COVID-19 has affected so much of what we’ve deemed necessary in our daily lives. And those components vary, based on our levels of privilege. They include anything from a greeting with a grocery store cashier, coffee dates, the opportunity to raise a hand in class or even access to regular meals.
As a result, we've been forced to embrace remote work. All operations these days depend, to some extent, on computers, smartphone technology and various softwares. Whether we like it or not, our functions, habits, lifestyles (and yes, even joys and sadness) are increasingly bound by technology during this pandemic.
Simultaneously becoming more pronounced, however, is the gap between the developed and developing world, as well as socioeconomic classes.
A study by the University of Chicago showed that, in the United States, up to 37 percent of jobs could be done from home — but most of them belonged to high-salary, white-collar occupations in metropolitan areas. An extension of this research from the International Monetary Fund discovered that, among these jobs, considerably fewer of them could go remote in less-developed economies.
One of the biggest reasons is that less than 50 percent of the world has personal access to a computer, and only 60 percent can access the internet. Marginalized communities and populations who fall victim to systemic disadvantages, as well as regions that are unable to shift to efficient remote work, are predisposed to economic scarring, which is already a byproduct of the pandemic.
As a computer science and public policy major, I'm all for making technology not only more inclusive, but also more ingrained into our society. The rise of tech startups has revolutionized the innovation process for developers looking to create and develop impactful products, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, cryptocurrency and even social media networks.
Tech nonprofits have fleshed out an entirely different perspective of the humanitarian paradigm. Many of them seek to make services and education more accessible through affordable and secure technology.
A year ago, I had the privilege to observe the impact of one such organization, Techfugees, which actively drives tech solutions and training for refugees and migrants seeking to better integrate in their new communities. Tech is powerful, and it has so much potential for good.
But who is left behind in this kaleidoscope of global change? Is it the parents working desperately to attend online meetings and set up Zoom software for their toddlers? Could it be the student balancing family responsibilities, assignments and paying for school with limited access to a laptop or Wi-Fi? What about displaced communities across the world? The list goes on.
