The Future is Here Y’all!
The world has gone viral – coronavirus viral that is. Social media has truly brought information into our homes and hearts any time of day or night, giving all the statistics about how many have the virus, how many have died, and how many have recovered. Many of us are listening and making decisions about our health, about what is best for our families, and keeping our social distance from people. But that is not really what I want to talk about today. I really want to talk about the changes that are going to happen because the future – what we thought would happen in the future – is here today.
In May of 2019 a co-worker and I researched and facilitated a statewide webinar called “Jobs of the Future” that was presented to Adult Education and Literacy providers in the State of Texas. Our objectives included giving information about past jobs that have gone away and why, as well as provide information on new jobs that are being created as a result of technology. We recognized that in 5 or 10 years many of us might be working virtually from home offices, and that even our classroom structures would evolve and change.
Well here we are y’all! Many of us have been forced to work and study from home. Those with work laptops and internet access at home can continue with what it is we do at work – without face to face contact. But we have a plethora of ways to “meet” face to face through many apps that are available. And of course most of us have cell phones, so we can call anyone anywhere on the globe without paying long distance fees (What’s App is a great feature!) – so business can continue as usual from the comfort of home in our jammies and bunny slippers. I love it!
Our children’s schools and colleges are closed for several weeks with some districts choosing to be closed longer. Homework and assignments are being e-mailed or made available to pick up at the school. Stay at home parents can continue their children’s education from the comfort of home. This may present a problem for some young families who are trying to balance work and their children, which may be a new thing for many parents who are used to working outside of the home and dropping children off at school and/or daycare. I believe through this pandemic that many parents are going to learn that they are quite capable of home schooling their own children, and may in fact appreciate doing so. Think about how much money will be saved by not having to build more schools, pay teacher salaries, purchase books and clothes and school lunches and all that things that go into having brick and mortar buildings.
But the future is here! The opportunity to work from home, to collaborate virtually, to conduct all business through the internet, to order our groceries and meals online, to order clothing and goods through the internet and have it delivered right to the front door, to watch movies from the comfort of home instead of going out, to not have to commute to work every day (just think about the savings on the wear and tear of your car, and how much you will save on gasoline and maintenance. And really – if both you and your spouse are working at home, can you get by now with only one car, another huge savings?)
I see this virus thing as a huge opportunity to create change from the top down and from the bottom up. Corporations, businesses and educational institutions can cut their office space needs, office supplies (including toilet paper that for some reason is currently unavailable!) while their employees and students utilize home office space. Maybe our homes will need to be bigger so that offices can be incorporated into them. I’ve dreamt of the future – and it is here today. I’m loving my bunny slippers!
Published by
Velta Worley
Velta Worley
Administrator at Texas Monoline Systems
