The pandemic has no doubt turned our world upside down. Things will never go back to what they used to be. However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Although a lot of us have suffered during this period, the pandemic has also given birth to some new and innovative ideas and technology.
Let’s have a look at some of these shall we:
Plex Eat
Since dining out during the pandemic was one of the most desired things that people couldn’t do anymore, a French inventor / designer that goes by the name Christophe Gernigon, came up with the ‘Plex Eat’.
It is basically an oversized, lighweight lampshade that allows a group of people to stay within their bubble while enjoying a meal.
Pretty clever.
However, innovation doesn’t just happen in France.
Glass Houses by ETEN Restaurant
After all, only a restaurateur can truly solve dining problems. Well that’s exactly what happened in the Netherlands.
These guys went all the way and created little glasshouses to help patrons dine in without any issues and stay safe in the process. People who got a chance to try it felt very safe and “cozy”. Now that’s called being creative and looking good at the same time.
Well Europe isn’t the only place that’s fueling innovation during the pandemic.
CABO – The Server Robot
South Korea is known to be quite advanced when it comes to the use of technology. People there seem to gravitate and adopt tech sooner than most. It’s just what the kids do there.
Well building on this love for tech, “Cabo”, the serving robot soon replaced actual servers. Now we’re not sure how these real people who really need to work to get by these days, but this is definitely an amazing innovation to say the least. Let’s hope the human servers and the robot servers work together in peace and get lots of tips.
By the way, these robots don’t just serve, they can also make drinks. Some are actually being used in kitchens in some South Korean restaurants to chop vegetables and things of that nature. They say they are now training Cabo to give financial advice to students. Well we are not sure how that is going to work out but sounds like a real use case. One thing’s for sure, don’t be surprised if you start seeing similar robots in banks and other financial institutions too (Especially in the Canadian financial sector). They can be literally programmed for any industry.
Well although it’s nice to see restaurants trying their best to make it, other industries that have suffered are also coming up with new and fresh ideas.
Like the shopping and retail market.
Arm Handle
For example, they are now testing hands-free door handles in a supermarket in Finland. The idea is to use your arm vs your hands or fingers to avoid any passing of the Covid-19 virus.
Simple and clever. That’s how the vikings do it. By the way, feedback from customers has been quite positive too.
Lip Reading Masks
One of the things that we truly miss is seeing each other’s faces (This statement may not apply to all). Not just for “human” reasons but also to understand what the other person is saying. When you have a face mask on, it’s very hard to understand as the volume of your voice naturally decreases. Since you can’t see any lip movement either, it creates another more psychological challenge.
Well, in Indonesia, a lady decided that she has had enough. Soon she created a face mask but replaced the middle part with clear plastic. This way, you can actually see what the person is saying which makes it very fast for your brain to process the information. It’s almost like they are not wearing a mask at all.
This has given a great sense of relief for people. In addition, created a greater sense of normality which we are truly lacking at this time. Anything that promotes how things used to be is a plus in our book.
Anyways, these are just a few inventions that have come up during the pandemic and their are plenty more. Inventions that are saving lives in one way or another.
These products are a true testament to the human spirit that no matter what we are hit with, we will find a way to rise.
Stay safe for now everyone.
