An ‘in person’ meeting is still so much richer than a digital one. On top of that, we also consume a lot of real goods, not only digital ones. You can keep your digital champagne, I will have the real one. We will have to see how far 3D printing can get us in the food and drink sector in a sustainable way. I was eating the first jumbo mussels with fries of the season with my dad the other day in Belgium. No digital or 3D food that can beat that experience.
When talking about health these days, first the physical side of the pandemic situation comes to mind: hospitals filled with suffering patients. However, the psychological effects of the crisis, particularly of the lockdown, are just as important. The reduced confidence, the fear or anger that some people feel or express may become an issue, particularly if the crisis continues to linger on. Coaching and psychological support services to counter that should thrive as well.
As crowds are to be avoided during a pandemic, to limit or slow the spread of the virus, the omnipresent drive of people moving from the countryside to the cities has to be revisited. At least, profound studies on how the new normal may affect increased urbanisation and modern cities are needed. It should be possible to address the new concerns, but it adds a new challenge to the worldwide urbanization drive. A combination of ‘in person’ and digital experiences may do the trick.
All in all, this is a time to come together and fight our common enemy, COVID-19. The current crisis could still turn this century into the century of diversity. And that alone, if well managed, building on the different strengths that diversity can bring, may in itself become the most important driver of new economic growth.
On the confidence side, we can do a lot ourselves. If we all decide every morning that it will be a good day and act towards that, then chances are high that it will become a good day.
