Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Looking to the Future - Engineering and Society after COVID-19

16/10/2020

Looking to the Future - Engineering and Society after COVID-19

Share

Written by Chris Down, Sales & Marketing Manager at Oasys Devotees of mindfulness stress the importance of the now; after all, the past can't hurt you and worrying about the future will just stop you enjoying what is good now.

Of course, with the COVID-19 crisis gripping the world, it is perhaps less easy to enjoy the now. There are lots of things to be happy about if you look for them to prevent the bad news and negativity overwhelming you.

Lots of people are writing about how to cope with the current situation but I prefer to think further ahead and to consider fundamental changes that may come from the crisis and how we can re-engineer our world to suit.

The first question to address is whether we engineer our world to overcome immediate challenges or whether we use engineering to shape the world we want to live in?

As many office workers sit trying to work from a corner of their home, how many of them are missing their daily commute either by crowded public transport, sat in endless traffic jams in their cars or taking their lives in their hands cycling in a modern city?

Our infrastructure is designed to cope with current and predicted traveller numbers, and there are sophisticated computer software packages that can model capacity and predict when and where congestion will occur. These software tools are used to inform the design of ever more metro lines and stations and they work well. A problem with this approach is that designing and building infrastructure takes time and money with no guarantee that the predictions and assumptions the modelling was based on are still correct when the work is done, maybe up to a decade later.

Imagine that instead we use those same modelling tools to calculate the capacity of current infrastructure and to use that to advise timetable design and the working hours and working days of commuters?

We are all aware that our private cars spend far more time parked than they do moving, but we probably pay far less attention to how much public transport is parked or running almost empty away from the morning and evening rush hours.

What the COVID-19 pandemic may show us is just how many people need to be in their office all day every day. Could people work at home just a few days a week or only spend the morning or the afternoon in the office on certain days? Could more workers have a flexible day, starting and finishing earlier or later? Do offices need to be in the centres of large cities?

Home working doesn't suit everyone of course. There will be some people who are desperate to get back to their office after just a few days of home working, either because they feel isolated or because their home is simply not suited to home working.

In times past, homes were built with space set aside for the occupants to work but now they are typically only places to eat and sleep. True, in the UK some executive homes have a study shown on the plans but this is often a room too small to be a bedroom or sitting/dining room given a new name the architects don't design them to be permanent places of work.

Replacing the entire housing stock with homes that include offices is clearly not an option but shared workspaces in residential areas that people can walk to may be. A future commute may be a walk to an office rather than a train journey to your office.

As we seek a new normal post pandemic, consider not just how engineering can create a better world with better buildings but how engineering can help forge a better society too.
LINK: https://www.oasys-software.com/news/looking-to-the-future-engineering-...
See more stories from oasys

Most recent headlines

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

04/08/2026

Dalet Announces Commercial Availability of Dalia, Bringing Media-Aware Agentic AI to Enterprise Productions

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...

04/07/2026

Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in Dolby Cinemas Across Japan, Presented in Dolby Atmos and Dolby ...

April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...

01/06/2026

Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026

January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026 Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...

02/05/2026

Dalet Flex LTS Delivers Smarter Search, Faster Editing, and an AI-Ready Foundation for Modern Media

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...

01/05/2026

NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to Integrate Dolby's Full Suite of Premium Picture and Sound Innovations

January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...

22/04/2026

Live From NAB 2026: Solid State Logics Berny Carpenter on Expanding System T With Virtual DSP, Cloud Workflows

Solid State Logic is advancing its System T platform with a stronger focus on IP...

22/04/2026

Live From NAB 2026: Dolbys Giles Baker on the Growth of Dolby OptiView, Immersive Vision and Audio for Live Sports

From immersive audio to live streaming, Dolby Laboratories is focused on the fut...

22/04/2026

Live From NAB 2026: Blackmagic Design's Bob Caniglia on Implementing Cinematic Looks in Live Broadcasts

Shallow depth-of-field cameras have taken the industry by storm. Its debut a han...

22/04/2026

NAB 2026: Eastern Kentucky University deploys campus-wide ST 2110 network with Riedel and Bridge Digital

Riedel Communications (Booth C4908) announced that Eastern Kentucky University (...

22/04/2026

SportsTechBuzz at NAB 2026, Day 4: Live Reports From the Show Floor in Vegas

The NAB Show is in full swing, and the SVG and SVG Europe editorial teams are chasing down the hottest stories from all over the Las Vegas Convention Center. He...

22/04/2026

NAB 2026: Blackmagic Design Announces URSA Cine 12K LF 100G

Blackmagic Design has announced the URSA Cine 12K LF 100G, a new model in the URSA Cine family adding 100G Ethernet for SMPTE 2110 live production output up to ...

22/04/2026

Live From NAB 2026: NEPs Martin Stewart Talks 40 Years, the NEP Platform, and Scaling for FIFA World Cup

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, NEP is leaning into hybrid production with the...

22/04/2026

Live From NAB 2026: NEPs Dan Murphy on NEP Platform, TFC, and the Shift to Software-Defined Workflows

NEP VP, Platform Dan Murphy sits down at the 2026 NAB Show to unpack what NEP P...

22/04/2026

Spotify and WNBA's New York Liberty Bring Basketball and Music Together With New Partnership

Spotify and the New York Liberty are teaming up to give music and basketball fan...

22/04/2026

The story of the Focusrite ISA preamp

New 20-minute documentary explores iconic design The Focusrite Room in Mesa, Arizona, where John Aquilino hosts the Studio Console 005. In 2025, Focusrite co...

22/04/2026

EverSync SP-10 wireless from Cloudvocal

Offers compact wireless solution for pedalboards Taiwanese audio brand Cloudvocal have announced the availability of a new pedalboard-friendly wireless syst...

22/04/2026

Arturia release Augmented Persia

Latest hybrid sampling/synthesis instrument arrives Arturia's Augmented series offerings rely on a mixture of sampling and synthesis, allowing users to ...

22/04/2026

Acustica Audio launch Salt 2

Combines three distinct analogue EQ emulations The latest addition to Acustica Audio's ever-expanding collection of analogue-emulation plug-ins combines...

22/04/2026

Analog Empire: Bass & Lead from Melda Production

Final instalment in vintage-inspired instrument series Analog Empire: Bass & Lead marks the final instalment in Melda Production's vintage hardware-insp...

22/04/2026

Strymon reveal the Canoga

Fuzz pedal joins all-analogue Series A line Given that Strymons reputation was built on unapologetically digital pedals, it was a little surprising to see t...

22/04/2026

SBS names shortlisted brands for 2026 SBS Media Sustainability Challenge

SBS names shortlisted brands for 2026 SBS Media Sustainability Challenge 22 April, 2026 Media releases National broadcaster also releases its second annual...

22/04/2026

The Frequency That Decides the Fight

Why Low Band Electronic Warfare Matters...

22/04/2026

Polish national football team play-off games top monthly programme list

The nation unites around football team's World Cup dream Warsaw, Poland, 20.04.26: Nielsen, a global leader in audience measurement, data, and media intell...

22/04/2026

Nielsen and the Polish Organisation of Advertisers announce strategic partnership to elevate marketing standards in Poland

Warsaw, Poland, 22.04.26: Nielsen, a global leader in audience measurement, data...

22/04/2026

Nielsen helps New Zealand brands expand internationally with greater clarity and confidence

New market intelligence offering gives businesses a clearer view of local consum...

22/04/2026

Glookast Unveils New UX, YouTube and Social Media Connectors, Premiere Panel, Cinnafilm Tachyon Plugin and More at NAB

Glookast Unveils New UX, YouTube and Social Media Connectors, Premiere Panel, Ci...

22/04/2026

Lightcraft Technology to Preview Spark Story at NAB 2026 with Interactive Previs Experience

Lightcraft Technology to Preview Spark Story at NAB 2026 with Interactive Previs...

22/04/2026

Bolin Demos New PTZ Cameras and Controller at 2026 NAB Show

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

22/04/2026

Anchor Audio Launches Beacon 3

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

22/04/2026

FCC Grants WSWB TV License Transfer to Sinclair

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

22/04/2026

Telemundo Puerto Rico Streaming Channel Launches On Prime Video

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

22/04/2026

Chyron Announces PRIME Translate

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

22/04/2026

TV Tech Announces Winners of Best of Show Awards at 2026 NAB Show

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

22/04/2026

VEON's Banglalink to Bring Starlink Mobile to Customers in Bangladesh

22 Apr 2026 VEON's Banglalink to Bring Starlink Mobile to Customers in Bangladesh Bangladesh becomes the third market where VEON and Starlink Mobile partne...

22/04/2026

FIRST LOOK FOR NEW U DRAMA SERIES HIT POINT

U have unveiled exclusive first-look images for their six-part police thriller Hit Point, starring Nick Blood (Day of the Jackal) and BAFTA nominee Saffron Hock...

22/04/2026

UKTV Highlights: Saturday May 9th -15th 2026

What can I watch on UKTV and stream on U this week? This week on UKTV and the free streaming service U, viewers can watch a range of new and returning programm...

22/04/2026

Sky announces fifth year of WNT Fund with 30,000 bursary supporting players and grassroots football

Wednesday 22 April 2026 Sky announces fifth year of WNT Fund with 30,000 bursa...

22/04/2026

This Earth Day, Discover the Sustainable Productions Behind Our Films and Series

Back to All News This Earth Day, Discover the Sustainable Productions Behind Our Films and Series Emma Stewart, Ph.D. Netflix Sustainability Officer Enterta...

22/04/2026

Retail Media Standards Are Expanding Into Commerce Media - Here's Why That Matters for Measurement

The move from Retail Media to Commerce Media is about broadening the scope of th...

22/04/2026

Dolby and BMW Bring Dolby Atmos to the BMW 7 Series, Expanding Immersive Audio Across Future Models

April 22 2026, 07:00 (PDT) Dolby and BMW Bring Dolby Atmos to the BMW 7 Series,...

22/04/2026

RT Licenses Stolen Sister to Pushkin

RT Documentary On One 7-part series breaks US market for first time RT Programme Sales has announced its first deal with a US distribution partner for its 7-...

22/04/2026

NVIDIA and Google Cloud Collaborate to Advance Agentic and Physical AI

NVIDIA and Google Cloud have collaborated for more than a decade, co engineering a full stack AI platform that spans every technology layer - from performance o...

21/04/2026

Live From NAB 2026: BitFires Colin Bonzey on Growing Spark Platform for Live Cloud-Based Productions

Cloud-based production isnt going anywhere, and BitFire is doubling down by prov...

21/04/2026

Live From NAB 2026: AWSs Jason Dvorkin, Regina Rossi on Driving Innovation With Al-Based Workflows

The topic of artificial intelligence has a stranglehold on the sports-video-prod...

21/04/2026

Live From NAB 2026: T-Mobile for Business' Jason Schnellbacher on Enhancing 5G for Sports Fans, Broadcasters

5G is still a hot topic in live event production, and this workflow continues to...

21/04/2026

Live From NAB 2026: Appears Ed McGivern on Fox Sports Deal, New XM Platform, and VX Software Debut

At the 2026 NAB Show, Ed McGivern, GM and President of Appear US, discusses the ...

21/04/2026

NAB 2026: Studio Network Solutions launches on-premise AI suite for media production workflows

Studio Network Solutions (SNS) has announced an on-premise AI suite designed for...

21/04/2026

NAB 2026: Suite Studios integrates file-streaming technology into Frame.io Drive

Suite Studios has integrated its file-streaming technology into the newly announced Frame.io Drive, a desktop application from Adobe company Frame.io. The colla...

21/04/2026

NAB 2026: Net Insight integrates InSync FrameFormer into Nimbra Edge for media processing

Net Insight has integrated InSync Technology's FrameFormer into the Nimbra E...