Workplace & Collaboration.  

Work from home culture has expanded a lot since the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020. Unsurprisingly, a lot of development has gone into technology that makes remote working as seamless as possible.  

Some examples of this include: 

• The Meeting Owl Pro – a collaborative tool designed for enterprise, which includes a 360-degree camera, mic, and speaker combined into one device. It creates the experience of in-person participation for hybrid teams with an 18-foot audio pickup radius and an automatic zoom that responds to who is speaking at the time. It is compatible with Zoom, Slack, Google Hangouts and other platforms.  
• The BenQ InstaShow S WDC20 – a presentation system designed for large conference rooms which can connect to almost any device and operating system. It allows for plug-in and present instant collaboration without an app or software download needed, up to four-way split screen for multiple presenters, and comes with enterprise-grade security.  

• KUDO Marketplace – A conferencing solutions provider that automates the booking of language interpreters 24/7 across a wide variety of platforms.  

Tech inspiring the future.  

2021 has been chock-full of new technologies that could take us remarkably far in our problem-solving and re-thinking of the way we interact with the world. These innovations bring to mind endless possibilities.  

Some highlights include: 

• ICON’s Vulcan 3D Printer Technology – This construction system was designed and engineered by 3D printing firm ICON for volume 3D printing of homes with precision and speed. The Vulcan system allows for quicker production of homes and creates significantly less waste than traditional construction. The applications of this technology could be game-changing for the construction industry.  

• The Geopress Filter by Grayl – This 24oz water bottle includes a press filtration system that cleans water and makes it drinkable. Not only is this great for active outdoorspeople, but Grayl is working to bring this technology to communities with limited access to drinking water. Systems like these are affordable and can do important work around the world!  

Medical breakthroughs. 

Although a lot of focus in medical news has been about the response to COVID-19, there have been other breakthroughs in 2021, as well. For example, the World Health Organization has approved a new vaccine to help fight malaria that is being rolled out in Africa. Likewise, advancements in telemedicine have made it easier than ever for people across the world to access healthcare.  

In conclusion… 

Although these are just a handful of the exciting innovations and inventions of the past year, they go to show what advancements we are seeing in all walks of life. From seamless virtual meetings, to instantly clean water, to progress fighting one of history’s biggest killers, 2021 has been a great year for breakthroughs!