If there is one thing that has made life tolerable in our lockdown society it is being able to keep in touch with each other by instant communication.
We have the telephone, invented in 1876, but technology has transformed how we communicate internationally and locally.
The email, I think, is brilliant. Anyone can master it and use it work or leisure. I ‘chat’ almost daily with family and friends across the road and across the world.
Even more personal is Zoom and other similar systems. Being able to sit, face-to-face, talking to each other is, to me, a minor miracle
In the pandemic it has been the vital bridge linking families and friends, a godsend to the millions confined to home - or in care homes.
It has turned into a massive money spinner for the company. Zoom was founded by Eric Yuan ten years ago for business meetings via the internet. Mr Yuan, chief executive, is now worth £12 billion as people all over the world Zoom every minute of the day.
I use it every few days to keep in touch with my family and friends. Last week we had a family quiz organised by my grandchildren
We have had television since 1936 (at least for early adopters in London), giving us a window on the world.
What a difference from my early days, and how much more interesting it has made our lives.
This advance in communication will make for changes after the pandemic, especially for work.
One likely change will be less commuting, with businesses of all sizes encouraging employees to work from home, at least part of the time. That will save a lot of time, money and make Britain safer and more healthy.
It’s a small world.
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