This pandemic has provided us an altered perspective on others, one where we see others as potential health threats. It is expected that we will continue to associate large crowds with a greater risk of falling sick, that we will remain more cautious of contaminants within the environment and that we will apply these perspectives to the (re) design of our spaces and services. We acknowledge that given our heavily populated and networked world it is likely that another pandemic will occur...

Having experienced disrupted supply chains, there is likely to be momentum carried forward into the development of more resilient and possibly local supply chain networks. Similarly, individuals have had to learn to become more resourceful and self-reliant in the face of the crisis, something that we will surely carry forward.

We’ve gained a greater appreciation for the ways technology can help us stay connected and participate in remote events - from virtual sports to virtual meetings, digital presenteeism such as livestreaming is going to become an increasingly accepted norm, even as we transition back to “physical” life.

The notion of small personal sacrifice for the greater good has partly been extended to the notion of sharing more aggregated, anonymized data in hopes of being able to more quickly detect the onset of another deadly disease. Added surveillance measures are deemed a necessary evil in such times. It remains to be seen how acclimatized we will become to this deterioration of privacy.

As we look to live our lives through virtual mediums, the design of digital spaces for recreation, for work, and for entertainment is a craft that will gain momentum from this pandemic. When paired with the projected uptake in extended reality technologies, the way we live our lives may very well start to resemble an immersive video game.

There will be a push for greater automation within our communities so that services may be able to continue operations without human intervention. In addition, autonomous technologies will gain in importance in the face of the increased pressures on logistics companies and delivery partners. We will develop a world where products will be able to continue being produced and distributed with nearly no human involvement.

It is possible that the healthcare industry will begin to seriously investigate the development of nursing robots to help take care of the sick. Autonomous robots may reduce the burden and risk placed on a number of workers such as nurses, home care, and social workers during such a pandemic.

Being exposed to a reality where everything had to be accessible from home has prompted a rise in direct-to-consumer and do-it-yourself services. This at home consumer convenience has encouraged businesses to find greater efficiencies through careful consideration of their systems and processes. For example, we can expect to continue seeing a decrease in mandatory in-person interactions for services like opening a bank account or applying for a license.

The pandemic has taught us to become more frugal in our spending habits. Many are equating this to a positive deceleration, a time for us to readjust our consumption patterns, to reassess what had become our norm. In the face of continued economic uncertainty, we are likely to continue making more considered purchases post-coronavirus likely resulting in reduced consumption. When we do consume, we will find added value in supporting small, local businesses in an effort to reboot their services.

Our collective lived experience of sheltering-in-place for months at a time has provided us with a newfound appreciation of a slower, gentler pace of life. One where we’re no longer required to lose hours commuting or preparing for social events. We’ve gained a new appreciation for hobbies, self-fulfillment, meditation, and gratitude.