COVID is showing how adversity drives innovation

Look around your office or living room right now and consider how many objects can be traced back to the wave of innovation driven by the panic of World War II. We’re starting to see the same pattern play out again with COVID.

When I wrote Trusting Technology, I got to ask the question “where do ideas come from?”. I hope my answer was a good one, but we’re facing a much more immediate inspiration—the adversity of disease and a threat to the health of our families, friends and colleagues.

Innovation will play a vital part in our recovery, it’s worth reflecting on the way that humanity is stepping up. I hope these examples inspire you as much as they’re inspiring me. This is one of the topics that we discussed on this week’s Growth Ignitors Radio.

Diagnosis

Health services are streamlining consultations with video calls.

New processes are being developed to complete tests in 30-minutes rather than several hours.

One company is experimenting with AI and voice analysis in search of a massively scalable test process. Too early to assess the potential, but this could provide a real game-change—immediate testing for all at very low cost.

There’s potential for apps to expedite access to screening and to medical care for high risk individuals.

Treatment

After running short of spare parts for medical equipment, this Italian hospital used 3D printing to create new parts on site.

Coping with isolation

As we isolate en masse in our homes, virtual communication is allowing many to continue to work efficiently.

Adaptive learning has been around for a few years, but is now offering home education at scale.

And online clubs are springing up as entertainment plays an important role in keeping us all active.

And when we’re done …

It’ll be some time before we know which innovations will prove most valuable, and which will be transformative. But to repeat what I said two weeks ago, many people are focused on this problem and we can all play our part in the remedy.

How are you innovating? 

Trusting Technology is a book about forming ideas, exploring opportunities with customers and colleagues, and building your future together. Order you copy here.