With a Fresh Perspective
To
put it mildly, things are crazy right now.
While
we were finalizing Issue 9 of Disruption
magazine,
the global pandemic COVID-19 was, well, disrupting the world around
us. This unprecedented global event has disrupted every industry
around the world, and a lot of uncertainty still remains.
Circumstances change seemingly by the minute and individuals,
workplaces, and industries have had to make a series of important
decisions about how to best adapt to these pressures—all while
keeping health and safety a top priority.
So
far the COVID-19 pandemic has shown itself to be a driving force of
innovation in several industries around the world. Industries have
had to react by adapting new technologies sooner, or in a greater
capacity. While circumstances might not be ideal, new ideas and
innovations are being pushed through at a rapid rate and both
industry and consumers are having to adjust.
One
of the ways many companies are responding to COVID-19 is by moving to
remote workplaces and utilizing virtual tools and technologies. This
is something I’ve championed for a long time. Regular readers will
know that we frequently write about the possibilities of remote
work—in fact, this very magazine is assembled without anyone ever
meeting in person. It’s a completely virtual effort of
collaborators around the world with stories from some of the
brightest minds across Canada. It’s possible that the situations
forced by the COVID-19 pandemic might accelerate the future of online
work and communications. The possibilities of digital communications
technologies are endless. Check out “Work from Home: Transitioning
to a Remote Workforce” for more advice on how to make a successful
transition to a remote workplace.
Of
course, COVID-19 has caused a lot of stress and anxiety for us all,
and many people are experiencing negative effects of this pandemic
beyond health concerns. Here in Edmonton, CompuVision team joined 12
other local tech companies in supporting the #YegTechCares initiative
by each donating one hour’s wages to Edmonton’s Food Bank for at
least the next three months while the effects of this crisis are
likely to continue. I am so proud of this initiative and all of
CompuVision’s employees who have risen to the challenge to do our
part to help our community in these strange times.
Never
before has it been so apparent that we are part of a global
community. We will get through this together.
You
are not alone.
Ryan Vestby, CEO, CompuVision
by Sam Crockett
Jul 16, 2020
The Most Disruptive Canadian Tech Found at CES 2020 By David Daly The consumer electronics industry is no stranger to innovation or disruptive technologies. Televisions, computers, cell phones, the cloud, and the internet of things (IoT) are just a few examples of electronics that revolutionized the world. Since 1967 the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has
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by Sam Crockett
Jul 16, 2020
Building a Sustainable Future Vancouver’s Nexii is disrupting the construction industry By Stephan Boissonneault Many people may not know this, but our planet’s current building infrastructure is the number one contributor to global CO2 emissions. Buildings are usually held together by various forms of concrete—one of the most destructive compounds on Earth—and other high polluting
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by Sam Crockett
Jul 16, 2020
How to Level the Playing Field for Canada’s Women Tech Entrepreneurs By Nancy Wilson If you had a daughter, would you encourage her to study in a STEM field? Would you advise her to pursue employment in Canada’s tech sector or become a woman tech entrepreneur? I don’t know if I would. I am not a
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by Sam Crockett
Jul 16, 2020
Immunizing the Infrastructure: Business in the Advent of COVID-19 By Cara Bedford At the moment of writing this article, the spread of COVID-19 is continuing across the globe. Countries are struggling to contain it within their borders and the movement of people and goods has, for all intents and purposes other than those critical to
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by Sam Crockett
Jul 16, 2020
COVID-19: The State and Future of Pandemics Singularity University experts address concerns and impacts of this unprecedented event Researchers around the world are working around the clock to find better ways of testing and treating COVID-19—and, ultimately, develop a cure. In the meantime, researchers and experts have practical advice to offer about how to navigate
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by Sam Crockett
Jul 16, 2020
Is COVID-19 Bringing Us Closer to a Cashless Future? With many businesses accepting card-only, contactless payments, is there a chance this move away from cash be permanent? By Joshua Moore In the wake of a global pandemic, the use of banknotes is once again in the spotlight—this time for much more dire reasons. The virus
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by Sam Crockett
Jul 16, 2020
Work from Home: Transitioning to a Remote Workforce By Lisa Sadach On January 22, a 50-year-old Canadian man returned home from a three-month visit to Wuhan, China. Within 3 days, he became what is presumed to be Canada’s first case of COVID-19. Less than two months later, all ten provinces have instances of the virus.
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by Sam Crockett
Jul 16, 2020
Coronavirus Is A Driving Force for Global Innovation With unprecedented challenges come unexpected opportunities By Lauren Razavi Under normal circumstances, there’s a balance to strike in navigating and regulating the risks and rewards of innovative solutions. The world expends an enormous amount of energy on assessing the potential outcomes. Policymakers have to be sure before
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by Sam Crockett
Jul 16, 2020
The Last Word By Dr. Tiffany Vora | Vice Chair of Digital Biology and Medicine, Singularity University As a molecular biologist, experimentation is in my DNA. In mid-March, I became involved in a remarkable experiment. Could Singularity University rapidly assemble a half-day digital, global event to infuse truth, responsible caution, and optimism into the current
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