With the daily trudge of quarantine life, the grind can begin to feel uninspiring and tiresome. As the entire world stands against a global threat, one might be quick to assume that our ability to innovate will stagnate. However, with great strife comes a willingness to push boundaries; we've pinpointed four inventions helping us to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

Robot delivery drivers

In the town of Milton Keynes, Britain, a novel robotic delivery system has been put in place to relieve some of the added stress brought about by lockdown. These compact, miniature vehicles created by Starship Technologies are nearly entirely autonomous. As the health crisis peaks in many companies, demand for this service is high and expansion is projected in both the UK and the US.

Makeshift ventilators

The coronavirus has forced us to improve and re-assess our use of medical devices around the world. In response, Dr Rhys Thomas in Carmarthen, Wales has created a simple, yet robust, emergency ventilator. While not a replacement for ICU ventilators, it could certainly pick up some of the inevitable slack that the UK’s NHS will face in the coming days. With limited ICU ventilators, this invention could be a lifesaver.

Shift to online streaming

Interestingly enough, we may see a shifting of tides in the realm of art and artistic consumption. Streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ could cement themselves even more than they already have in this new era of lockdown. On top of this, a few major studios like Disney and Warner Bros have begun bringing their films to an early home release, showing a possible paradigm shift.

The new renaissance?

Art itself may be headed for a renaissance period as people are forced to stay in their homes and adapt. Gone are the days of access to art galleries and museums and with that, artists have no choice but to acclimate. Street art, for example, has become a defining form of expression due to these limitations. Renowned street artist Sean Yoro has created a piece in which a wrecking ball is transformed into a Coronavirus cell, showing the damage that this virus has inflicted on society.

Four lockdown-inspired tech innovations