Nothing has been the same nor will ever be the same again. We can all agree that the COVID-19 pandemic has forced out of our routines, changing the way we live, and therefore –– changing the way we use technology.
Before the pandemic, people relied on their phones: for communication, entertainment, navigation, and a slew of other things. Those with wearable technology have also relied on their devices for health tracking, hands-free navigation, and even just to look cool in that techie kind of way. Over the years, technology has shaped people’s lifestyles for both better and worse. But when the pandemic hit, the use of technology has shifted further, making us rely on various new innovations to ease the pain of drastic lifestyle changes.
Here are some consumer tech trends we’ve seen happening:
Video Conferencing
You cannot mention “pandemic” and “technology” without thinking of video calls. It has become the safest way to connect with far-off friends and keep business as usual with coworkers. Video conferencing is nothing new but it has certain become the top trend in work-from-home –– and everything-from-home –– setups. With applications like Zoom, FaceTime, Facebook Messenger Rooms, and countless others, life goes on for friend groups, families, and businesses. The trend has also become a staple for virtual consultations with doctors and getting that much-needed prescription without stepping out of the house.
5G
With leading telecommunication companies now rolling out 5G networking, it won’t be a surprise when it becomes the norm. 5G boasts of low latency communication which cuts communication delay to one millisecond, compared with 4G LTE’s 200 milliseconds. It also has the potential to reach 10 gigabytes per second data transmission. All of this means that every activity, from video calls to streaming, will be improved. So expect to find people browsing more now that they can browse faster.
(Figures from nutanix.com and thalesgroup.com)
AR and VR
With the bulk of experiences now happening digitally, it only makes sense to see augmented and virtual realities becoming more ubiquitous technologies because of their ability to immerse people in a three-dimensional faux reality. People stuck at home may wander the halls of the world’s most famous museums through virtual tours. They can try on makeup without letting their skin get in contact with products that others have tried on, through the use of augmented reality.
Cloud Tech
Because of the shift from offices to remote working, cloud-based technology has seen a rise in prominence. The Cloud is where everything is stored and with people unable to walk up to their coworkers to share files using flash disks and external hard drives, cloud technology has become an important tool for anyone working from home.
Learning from Home
The pandemic forced schools to temporarily close down. Schools have adapted to this tidal wave of change by embracing distance learning. Students of all ages are now continuing their schoolwork through learning management systems (LMS). Learning Management System is a software that helps in the delivery of educational programs and courses. More advanced systems can even track a student’s skill progression and recommend learning materials to fit the learner’s needs. That’s cool enough for school!
Before the pandemic, people relied on their phones: for communication, entertainment, navigation, and a slew of other things. Those with wearable technology have also relied on their devices for health tracking, hands-free navigation, and even just to look cool in that techie kind of way. Over the years, technology has shaped people’s lifestyles for both better and worse. But when the pandemic hit, the use of technology has shifted further, making us rely on various new innovations to ease the pain of drastic lifestyle changes.
Here are some consumer tech trends we’ve seen happening:
Video Conferencing
You cannot mention “pandemic” and “technology” without thinking of video calls. It has become the safest way to connect with far-off friends and keep business as usual with coworkers. Video conferencing is nothing new but it has certain become the top trend in work-from-home –– and everything-from-home –– setups. With applications like Zoom, FaceTime, Facebook Messenger Rooms, and countless others, life goes on for friend groups, families, and businesses. The trend has also become a staple for virtual consultations with doctors and getting that much-needed prescription without stepping out of the house.
5G
With leading telecommunication companies now rolling out 5G networking, it won’t be a surprise when it becomes the norm. 5G boasts of low latency communication which cuts communication delay to one millisecond, compared with 4G LTE’s 200 milliseconds. It also has the potential to reach 10 gigabytes per second data transmission. All of this means that every activity, from video calls to streaming, will be improved. So expect to find people browsing more now that they can browse faster.
(Figures from nutanix.com and thalesgroup.com)
AR and VR
With the bulk of experiences now happening digitally, it only makes sense to see augmented and virtual realities becoming more ubiquitous technologies because of their ability to immerse people in a three-dimensional faux reality. People stuck at home may wander the halls of the world’s most famous museums through virtual tours. They can try on makeup without letting their skin get in contact with products that others have tried on, through the use of augmented reality.
Cloud Tech
Because of the shift from offices to remote working, cloud-based technology has seen a rise in prominence. The Cloud is where everything is stored and with people unable to walk up to their coworkers to share files using flash disks and external hard drives, cloud technology has become an important tool for anyone working from home.
Learning from Home
The pandemic forced schools to temporarily close down. Schools have adapted to this tidal wave of change by embracing distance learning. Students of all ages are now continuing their schoolwork through learning management systems (LMS). Learning Management System is a software that helps in the delivery of educational programs and courses. More advanced systems can even track a student’s skill progression and recommend learning materials to fit the learner’s needs. That’s cool enough for school!