Technology continues to evolve, shaping how we work, learn and even see a doctor.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The COVID-19 pandemic forced people worldwide to adapt quickly, and five years later, technology continues to play an essential role in daily life. The tools that became necessary in 2020, like virtual meetings, online learning, and telemedicine, have remained integral parts of education, business, and healthcare.
Dr. Reginald Silver, a clinical professor of business, information systems, and operations management at UNC Charlotte, says the pandemic accelerated the evolution of technology.
“The biggest thing with this technology is that we have become reliant on the convenience of it all,” Silver said. “The technology is evolving to create efficiencies that may not have been realized in the absence of that technology.”
When schools made a rapid shift to online learning, it was seen as a temporary solution. But five years later, digital textbooks and virtual courses remain popular.
“What is unique about this phenomenon is that people still want to be educated… they just want to go about the process differently,” Silver said.
In healthcare, telemedicine has become a permanent fixture. Patients now have the ability to see their doctors from the comfort of homes, and artificial intelligence (AI) is assisting in medical settings.
“I had an experience with my personal physician… One of the things I had to sign off on was whether or not I was comfortable with letting AI record the episode of care with my physician,” Silver explained.
Beyond education and healthcare, businesses have also adapted. E-commerce surged, and contactless payment systems have reshaped shopping habits.
“Even if you go to your local arts and crafts vendor, look at how many are not even handling cash,” Silver said. “They are using contactless payment services. They have the technology on their iPads or iPhones, and that is how they conduct their business now.”
Organizations have also adjusted to hybrid schedules and videoconferencing. Camille Endacott, an assistant professor of communications and organizational science at UNC Charlotte, has studied the shift toward remote work and AI integration.
“They found that we are more adaptable than we think,” Endacott said. “There are still ways to have informal communication while remote, still ways to get to know your coworkers, but it takes longer.”
The shift was so significant that video conferencing became synonymous with one brand.
“It’s almost like Zoom went generic when it comes to a videoconferencing platform,” Endacott said. “Just like we say Kleenex for tissue, we say Zoom when we mean video conferencing.”
Endacott says that AI has continued to grow and evolve, moving beyond simple chatbots to become virtual assistants.
“Think of Microsoft’s custom copilots,” Endacott said. “All of a sudden, there is this tool that might chat with a customer and then book their meeting. It is not just conversing, it is taking action.”
However, handing off work to AI isn’t as simple as it seems.
“It takes a lot of understanding of what AI can or cannot do,” she said. “You have to codify your work just like you would with an intern you want to take over some of your tasks. Usually, you can’t hand papers to an intern and just have them do it. You have to realize what do they know, what do they need to know from you, and what instructions I need to give.”
Proper Coding and instructions are necessary.
“I don’t think we will be able to take our hand off the wheel as much as we think,” she said.
Even self-driving cars are becoming a reality, proving that technology continues to push forward.
“Self-driving cars, it’s a real thing,” Silver said. “I have seen these things drive in LA traffic with the same fluidity as if someone was driving it, in some cases, even better.”
Silver believes that while technology is evolving quickly, it still requires a balance between people, processes, and innovation.
“Even though technology is evolving rapidly, in the greater scheme of things, it is still an incremental improvement,” Silver said. “There have been some growing pains associated with the integration of technology, but the overall benefit is that we have shown our resiliency and our agility in being able to adapt. This is our new normal now.”
The pandemic fast-tracked the role of technology in our lives, and five years later, people are still adjusting to a world where digital solutions continue to shape the way they work, learn, and interact.
Contact Jesse Pierre at jpierrepet@wcnc.com or follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
