Research Paper Example on Technological Responses to the COVID-19 Crisis

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic has become a global health crisis, and it gets said to be the most significant challenge the world has encountered since World War Two. The outbreak of COVID-19 has resulted in thousands of deaths worldwide. Ever since the first coronavirus case got reported in China, researchers and scientists have been in the race of coming up with a vaccine that can cure the disease. Various technologies have also been innovated, hoping to curb the spread of this deadly virus. COVID-19 has affected the health sector and has also affected the economic, political, and even social life. Various governments went ahead to calling for lockdowns in their countries and restricting movements to curb the virus spread. Despite the enormous consequences the disease has caused the world, the pandemic has led to significant innovations and creativity. The study's main objective is to illustrate how technology plays a significant role in counteracting the societal challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study will focus on various technologies that have been innovated after the emergency and how they have aided in eliminating the many challenges people undergo. The information and data elaborated in this article were obtained from various research reviews and the economic world forum site. Some of the technology innovations include those devices used in telehealth like chatbots, those used in distance learning such as 3D printing and robot teachers, applications like zoom. Remote work technologies such as the use of cloud technology and virtual meetings. Various technologies that have made cashless payment possible are also elaborated in this article, among others. Identifying the various technologies innovated during this pandemic will help researchers and innovators identify the niche and open doors for more improvements to the available technologies. The study utilized a sampling method where video and phone call interviews were conducted. From the study, 30 firms reported having an effective adaptation of the new technology, and 20 firms were still struggling to adapt it due to cost constraints. The new technology has proven to be effective and efficient for most organizations.

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Keywords: COVID-19, Technology, Innovations, Emergencies

1. Background

COVID-19 is a viral disease first reported in Wuhan in China on 31st December 2019 (Barrios and Hochberg, 2020). As of 6th July 2020, 11,580,119 cases had been confirmed worldwide, with 537 179 deaths (Barrios and Hochberg, 2020). Fighting against the coronavirus has proven to be the most difficult and challenging thing. The virus has risen the poverty level in countries, especially those with an unstable economy. Many people have lost their income source, and no one knows when things will go back to how they were. The disease has now become a national pandemic, which has led to many people losing their lives. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is the virus that causes the disease. In 30 days, the virus had spread to most parts of China (Cappelli and Cini, 2020). Many of the coronaviruses affect animals, but humans can also acquire it due to their zoonotic nature (Depoux et al., 2020). Due to its high spreading rate, the world has been faced with a big challenge combating it. The disease has no discrimination on age as it affects both children and adults (Galanakis, 2020). As transportation posed a significant risk, the various governments called for lockdowns and restricted movement to prevent its spread. Most of the jobs got shifted to online, and numerous technological innovations emerged to cope with the new situation. Technologies earlier taken for granted have proven much success since lockdown, and social distancing policies got implemented (Goh and Sandars, 2020).

Many services are shifting from manual to digital at a very high pace that no one would have thought possible. Amid all these transformation difficulties and hardship caused by the COVID-19, an opportunity to address inequalities, modernize, and adapt the use of a new technology may be to the country's greater good. Therefore, technology adaptation plays a vital role in keeping society functional with this emergency (Goh and Sandars, 2020). Technology innovation began from disinfectant sprays to buzzing wristbands, which remind a person not to touch their face, to new wealthy prototypes that prove what human beings are capable of when faced with adversities.

1.1. Literature Review

Various researchers have conducted much research on newly adopted technology. According to Kapoor and colleagues, COVID-19 pose a great challenge in the healthcare sector worldwide (Kapoor et al., 2020). Digital systems are said to offer solutions to the healthcare emergency. Some of the solutions offered by digital systems include the innovation of surveillance systems, diagnostic tools, and telehealth (Kapoor et al., 2020). For instance, according to HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management System) statistics, 83% of healthcare in the U.S. is already using cloud service technology (Alwashmi, 2020). For instance, the SaaS software solutions available in the U.S. have made it easier for patients to consult with doctors via messaging options. 67% of the United States healthcare organizations have adapted to the new SaaS technology (Alwashmi, 2020). According to Goh and Sandars (2020), learning analytics and A.I. (artificially intelligent) are the two technologies that emerged after the coronavirus emergency. The technologies can interact with students via voice and text (Goh and Sandars, 2020). Robotic tutors are a good example of A.I. technology (Goh and Sandars, 2020).

1.2. Methods

The study utilized a sampling method to determine how useful and the various challenges different sectors face with the newly adapted technology. The individual characteristics of 50 firms that utilized the new technology were explored, and their feedbacks noted. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, 25 video interviews and 25 telephone calls interviews were utilized in the data collection. The overall number of questions used for the interview was ten. The interview questions revolved around adapting the new digital technology and the various challenges each firm encountered. Further information was obtained from organizations like the economic world forum and Healthcare Information and Management System.

1.3. Results

In general, the adaptation/adoption of the current technologies has gone up after the COVID-19 emergency. The most affected areas include the healthcare and education sectors. Many firms have been forced by circumstances to adapt to new technology. The urgency that firms had on implementing a practical and feasible solution due to coronavirus forced many firms to digitize their services. From the interviews conducted, all firms reported the usefulness of the newly adapted technology. Thirty firms had fully adapted to the new online technology, and only 20 were still struggling to adapt to the technology. For instance, in the educational sectors where the pandemic terminated learning, online streamed lectures and courses have been adapted.

1.4. Discussion

1.4.1. Adopted/Adapted Technology

COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many sectors worldwide. For instance, social distancing rules have led to many people working from their homes, and many students have been forced to study online. Many training programs and travel have been halted. Physical workshops, clinical and conference attendance has ceased. Adaptation/adoption of new technology has been the only option for survival. From the results above, it is evident that all sectors have been affected by the pandemic, which forced them to adapt to the new technology. In the healthcare sectors, most of the services are conducted online using telehealth and telemedicine technology. Still, not all healthcare can afford to transit due to the cost demand for most facilities. However, most firms that have implemented the use of the technology and report of it being easier and convenient as compared to the traditional methods. The various challenges facing firms regarding technology adaptation include the demand for training on how to operate the machines, some are quite expensive, and others favor only the developed country.

Some of the latest inventions that have emerged due to coronavirus emergency include the innovation of door openers that are hands-free. With the policy of sanitizing hands often to aid in preventing individuals from contracting the virus, innovators have come up with hygiene friendly hooks for doors (Goh and Sandars, 2020). The virus is estimated to remain in stainless steel surfaces for three days, posing a great danger in individuals working, for instance, in hospitals (Depoux et al., 2020). The hygiene hook was invented by Steve Brooks, a London (Depoux et al., 2020). The hook is made small to fit in a pocket. It is also made from easy to clean material. Thus, the hook is operated by a forearm, thus preventing individuals from touching the door locks with their hands.

Another technological innovation includes the use of robots to deliver goods. Due to lockdown call by the governments, online shopping has grown to greater heights. It has become the only way for people to buy and sell goods. Delivering goods in person proved to pose a considerable risk to the one making the delivery. As a result, devices like robots have gotten implemented (Udugama et al., 2020). Goods are picked and delivered to the designated locations by robots, thus eliminating a person's involvement (Sanders et al., 2020).

Yet another technology that has been adopted is the use of contactless payments. Most banks have adopted many measures in making sure the banknotes circulated to the citizens are clean. However, the digital mode of payments has been encouraged since they have proven to be the safest. The digital methods include the use of e-wallets and cards (Depoux et al., 2020). These payment methods have made it possible for people to make payments and receive funds faster. The big challenge to this payment mode is that approximately 1.7 billion people are unbanked, meaning they have no digital means of payment (Sanders et al., 2020). Other individuals lack the internet, network, or devices, thus, making it impossible for them to avoid the tangible cash.

Remote work is another technology that many companies use, enabling employees to work while at their homes. Some of the technologies used include voice over internet protocols (VolPs), cloud technology, virtual meetings, facial recognition, and virtual private networks (VPNs). Remote work is more flexible and time-saving than working from offices (Ting et al., 2020). After COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, many learning institutions were closed. Milli...