I see Zoom meetings, Pelton, thermal cameras, infrared thermometers, O2 sensors, DIY masks, vast logistic improvements in food delivery, touchless elevator buttons, virtual concerts, more efficient syringes and on and on. None of these things solved the virus problem obviously, but they have made life go on and tech played a role in either facilitation, implementation or creation of them. I know many were around before the pandemic but tech did step up to fill the demand.
PS: I bounce back and forth between optimism and pessimism all the time, today is just a good day I guess.
But I guess I was looking for something more overt. I feel like there was a real feeling of "hey, we're changing the world, we can help with this!". What happened with that?
It is entirely possible that what I believe was partially driven by politics.
I think the "big tech social media cancel crackdown" which started last spring regarding hydroxy chloroquine and continues to this day, may have the unintended chilling effect on some companys and many peoples willingness to share their thoughts and ideas regarding novel solutions for a novel virus, especially if their careers are at stake.