How the Digital/Physical Revolution is Changing Lives - and Lifestyles
To say that the twin disrupters of COVID-19 and social unrest have forever changed the world is akin to proclaiming that the Taj Mahal is an architectural masterpiece. Tell us something we don’t know, right?
OK. How about the real probability that in the “near future,” motorists will be able to take naps while they drive? Or that fans will be able to “attend” and participate in live sporting events just as if they were there without ever leaving their couches. Or that free WiFi connections will be available to anyone at any time no matter where they might happen to live, work, play or learn.
Those changes and many others are part of the rising digital experience wave that is transforming virtually every aspect of our lives. Some of the changes will be jaw-dropping. Others will be barely noticeable. The best will combine to make a healthier, more resilient and more equitable world.
As architects, designers and engineers we will have a substantial role in this 21st Century revolution. The worldwide pandemic and protests pushed us to change much faster than we anticipated. We learned to work outside our offices by leveraging digital communication, forever changing our offices, homes and the definition of “workplace.”
Those changes and many others are part of the rising digital experience wave that is transforming virtually every aspect of our lives. Some of the changes will be jaw-dropping. Others will be barely noticeable. The best will combine to make a healthier, more resilient and more equitable world.
Our children and their schoolteachers and administrators transitioned from in-person to remote learning, which has transformed our schools and our homes. The pandemic tested our hospital capacity so we turned convention center and hotels into temporary health care centers.
These and other changes showed us that as we move forward, every building must have a physical footprint and a digital cloudprint, and the two are irrevocably intertwined.
With that thought in mind, we must design innovative, appealing spaces and places that allow for a seamless transition from the physical to the digital realm. And we must understand that future disruptions — whether environmental, social or economic — will require us to maintain flexibility in our physical and digital worlds to withstand unforeseen changes.
Our HKS teams are doing just that. And on these pages, you will read, see and learn about our various thought leadership approaches to improving the digital experience for all of our stakeholders.
Related Stories:
Story
The Revolution of the Scoreboard
The high-tech stadium scoreboards today got their starts in the ancient arenas of Greece and Rome.
Story
The Revolution of the Scoreboard (Part II)
The stadium videoboards of today are a star attraction all by themselves.
Story
Merging the Digital and Physical Worlds in Stadium Design, Mark Williams Sees Infinite Possibilities
Story
Working from Home During COVID-19: What Our Research Taught Us
If work comes home, then homes must adapt. We’re figuring out how by studying our own makeshift offices. A weekly firm-wide survey is helping us identify trends related to our employees’ physical and mental health as they work from home. The survey also collects useful details about their workspaces and surroundings.
Event
Connecting in Strange Times: The Antidote to Loneliness
The coronavirus pandemic and resulting social isolation have quickly turned a hyper-connected world into one that feels lonely and detached. Strong evidence already shows loneliness has a toxic effect on our health and happiness. How will quarantine impact our mental and physical health? Can it perhaps lead to more empathy and awareness of isolation? This panel will discuss how changes in society have accelerated social isolation and loneliness (hint: it’s not just technology) and, in light of wide-scale shelter-in-place orders, examine strategies that promote meaningful connections during an uncertain time. While IRL interaction can’t be replaced, how can we use this unprecedented moment to better understand new ways to reach out, and better understand how more connection improves our collective health?
Event
Perspectives on Esports: How Esports is Changing the Game for a New Type of Real Estate
Esports is quickly becoming one of the buzzwords in the property sector with investors and developers both feeling that this may be the next ‘big thing.’ But what exactly is esports?