We Are Not Robots But Humans With The Power of Imagination And Creativity
The Ugly, The Beautiful and the Truth about Coronavirus
Nothing but worry, endless waiting, and boredom, turning suffering into our daily bread. Strict rules that we did not choose were imposed on us: confinement in our homes with no opportunity to express ourselves. We have turned into animals in cages, looking towards freedom and desiring it. Adults and children, rich and poor are all unable to escape confinement.
The world is being hit by an epidemic unlike any other. It has spread at an alarming velocity, spreading death and desolation. It was named coronavirus and it was designated enemy of the human race. Unable to find any logical explanation, all governments are being knocked out by it. That’s how they are keeping a low profile, delegating their powers to physicians. Thus a government of doctors was born with the power to interpret, order and decide. When the evil settled in, doctors have become the ones who give and take away life.
As for us, helpless, we’re waiting for our fate, a fate that could be tragic. Are we in the presence of a divine warning? This is what men of religion claim…Or is it the result of a struggle between Americans and Chinese? That’s what conspiracy theorists say…I don’t know, I don’t know.
Like a phoenix that has risen from the ashes, humans being are innovating to challenge this pandemic and bring back hope to those who have been shaken to the core by the sudden outbreak of this disease. On the one hand, some are leveraging technology in new and innovative ways to help combat COVID-19 and facilitate the lives of frontline-workers, giving birth to new products and new uses of existing ones. Below a couple of examples:
- Anti-virus snood: According to an article published by the guardian.com, the snood, which is more breathable and flexible than a conventional mask, is based on a germ-trap technology that can capture more than 96% of airborne viruses. “The biggest spreader of viruses, the people you are treating, can’t wear existing masks,” says Paul Hope (inventor of the snood), “because of issues with breathability. If they could, that would reduce the virus within the hospital environment. Our snood mask molds to your face, and it’s all the way around, not just your nose and mouth. It fits everyone.” The company hopes to make as many as a million a week, reserving a portion for the NHS.
- Drones against coronavirus: while drones have been traditionally used for disinfecting agricultural areas, they are now being leveraged in creative ways to limit human contact stepthe pandemic. Drones, which are said to disinfect 50 times more area than traditional methods. are being used to spray disinfecting chemicals in public spaces like airports, parks, warehouses, hospitals, et. Other benefits include sending medical supplies to patients in areas of difficult access, delivery of consumers’ items and temperature control.
- South Korea Testing Booths: One hospital in Seoul has designed phone box-like cubicles built around the safety of both medical staff and people to conduct massive coronavirus tests. The video below shows gives a step-by-step overview of the examination process which does not exceed 7 minutes. It is a beautiful example of human-centered design at its best.
- Corona tracker/apps: coders have joined the coronavirus battleground by developing mobile applications to help model the spread of the virus and assess the possibility of being infected or within reach of known cases. In South Korea, the app cannot only give you exhaustive information about the places visited by patients by also information about their demographics. The user gets an alert when they are within 100 meters of a location visited by an infected person.
On the other hand, others are innovating to break the isolation of millions of confined people, enhance their emotional well-being, and facilitate their connection with the outside world, bringing joy and smiles to their faces and helping them cope with the new normal.
- HouseParty: in one month, this video chatroom, which offers multi-person gatherings and in-app games for people to play together, has gained more than 1 million users become the №1 most-downloaded social app in 82 countries, including the U.S. It is a fun app which helps you feel closer to family and friends.
- HearMe: this app lets one connect with an empathetic listener, and have real-time conversations and chat confidentially for free with him or her to maintain mental health and ease loneliness.
- The Virtual Nanny: the nanny, who is a real human nanny, is a fun way to supervise children and keep them busy while entertaining them. The virtual nanny can play games with kids, sing, help them with homework and arts so parents can effectively work from home without any distraction.
- BookMyShow: this app, initially designed for offline events, is bringing entertainment to homes in India in partnership with artist management company Big Bad Wolf Entertainment through ‘Live From HQ’ platform that will feature artists and acts and broadcast their performances for free.
- Shanghai Digital Fashion Week: as the first purely digital fashion week held in late March, it was an amazing success with over 2.5 million people watching the opening ceremony and another 6 million watching the shows on the first day. In partnership with Alibaba, the fashion week has live-streamed all the runaway shows and viewers were able to buy items online while they watch and make comments on shows in real-time.
But what about normal human beings like you and me without the power to make breakthrough innovations or develop applications? “I see you calm and patient. Why don’t you rebel against confinement? Aren’t you sensitive to boredom? Why your anger does not explode?”, one of my friends told me.
Confinement has made some aspects of my humanity reappear, which the hustle and bustle of life have made them disappear for so long. My imagination has become fertile again, bathing in all kinds of universes tirelessly. I visit paradises with lush trees, blooming flowers, and singing birds. I reach golden sandy beaches, near seas with clear and turquoise waters.
My dreams have become stronger, making beautiful paintings of their “charming prince”. My soul and my spirit sublimate as I am about to forget the evils of material life. I have relearned to talk to blackbirds, feeding them with grains from my window. I check the old notebooks of my poems as the demons of poetry haunt me again.
Oh, my friend, I am a human being and not a robot. Not even a long confinement will defeat me. I am free in my soul, my imagination, and thought.
Nothing can bend my will…
Nothing can bend our will…
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