A year since lockdown: How has technology adapted to the challenges and changes of the pandemic

As the pandemic rages on causing concern around the world, it has created new challenges that have brought upon new solutions. To help contain the virus and minimise its spread, lockdowns have been introduced. This has given birth to home schooling and remote working.

However, for a seamless transition between our old normal and new normal, there has been one component that has taken centre stage to allow for a gradual and proactive transition and that is technology.

Over the past year, technology has accelerated, being the much needed solution to the new ways of living and working. At the beginning of the pandemic, online video calling software such as Zoom were helping to keep businesses that were still able to operate connected.

The uncertainty of the pandemic has also made many businesses without an online presence rethink their business model. This is especially true for luxury brands who prided themselves on customer experience only to be left with poor levels of sales when brick and mortar shops were closed. There are a number of technologies that have accelerated over the past year and here's a look at some.

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence is one piece of technology that has been gaining momentum over the years. Is it estimated that by 2030, AI products will be contributing a colossal 15.7trillion dollars to the global economy. A few technologies such as intelligent data processing and speech and facial recognition have been made possible on smart devices thanks to the capabilities of AI and the installation of high-end tech like A14 Bionic chipsets.

In all truth, consumer behaviour has been altered so much thanks to the pandemic, it will be a long time till we begin to see consumer behaviour go back to how it was, if ever. We will see online purchasing continue to increase over the years as well as an increase in remote working. The application of AI will be extremely valuable as businesses begin to open, adapting to these new trends.

With this in mind, AI will be particularly useful for retail and supply chain as machine learning and advanced data analytics will help AI dedicate new purchasing patterns delivering a personal experience to customers. AI tools have the bailey to analyse large amounts of data and learn patterns and trends within them and then make decisions made off the back of its findings to predict human behaviour and recognise images and human speech. AI systems have the ability to continually learn and adapt which makes those qualities extreme valuable post pandemic.

Virtually Reality

Lockdowns have made many turn to gaming as an alternative reality. The use of VR headset have gone up over the course of the pandemic as many are exploring virtual travel destinations and accelerating their gaming efforts. Using this type of technology helps consumers seek human interaction through social VR platforms as face-to-face interaction is at a halt.

On a business level, some businesses are also experimenting with VR platforms to help train employees, collaborate, hold conferences and connect employees for better collaboration.

Cloud Computing

Working from home has caused a sudden spike in cloud computing. Microsoft reported a 775% increase in cloud computing demands over the pandemic. It is likely likely to implement a surge in popularity as as many implement cloud computing across all types of app and businesses, we will see not only cloud computing use for business and educational use but also down to consumer use as it begin to implement into mobile applications making it easier to access information.

Internet of Thing

The IoT will make systems and processes much easier. Healthcare around the world has suffered immensely over the course of the pandemic and the IoT things could be implemented as a way of treating health issues by predicting it. IoT fuels edge computing which means data storage and computation can become closer to their devices. Not only will this improve latency experience by the user but it will also save bandwidth.

Besides the things explored above, the pandemic has also accelerated other technologies such as Blockchain technology and 5G technology. The biggest acceleration for technology over the pandemic has been used in the medical sector, as now ventilators are designed and not forgetting the development of vital medication like the vaccines, As we move to a new world with a new way of working, one thing for sure is that technology will the future.