Our reliance of technology during the Covid-19 pandemic

The reliability of technology during the Covid-19 pandemic

    The impact of Covid-19 was unexpected for all worldwide and left the world with a lack of in-person capability. This lead to measures, that needed to be made in the technology field as the world was going into "lockdown".  The unexpected but dramatic rise of technology used in the last year has made an impact on our everyday lives. Now we rely on technology more than ever with things ranging from school and work calls to shopping and more entertainment. Our reliance on technology is stronger than ever during these times.

Many's introduction to Zoom

    

    With the introduction of coronavirus, a way to communicate with others easily and professionally was needed, here came Zoom and, other web apps like Google Meet and Microsoft Teams. While founded on April 21st in 2011, Zoom didn't go public until April 2019, according to CNN. Its 'overnight success' was obviously due to the sudden outbreak that was coronavirus as people heavily rely on these apps to keep up to date with their students, co-workers, colleagues, etc. Every industry has been challenged to quickly adapt to this new world we all are living in. This required a change to be made within industries, with changes to digital organization and system in order to still operate. However, new ways of communication bring new ways to mess with others. 

    As more users have shifted to video conferencing software like Zoom, to stay up to date and work during the global pandemic, people have begun to invade private Zoom meetings. The actions of these groups of people were dubbed the act of 'Zoom-bombing' where groups of hackers or pranksters invade Zoom meetings, private or public, and display images ranging from adult content to hateful imagery to the attendees of the meeting. Since many were not familiar with Zoom, safely securing their Zoom meetings was not known to them and often left to their meetings being 'Zoom-bombed'. It's not easy for everyone to switch to technology use like this and this often leaves many who are unfamiliar with it in confusion and shock. 

    Some companies are taking advantage of these video conferencing software to deliver entertainment to others during these times. The NBA, for example, is using Microsoft Teams to bring basketball fans to the courtside. The NBA is using Microsoft Teams combined with 17-foot tall LED screens that wrap around the basketball arena to put fans back in the crowd. It's a hilariously neat concept that can ultimately bring even more entertainment to the court to see what fans are doing on the big screen. 

Works Cited

Fauxels. Photo Of People Leaning On Wooden Table. Pexels, 5 Nov. 2019, www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-people-leaning-on-wooden-table-3183183/. Accessed 9 Dec. 2020.

Kelly, Samantha Murphy. "Zoom's massive 'overnight success' actually took nine years." CNN, Cable News Network, 27 Mar. 2020, www.cnn.com/2020/03/27/tech/zoom-app-coronavirus/index.html. Accessed 9 Dec. 2020.

Shevets, Anna. People on a Video Call. Pexels, 23 Apr. 2020, www.pexels.com/photo/people-on-a-video-call-4226140/. Accessed 9 Dec. 2020.

"'Zoom-bombing' is now a federal offense in the US." TechRader, Future US, 6 Apr. 2020, www.techradar.com/news/zoom-bombing-is-now-a-federal-offense-in-the-us. Accessed 9 Dec. 2020.