One year of a pandemic: Jaison Lewis tips his hat to technology that saw us through the crisis

Gaming consoles

Gaming consoles
Gaming was a huge theme across all of last year. People dove in headfirst and spent a lot of money on gaming. From the start of the pandemic, PS4s and its controller were sold out for a very long time. The year also marked the launch of new consoles from Microsoft and Sony, which again due to high demand and global chip shortage, are almost always sold out. Gaming laptops also saw a rise, as people bought laptops for both work and entertainment. Social gaming also became part of our life with online sessions of Ludo, Tambola and Among Us bringing us closer while we were apart.

Cleaning robots

With domestic helpers gone, many people learned how to clean their homes for the very first time. While some took on the challenge, others just bought a robot to do the floors. Vacuum robots were another gadget that were flying off shelves this year. Several companies, including Xiaomi, bought their robot cleaner offering to India to meet the demand. We are even having mopping robots that do the wet wipe, which we all dearly love. For those who wanted something in between, a lot of investment was also made into top-of-the-line vacuum cleaners like Dyson.

Streaming platforms

Keeping our sanity in check and entertaining us were all the OTT platforms we had access to this year. Disney+, Netflix, Amazon Prime and even Alt Balaji introduced new content every month at breakneck speeds. We even had blockbuster movies releasing directly on OTT before it ever saw the inside of a theatre. Some like Amazon even introduced a watch and chat together option, letting you watch the series or movie while being able to discuss plot point and shockers in real-time with friends or family.

Webcams

Webcams also saw a huge spike in sales over the year, with users investing in better web cameras for enhanced clarity over the outdated tiny dot of a camera that laptop manufacturers have been feeding us for years. With crucial components of work, study and entertainment turning digital, surprisingly, even after an entire year, most laptops still seem to go for the cheap in-built camera. Only a few have stepped up with full-HD cameras on offer.

Internet

None of this would be possible if not for the Internet. At this point, it ought to officially be the fourth necessity after roti, kapda and makaan. To combat the growing reliance on the Internet, several service providers including prominent mobile services launched work from home packs that gave a data boost to their pre-existing data package. This lets people work in the city while being away from it. Everything from that game of Ludo and Tambola you played with your friends to Netflix and Prime Video was possible, thanks to the Internet.

Laptops

Work from home (WFH) influenced a lot of tech adoption over the last year. Starting with a boom in laptop sales; 2020 saw companies and even individuals investing in laptops that made it possible for everyone to work from home, attend online classes and gather around with family. There was a huge sales leap in gaming laptops as well, where people bought laptops that included graphic cards despite these being significantly costlier than an average laptop.

Ecommerce

Ecommerce kept us sane during the pandemic, making sure essential supplies like food, medicine and cleaning essentials reached our place when we couldn't go out. Ecommerce brands have a significant foothold now in our society, with several opting to still buy essentials, all exclusively online.

Video conference software

Work and study from home would not have been possible if Zoom, Skype, Google and other video conferencing applications didn't exist. Morning office meetings can now be had from the comfort of your own home. Of course, this has also led to some hilarious consequences such as the lawyer video that went viral, where he couldn't turn off the cat filter during a court hearing in the US.

Smart fitness

Health bands and smartwatches got a new lease of life with the pandemic as people started focusing on their health and wellbeing. The newer health bands launched this year all have SPO2 or blood oxygen monitors built-in, some capable of monitoring it 24x7. The fitness business also moved online, with people attending online sessions for cardio and training.

Smartphones

Smartphones are now an integral part of modern Indian living and this fueled by cheap handsets and even cheaper data, we are in the golden age of communication. Despite the pandemic, several phone manufacturers continued to launch and sell out mid to high range cellphones, with a few smart changes to their business model. We got the greatest and latest, sometimes even before the rest of the world despite COVID playing spoilsport.