The Power of Technology in Times of Crisis
June 4, 2020
Technology has played a vital role in the lives of consumers and businesses since its inception. Innovators like Alan Turing helped bring about modern computing and artificial intelligence, while visionaries like Martin Cooper imagined a Star Trek Communicator that would later become the mobile phone. Love it or hate it; technology has the power to improve lives.
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, we could all use a little light and advanced digital means of communication as we shelter in place. COVID-19 has necessitated a shift to remote work filled with frequent video conferences, as well as offsite software and hardware, to keep businesses and employees connected and working without a physical office. All things made possible through the power of technology.
Some technologies are having a bit of a “hero” moment by improving lives and business processes, including:
Video Conferencing and Communication Applications
Video technology, video conferencing and instant messengers are not new, but the importance of remote communication has certainly come full center the past few months. We no longer take for granted weekly staff meetings and seeing colleagues face-to-face or video calls with family members or friends we haven’t physically met in months.
Video conferencing solutions like Zoom, Google Meet and Uber Conference have taken center stage in a post-pandemic world where hundreds of millions of people have been working from home. Tasked with conducting business meetings remotely, large and small companies have flocked to video conferencing to connect digitally and get business done. Remote teams have taken to Slack, Skype and other instant messengers to communicate just like they would from their desks or while sharing a laugh at the water cooler.
As one of the world’s first virtual PR firms, we’ve used these technologies explicitly for years at MGP to keep our PR team of professionals connected. It’s exciting to see the viability of completely remote workforces now being looked at in a whole new light. For millions of workers who have long been clamoring for more work-life balance, remote work could be the answer even after the pandemic. Even tech giants like Twitter, Facebook and more have publicly stated that many employees will be allowed to work from home in perpetuity.
Biotech and HealthTech
Business and government agencies have spent almost $2 trillion on health-related R&D since 1995 in the United States. Every technological advancement in pharma and biotech has led to where we are today, facing down a new strain of a virus and positioned to fight it. The advances in genetics, lab machines and software to identify and isolate virus strains give the world hope for an eventual vaccine. We no longer live in the 1800s when leech therapy was considered modern medicine — something we can all be thankful for!
The onset of COVID-19 has also pushed telemedicine and teletherapy to the forefront, enabling doctors to consult patients by using HIPAA-compliant video-conferencing tools, renew prescriptions over the phone, or to diagnose symptoms without the need to visit a physical office. With social distancing, a crucial factor in combating the spread of disease, healthtech and its ability to facilitate viable solutions has never been quite as critical.
We’re living in uncertain times, but the utilization of technology helps to ease the stress in times of crisis and offers alternative means and solutions for taking on everyday challenges.
Jennifer Johnston
Senior Account Manager
The Power of Technology in Times of Crisis
June 4, 2020
Technology has played a vital role in the lives of consumers and businesses since its inception. Innovators like Alan Turing helped bring about modern computing and artificial intelligence, while visionaries like Martin Cooper imagined a Star Trek Communicator that would later become the mobile phone. Love it or hate it; technology has the power to improve lives.
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, we could all use a little light and advanced digital means of communication as we shelter in place. COVID-19 has necessitated a shift to remote work filled with frequent video conferences, as well as offsite software and hardware, to keep businesses and employees connected and working without a physical office. All things made possible through the power of technology.
Some technologies are having a bit of a “hero” moment by improving lives and business processes, including:
Video Conferencing and Communication Applications
Video technology, video conferencing and instant messengers are not new, but the importance of remote communication has certainly come full center the past few months. We no longer take for granted weekly staff meetings and seeing colleagues face-to-face or video calls with family members or friends we haven’t physically met in months.
Video conferencing solutions like Zoom, Google Meet and Uber Conference have taken center stage in a post-pandemic world where hundreds of millions of people have been working from home. Tasked with conducting business meetings remotely, large and small companies have flocked to video conferencing to connect digitally and get business done. Remote teams have taken to Slack, Skype and other instant messengers to communicate just like they would from their desks or while sharing a laugh at the water cooler.
As one of the world’s first virtual PR firms, we’ve used these technologies explicitly for years at MGP to keep our PR team of professionals connected. It’s exciting to see the viability of completely remote workforces now being looked at in a whole new light. For millions of workers who have long been clamoring for more work-life balance, remote work could be the answer even after the pandemic. Even tech giants like Twitter, Facebook and more have publicly stated that many employees will be allowed to work from home in perpetuity.
Biotech and HealthTech
Business and government agencies have spent almost $2 trillion on health-related R&D since 1995 in the United States. Every technological advancement in pharma and biotech has led to where we are today, facing down a new strain of a virus and positioned to fight it. The advances in genetics, lab machines and software to identify and isolate virus strains give the world hope for an eventual vaccine. We no longer live in the 1800s when leech therapy was considered modern medicine — something we can all be thankful for!
The onset of COVID-19 has also pushed telemedicine and teletherapy to the forefront, enabling doctors to consult patients by using HIPAA-compliant video-conferencing tools, renew prescriptions over the phone, or to diagnose symptoms without the need to visit a physical office. With social distancing, a crucial factor in combating the spread of disease, healthtech and its ability to facilitate viable solutions has never been quite as critical.
We’re living in uncertain times, but the utilization of technology helps to ease the stress in times of crisis and offers alternative means and solutions for taking on everyday challenges.