The novel coronavirus pandemic is a global tragedy. At least one million people have died from the virus. The International Monetary Fund is predicting that the pandemic will cost over $28tn in lost output. How we live and work will never be the same. Consequently, this experience is revealing different kinds of innovation from people and communities everywhere, which is both interesting and inspiring amidst the coronavirus calamity. Here are three examples of innovation inspired by the pandemic.
Halloween
Here in Vancouver, British Columbia we weren’t totally sure how Halloween 2020 was going to unfold (other than knowing that all the fireworks in the city would be exploded). Something that absolutely delighted kids and parents alike were the examples of candy-delivery-innovation on display. Across two blocks of trick-or-treating our family experienced two-story, winding tubes that sent candy from balconies to bags in seconds. We also gathered treats from designs that ranged from low tech (a tube duct taped to a table) to very sophisticated (an electrical and mechanical system that delivered candy at the push of a button).
The Halloween experience saw folks keep their distance while staying connected and creativity was catalytic for making it happen because human beings are naturally creative.
Worklife rituals
When you think about it, handshakes are pretty gross. CBC’s Uytae Lee shares some insights about the weird ritual of shaking hands: “A social norm turned faux-pas due to COVID-19, some experts, such as U.S. infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci, have gone so far as to propose ending the germ-spreading greeting forever.” While we might not get rid of the ritual, argues Lee, we will probably replace it.
Whether it’s handshakes, high fives, or hugs, the teams that connect by touching the most have higher levels of success … at least in the NBA. Okay, so you can’t shake hands anymore. Given that most of our everyday communication is through non-verbal signals, think about how you might incorporate elbow bumps, hand-on-heart, or a friendly wave into your greeting toolkit. I prefer the hand-on-heart gesture combined with a warm smile and eye contact myself.
Boomers be digital
My Baby Boomer parents and their friends have taken their strong relationships to virtual places. For example, they play Balderdash on Zoom by using breakout rooms (I think). Recently, I participated in a climate action sing-along with Canadian Hero, Raffi, who delighted dozens of kids and parents with stories about environmental activism and sang songs via Zoom.
Across generations folks are connecting virtually more than ever, which means adopting new habits that foster connection and enhance digital fluency. My hope is that this behaviour increases technical savvy and reduces virtual scams against all of us, especially against elderly folks.
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This article was originally published on November 4, 2020 (which seems like 5,000 years ago).