Opportunity to Innovate

Words Lola Ayoola

As devastating as the COVID-19 pandemic has been for the entire world, it has changed the trajectory of many tech companies as well as created new opportunities to innovate in ways that haven’t been thought of before. Software developer, Lola Ayoola, gives us insight into a few of the new innovations.

Shutterstock

Zoom and Slack are just two of the companies who have boomed during the pandemic as the demand for their services increased drastically, adding billions to their worth in just a few months. As employers had to have staff work from home these services become the bases of communication within many businesses. As normal life changed for the world, it sparked a new set of creative and innovative game changers to push out new technology. 

Shutterstock

Robotics have become an invaluable technology during the pandemic as social distancing became our greatest weapon against the spread of COVID-19. Robots have made a big move from being used in controlled environments to now being more trusted and relied upon in uncontrolled settings, not to mention they have been on the frontline’s helping key workers. We have seen robots with ultraviolet lights disinfecting hospitals, delivering food and transporting samples. They have become invaluable assistants to workers and business. The pandemic has pushed the use and trust of robots into the mainstream whereas pre-pandemic there was a fear of automation, taking jobs and disrupting industries. We have seen that not only does provide safer working solutions but is a tool for efficiency and not a hindrance.

Artificial intelligence is another technology that has seen a great push in innovation because of the pandemic. Straight away AI was used as a tool to detect COVID-19 by picking up the visual markers of the virus on a person. Chinese internet search engine Baidu used AI to develop a system that uses infrared and facial recognition to scan 200 faces per minute as a way to keep up with the spread of the virus. AI has proved as a valuable tool and is being innovated at a faster pace than ever before.

Shutterstock

The healthcare system was pushed to its limits with the need for masks and other protective gear as well as healthcare equipment such as ventilators becoming scarce overnight. 3D printing has risen as a way to increase production of these essential things with different manufacturers joining forces to address the supply of protective gear and healthcare equipment. 3D printing has also provided new products needed specifically for this new COVID-19 world like plastic door handle adapters which allow people to open doors hands free. This has been made free by the Belgian 3D printing company who designed it to be used by anyone. Overall technology has been pushed into a new arena of innovation where health is at the forefront of problem solving.

Lola Ayoola - Software Developer