I frequently ask myself how this virus would have been handled 15 or 20 years ago.
While science and technology are going to play a fundamental role in digging ourselves out of the situation where we find ourselves in today, I wonder how much of a part they have in also taking us there in the first place.
I’ll stay away from the rabbit hole that is suggesting that this virus is somehow man-made, which is very possible (on this video, Bret Weinstein makes a great job of explaining this possibility using layman terms).
As of 2020, all the technological pieces where in place (and mature enough), for humankind to retreat into lockdowns in order to slow down the propagation of the virus.
I can quickly think of:
- Video conferencing. For many years, the bandwidth requirements made video conferencing more of a luxury. Nowadays the immense majority of the population (more than 80% in North-America) own a smartphone and “facetime” interactions have become the normal way of doing “phone-calls”? Zoom became a verb.
- Remote working tools and technologies. Most companies have been ready for remote working for years now, they just needed a little push to overcome the feeling of “not trusting” that your employees would be working unless they were under the vigilant eyes of their managers. Apart from the initial rush to get webcams and microphones, almost everybody was ready to “work from home”. I am guessing that it took a couple of months for companies to become efficient working from home, after that it just became very convenient. Tech companies behind the most popular productivity software revamped and improved their products in a matter of weeks.
- Cloud services. This is when the scalability premise of the cloud finally came in handy. Most companies, which have by now migrated their infrastructure to the cloud in some shape and form, were able to scale up pretty quick in order to support the usage spikes.
- E-commerce and delivery. The Amazon factor. In one way or another, mainly because of services like Amazon Prime, trust and familiarity in online online has become the norm and is no longer the exception. I order more than 90% of almost everything I buy online, except for groceries and clothes but I could switch to 100% if needed).
- Digital payments and financial technologies. I can count with my hand the number of visits I have made to the bank in the last 5 years. I make all my payments and also get paid electronically. Except for the shrinking list of small businesses that still do “cash” transactions, I don’t see many people going regularly to financial institutions for reasons that can’t be switch to online.
I don’t think it was an easy decision for politicians and governments to order the lockdowns but the fact that the technology needed to support them was mature enough at least made the decision viable.
When I read people arguing online about extending lockdowns and closing businesses I try to stay away from the discussion. I am now part of a privileged group: the “can” work from home group. I can work from the safety of my home and get pay the same, while many other people either have to go and risk their lives to make ends meet or have to stay home without the chance to work.
We, as society, are asking people to close their businesses, to stay home for very little money, to sacrifice for the great of the community. I ask myself this question: When the pandemic is over, are we going to tell this people, thanks for your sacrifice, now start over. Like soldiers coming back from a war, a big welcome ceremony and then leave them mostly alone dealing with their demons and PSTD.
I just hope that it is not the case, but the cynic in me, doesn’t share my optimism.