These larger learning losses compound previous already lower learning levels among the poor and children with parents with lower education levels. (Interestingly, there were no differences among students from migrant families or by gender).    

Recall that the Netherlands was well equipped for online learning and had relatively short periods of school closures. In contrast, in South Asia, Africa, and Latin America, many countries kept schools closed for more than one year, and some continue to keep schools closed two years after the onset of COVID-19 (Peru is an example). And few countries had the access to devices and connectivity of the Netherlands. For example, in April 2020, I wrote a Brookings report documenting that less than 25 percent of low-income countries were providing any type of remote learning, and of these, the majority were using TV and radio. In contrast, close to 90 percent of high-income countries were providing remote learning opportunities, nearly all of which were online. One notable exception is Uruguay, which over 15 years ago introduced a national one-to-one laptop/tablet program with connectivity for primary and secondary students. And, also exceptionally for the Latin American region, Uruguay began reopening schools in June of 2020.  

A missed opportunity

However, what is perhaps most troubling is that as countries are reopening schools, they are going back to how education was delivered before the pandemic, instead of seizing the opportunity of the disruption to transform education. For example, in Uruguay, as the government prepares to reopen schools again for the 2022-23 academic year, no reforms to the traditional curriculum or instructional methods—for example, by integrating technology in classrooms as opposed to using it primarily outside of them—have been announced.    

And there is still much to learn from exactly how different uses of ed tech at scale affected student learning during the school closures. While there are some rigorous evaluations of small-scale interventions (for example , the use of mobile phones and texting to reach primary-school students’ parents to mitigate learning losses in basic numeracy in Botswana), there are few evaluations of programs that were delivered at scale — for example, TV, radio, and online instructional platforms.  

While the disruptions caused by COVID-19 offered an historic opportunity to learn about what works at scale to transform education systems and realize the promise of education technology, it seems now that this is unlikely to happen, at least in a majority of low- and middle-income countries. This is truly a missed opportunity that will have lasting impacts on generations to come.   

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• Technology Essay

Essay on Technology

The word "technology" and its uses have immensely changed since the 20th century, and with time, it has continued to evolve ever since. We are living in a world driven by technology. The advancement of technology has played an important role in the development of human civilization, along with cultural changes. Technology provides innovative ways of doing work through various smart and innovative means. 

Electronic appliances, gadgets, faster modes of communication, and transport have added to the comfort factor in our lives. It has helped in improving the productivity of individuals and different business enterprises. Technology has brought a revolution in many operational fields. It has undoubtedly made a very important contribution to the progress that mankind has made over the years.

The Advancement of Technology:

Technology has reduced the effort and time and increased the efficiency of the production requirements in every field. It has made our lives easy, comfortable, healthy, and enjoyable. It has brought a revolution in transport and communication. The advancement of technology, along with science, has helped us to become self-reliant in all spheres of life. With the innovation of a particular technology, it becomes part of society and integral to human lives after a point in time.

Technology is Our Part of Life:

Technology has changed our day-to-day lives. Technology has brought the world closer and better connected. Those days have passed when only the rich could afford such luxuries. Because of the rise of globalisation and liberalisation, all luxuries are now within the reach of the average person. Today, an average middle-class family can afford a mobile phone, a television, a washing machine, a refrigerator, a computer, the Internet, etc. At the touch of a switch, a man can witness any event that is happening in far-off places.  

Benefits of Technology in All Fields: 

We cannot escape technology; it has improved the quality of life and brought about revolutions in various fields of modern-day society, be it communication, transportation, education, healthcare, and many more. Let us learn about it.

Technology in Communication:

With the advent of technology in communication, which includes telephones, fax machines, cellular phones, the Internet, multimedia, and email, communication has become much faster and easier. It has transformed and influenced relationships in many ways. We no longer need to rely on sending physical letters and waiting for several days for a response. Technology has made communication so simple that you can connect with anyone from anywhere by calling them via mobile phone or messaging them using different messaging apps that are easy to download.

Innovation in communication technology has had an immense influence on social life. Human socialising has become easier by using social networking sites, dating, and even matrimonial services available on mobile applications and websites.

Today, the Internet is used for shopping, paying utility bills, credit card bills, admission fees, e-commerce, and online banking. In the world of marketing, many companies are marketing and selling their products and creating brands over the internet. 

In the field of travel, cities, towns, states, and countries are using the web to post detailed tourist and event information. Travellers across the globe can easily find information on tourism, sightseeing, places to stay, weather, maps, timings for events, transportation schedules, and buy tickets to various tourist spots and destinations.

Technology in the Office or Workplace:

Technology has increased efficiency and flexibility in the workspace. Technology has made it easy to work remotely, which has increased the productivity of the employees. External and internal communication has become faster through emails and apps. Automation has saved time, and there is also a reduction in redundancy in tasks. Robots are now being used to manufacture products that consistently deliver the same product without defect until the robot itself fails. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technology are innovations that are being deployed across industries to reap benefits.

Technology has wiped out the manual way of storing files. Now files are stored in the cloud, which can be accessed at any time and from anywhere. With technology, companies can make quick decisions, act faster towards solutions, and remain adaptable. Technology has optimised the usage of resources and connected businesses worldwide. For example, if the customer is based in America, he can have the services delivered from India. They can communicate with each other in an instant. Every company uses business technology like virtual meeting tools, corporate social networks, tablets, and smart customer relationship management applications that accelerate the fast movement of data and information.

Technology in Education:

Technology is making the education industry improve over time. With technology, students and parents have a variety of learning tools at their fingertips. Teachers can coordinate with classrooms across the world and share their ideas and resources online. Students can get immediate access to an abundance of good information on the Internet. Teachers and students can access plenty of resources available on the web and utilise them for their project work, research, etc. Online learning has changed our perception of education. 

The COVID-19 pandemic brought a paradigm shift using technology where school-going kids continued their studies from home and schools facilitated imparting education by their teachers online from home. Students have learned and used 21st-century skills and tools, like virtual classrooms, AR (Augmented Reality), robots, etc. All these have increased communication and collaboration significantly. 

Technology in Banking:

Technology and banking are now inseparable. Technology has boosted digital transformation in how the banking industry works and has vastly improved banking services for their customers across the globe.

Technology has made banking operations very sophisticated and has reduced errors to almost nil, which were somewhat prevalent with manual human activities. Banks are adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) to increase their efficiency and profits. With the emergence of Internet banking, self-service tools have replaced the traditional methods of banking. 

You can now access your money, handle transactions like paying bills, money transfers, and online purchases from merchants, and monitor your bank statements anytime and from anywhere in the world. Technology has made banking more secure and safe. You do not need to carry cash in your pocket or wallet; the payments can be made digitally using e-wallets. Mobile banking, banking apps, and cybersecurity are changing the face of the banking industry.

Manufacturing and Production Industry Automation:

At present, manufacturing industries are using all the latest technologies, ranging from big data analytics to artificial intelligence. Big data, ARVR (Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality), and IoT (Internet of Things) are the biggest manufacturing industry players. Automation has increased the level of productivity in various fields. It has reduced labour costs, increased efficiency, and reduced the cost of production.

For example, 3D printing is used to design and develop prototypes in the automobile industry. Repetitive work is being done easily with the help of robots without any waste of time. This has also reduced the cost of the products. 

Technology in the Healthcare Industry:

Technological advancements in the healthcare industry have not only improved our personal quality of life and longevity; they have also improved the lives of many medical professionals and students who are training to become medical experts. It has allowed much faster access to the medical records of each patient. 

The Internet has drastically transformed patients' and doctors’ relationships. Everyone can stay up to date on the latest medical discoveries, share treatment information, and offer one another support when dealing with medical issues. Modern technology has allowed us to contact doctors from the comfort of our homes. There are many sites and apps through which we can contact doctors and get medical help. 

Breakthrough innovations in surgery, artificial organs, brain implants, and networked sensors are examples of transformative developments in the healthcare industry. Hospitals use different tools and applications to perform their administrative tasks, using digital marketing to promote their services.

Technology in Agriculture:

Today, farmers work very differently than they would have decades ago. Data analytics and robotics have built a productive food system. Digital innovations are being used for plant breeding and harvesting equipment. Software and mobile devices are helping farmers harvest better. With various data and information available to farmers, they can make better-informed decisions, for example, tracking the amount of carbon stored in soil and helping with climate change.

Disadvantages of Technology:

People have become dependent on various gadgets and machines, resulting in a lack of physical activity and tempting people to lead an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. Even though technology has increased the productivity of individuals, organisations, and the nation, it has not increased the efficiency of machines. Machines cannot plan and think beyond the instructions that are fed into their system. Technology alone is not enough for progress and prosperity. Management is required, and management is a human act. Technology is largely dependent on human intervention. 

Computers and smartphones have led to an increase in social isolation. Young children are spending more time surfing the internet, playing games, and ignoring their real lives. Usage of technology is also resulting in job losses and distracting students from learning. Technology has been a reason for the production of weapons of destruction.

Dependency on technology is also increasing privacy concerns and cyber crimes, giving way to hackers.

FAQs on Technology Essay

1. What is technology?

Technology refers to innovative ways of doing work through various smart means. The advancement of technology has played an important role in the development of human civilization. It has helped in improving the productivity of individuals and businesses.

2. How has technology changed the face of banking?

Technology has made banking operations very sophisticated. With the emergence of Internet banking, self-service tools have replaced the traditional methods of banking. You can now access your money, handle transactions, and monitor your bank statements anytime and from anywhere in the world. Technology has made banking more secure and safe.

3. How has technology brought a revolution in the medical field?

Patients and doctors keep each other up to date on the most recent medical discoveries, share treatment information, and offer each other support when dealing with medical issues. It has allowed much faster access to the medical records of each patient. Modern technology has allowed us to contact doctors from the comfort of our homes. There are many websites and mobile apps through which we can contact doctors and get medical help.

4. Are we dependent on technology?

Yes, today, we are becoming increasingly dependent on technology. Computers, smartphones, and modern technology have helped humanity achieve success and progress. However, in hindsight, people need to continuously build a healthy lifestyle, sorting out personal problems that arise due to technological advancements in different aspects of human life.

More From Forbes

Resecuring networks after pandemic-patchwork: strategies for remote and hybrid work models.

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Duane White is the Senior Vice President of Enterprise Solutions and Managed Services for Calian IT & Cyber Solutions .

Four years ago, Covid-19 changed the world, and the World Health Organization declared the virus a pandemic. This announcement set off a chain reaction in every industry as businesses across the globe raced to adapt to a new remote work paradigm.

Despite the existence of remote and hybrid work models before the pandemic, the sudden and widespread shift to remote arrangements exposed glaring vulnerabilities in company security stacks, and even now—four years later—organizations are still grappling with the cybersecurity consequences of makeshift solutions, hasty decisions and quick fixes.

While these adaptations were necessary to maintain business operations during the pandemic, it’s clear that they were stopgap measures. The years since the pandemic’s onset have revealed the need for immediate reinforcement and reevaluation of these hastily constructed networks.

Today, IT teams and cybersecurity professionals are discovering new vulnerabilities almost daily, many of which are tied to the rushed network implementations of four years ago. Unfortunately, the pandemic’s influence on our digital habits also contributed to a surge in cybercrime. The financial implications are staggering, with the cost of cybercrime projected to skyrocket from $9.22 trillion in 2024 to $13.82 trillion by 2028 .

Microsoft Update Warning—70% Of All Windows Users Now At Risk

Kamala harris picks tim walz as running mate: here’s what to know about him, ‘don’t be fooled’—coinbase issues serious warning after $800 billion bitcoin and crypto price crash.

So, what can organizations do to effectively navigate this pandemic-patchwork infrastructure? Every case will differ, but cybersecurity teams can all start by taking a step back, assessing the situation and adopting a proactive approach to network security and cybersecurity.

Implement more frequent audits.

It’s not enough to be aware of system security and practice vigilance on an occasional basis. Conducting assessments once a month or once a year is no longer sufficient.

Last year, internet users reported the highest number of common IT vulnerabilities and exposures, claiming 29,065 issues globally . Vulnerabilities emerge almost weekly, so regular health checks on organizational security postures must happen just as frequently.

IT teams can conduct scans and obtain reports to identify and address issues promptly. While finding a process that works may take some time, the benefits are clear. Consider this scenario: If a hacker successfully shuts down a major retail organization that makes $25 million a day in revenue, the cost could be catastrophic. Even small businesses bringing in a few thousand dollars each day could fold after a single cyber incident.

Awareness and vigilance regarding system security must be maintained on an almost daily basis to avoid business collapse.

Equip CISOs and teams with knowledge.

Chief information security officers (CISOs) are not just decision-makers; they play a critical role in security planning. Their expertise, which requires them to stay informed of the latest trends and emerging threats, is crucial in staying ahead of bad actors. CISOs, armed with this knowledge, are instrumental in creating and enforcing companywide policies that prioritize security across all levels of the organization.

Knowledge sharing is essential for preventing bad actors from getting ahead of organizations. CISOs must actively engage with other cybersecurity professionals, joining groups and forums where insights and best practices are frequently and freely exchanged. Encourage CISOs to attend conferences or trainings that enable them to think like a hacker. This information will not only help to anticipate potential attacks but fortify defenses as well.

CISOs can share this crucial information with IT teams, executives and other leaders. Effectively communicating potential threats and sharing resources on how to combat them will enable teams to quickly identify and mitigate risks at various levels.

If you don’t have a cybersecurity professional or IT person on staff, third-party cybersecurity solutions providers can operate as CISOs for your organization. They will have the same knowledge and access to best practices for your industry. Finally, be sure to relay critical cybersecurity information to clients and customers; they put their trust in your organization.

Evolve, improve, innovate.

Cybercrimes are becoming increasingly sophisticated with deepfakes, increased adoption of IoT devices, advanced phishing scams and more. These threats make it clear that businesses must adopt new tools and emerging technologies to remain vigilant.

But if there’s one thing we learned from the pandemic, it’s that rapid evolution leads to vulnerabilities. It’s no longer acceptable to rely solely on reactive measures; implement proactive cybersecurity practices now to avoid problems in the future.

Your networks are only as strong as your technology. Embrace a mindset of continuous improvement and innovation where security measures evolve alongside emerging threats. Work with cybersecurity experts to find the right tools and platforms for your business. For example, automation can help uncover vulnerabilities, provide round-the-clock protection, conduct frequent security scans, schedule regular updates and streamline IT operations to decrease workloads.

Investing in robust cybersecurity technologies and solutions is essential, and fostering a culture of security awareness among employees is equally important. Training programs and simulated cyberattack exercises can help train staff to identify vulnerabilities, reducing the likelihood of successful cyberattacks.

Cybersecurity training and awareness should happen frequently to adequately educate employees on the potential risks associated with the shared or unprotected networks they might encounter through a work-from-anywhere approach. Maintain constant communication and encourage employees to report suspicious emails, messages or other activities. Remind them to regularly update their software and secure their devices with firewalls, encryption and intrusion detection systems.

Remote and hybrid working models aren’t going anywhere. It’s up to business leaders to piece together the gaps created by a patchwork pandemic response. These efforts must begin by embracing a culture of security awareness, training teams, implementing emerging technologies and learning from past mistakes.

While the infrastructure implemented during the pandemic served its purpose, this next chapter requires organizations to prioritize a proactive approach to cybersecurity to mitigate risks, safeguard their digital assets and maintain business operations.

Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?

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So, Human Resources Is Making You Miserable?

Get in line behind the H.R. managers themselves, who say that since the pandemic, the job has become an exasperating ordeal. “People hate us,” one said.

By David Segal

Show of hands: Who’s fed up with human resources?

Maybe you’re irked by the endless flow of memos and forms, many of which need to be filled out, pronto. Maybe you’re irritated by new initiatives that regularly emerge from H.R., which never seems to run out of new initiatives, not all of them necessary or especially wise, in your opinion. Or you’ve got some problem with management and you don’t trust that H.R. representatives will actually help. They sure are friendly, but they get paid by the suits. In a crunch, it’s pretty clear whose side they are on.

The H.R. department bugs a lot of employees and managers, and it seems to have more detractors than ever since the pandemic began. That’s when H.R. began to administer rules about remote work and pay transparency, programs to improve diversity, equity and inclusion and everything else that has rattled and changed the workplace in the last four years.

But if the H.R. department is bothering you, here’s a fact you might find perversely consoling: You are not as aggravated or bummed out as the people who work in H.R.

That was obvious at Unleash, an annual three-day conference and expo held this year at Caesars Forum, an immense convention hall near the Las Vegas Strip. In May, the event brought together some 4,000 H.R. professionals from across the country. It was billed as a place where “global H.R. leaders come to do business and discover inspirational stories.”

It was more like a place where the H.R. department came to complain.

“Everything feels like a fool’s errand,” said Kyle Lagunas, a former H.R. executive at General Motors who now works at Aptitude Research, an H.R. advisory company based in Boston. He had just finished a highly animated presentation about H.R. tech in front of an audience of about 50 people. Now he sat in the designated media room and ranted a bit about the maddening challenges of running H.R. during and after the tumult of the pandemic.

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Child Tax Credit expansion boosted housing affordability and stability, study shows

by Jeff Karoub, University of Michigan

A temporary, pandemic-era expansion of the Child Tax Credit improved housing affordability for families with low incomes, according to University of Michigan research.

The study by Natasha Pilkauskas and Katherine Michelmore, associate professors of public policy, and Nicole Kovski, a former U-M postdoctoral fellow now at the University of Wisconsin, found that parents who got the monthly credit were less likely to owe past-due rent or mortgage payments and they were less likely to need to move because they couldn't afford their housing. It also allowed parents to gain residential independence from partners they were living with and reduce the number of people residing in their household, likely decreasing household crowding.

The researchers say their study focused on families most likely affected by the reforms—those with very low incomes and of particular interest to policymakers. No prior studies estimated the effects of the Child Tax Credit on living arrangements, despite research demonstrating how economic need and housing affordability can shape them.

In March 2021, Congress passed the temporary expansion of the Child Tax Credit to deal with the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on families with children. The benefit was increased from $2,000 to $3,600 per child under age 6 and to $3,000 per child aged 6–17, and eligibility was extended to families with no earnings. Half the credit was disbursed as a monthly payment from July to December 2021.

These reforms resulted in roughly 26 million children gaining credit eligibility or receiving higher benefits, nearly all of whom lived in low-income households.

However, lawmakers failed to garner enough support to make the changes permanent. By January 2022, the credit returned to its pre-2021 version, which had restrictions that meant that more than one quarter of the poorest children in the U.S. were ineligible for the full credit.

Analyzing national data from a sample of parents who received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, the researchers found larger effects of the monthly credit on housing affordability for lower earners than for higher earners. Further analyses by race and ethnicity showed the credit improved housing affordability more for Black and Hispanic households than for their white counterparts.

"Our findings suggest the monthly child tax credit helped low-income parents afford their housing," Pilkauskas said. "We know that stable housing is very important for children, and the evidence from our research suggests the credit helped families pay their rent and stay in their homes."

Michelmore said they thought the credit might reduce doubling up—where a child lives with other adults beyond their parents or parent's partner—but they found no evidence of that. Rather, she added, parents were less likely to live with a co-resident partner.

"We think this happens when couples break up but stay in the home for financial reasons," she said. "Once parents got the credit, they could afford to live independently."

The researchers caution there were some factors limiting them from drawing firm, absolute conclusions from their work. Among them: The monthly child tax credit was provided for only six months, families who thought the benefit was temporary might have been less likely to adjust their living arrangements, and the credit was distributed during a time of high inflation—challenges that likely mean the effects of the credit were underestimated.

Also, the expanded credit was distributed during a pandemic and shortly after the government implemented other forms of stimulus. These issues make it more difficult to generalize results.

Michelmore said the findings of their research could be useful for policymakers in the months ahead. Expansions to the Child Tax Credit implemented in 2018 will expire in 2025, so there will be conversations about how to reform the credit .

The study was published in the journal Demography .

Journal information: Demography

Provided by University of Michigan

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Journal of Materials Chemistry C

Alkyl modification to optimize the ferroelastic properties in molecular crystals.

Ferroelastics, as an important member of ferroic materials, have significant value in the application of the shape memory, mechanical switches, intelligent sensors, etc. With the development of the technology, ferroelastics with single property have certain limitations in expanding their further applications, and it is still a challenging topic to reasonably find multifunctional ferroelastics, especially those with multi-dielectric response and fluorescence properties. Here, under the guidance of the strategy of alkyl modification, (EMP)PbBr3 (EMP=N-ethyl-N-methyl-3-pyrroline) (compound 2) was obtained successfully by modifying the parent compound (DMP)PbBr3 (DMP=N,N-dimethyl-3-pyrroline) (compound 1). Of note, compound 2 was improved to triple dielectric response compared with double dielectric response of compound 1, and both ferroelastic phase transition temperature and photoluminescence quantum yield of compound 2 were improved. Such changes make compound 2 potentially application in smart electronic devices. This work provides some insights into the search for multifunctional ferroelastics.

• This article is part of the themed collection: Journal of Materials Chemistry C HOT Papers

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Z. Li, M. Zhu, F. Zhang, K. Ding, H. Ni, M. Lun, Y. Zhang and D. Fu, J. Mater. Chem. C , 2024, Accepted Manuscript , DOI: 10.1039/D4TC02784A

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