By this point in 2020, the broad beats of this pandemic have been pretty thoroughly played out. While we face continued uncertainty about how much longer we’ll have to live with this virus, the changes it has wrought on our lifestyles and living situations are quite apparent. We now know working and learning remotely are likely going to be prominent parts of the months (perhaps years) to come, even once we’re out of the woods....
There’s a simple answer to that question, with a somewhat counterintuitive explanation. How has COVID-19 affected housing sales? Well: housing sales have hit record highs, with housing prices closely following suit in July and August. From the looks of things, I’d say that far from hindering the housing market, the pandemic has actually boosted it. While that alone is a remarkable testament to the resilience of the Canadian real estate market, the factors contributing to...
As we approach the end of 2020, much of the country is still contending with the pandemic. As some provinces approach zero-cases, others are beginning to see daily COVID-19 cases rising at discouraging rates. This has considerable implications for people’s health, livelihood, and homes. Self-isolation and quarantine requirements have made stable (and accessible) accommodation more important than ever – something that has been addressed in different ways across the provinces. In light of that, the...
Here’s your challenge: you have a single space that needs to function as an office, classroom, gym, recreation area, kitchen, and dining area all at the same time. What do you do? If that sounds like an impossible proposition to pull-off successfully, that’s because it is – there’s almost no way to make a single space work effectively for all of those functions at the same time. And yet, that’s precisely the predicament so many...
The breakneck pace of technological change has fundamentally affected the way industries operate and innovate, and banking is no exception. Accessing financial services online has been the norm for years now, with an overwhelming majority of the population using digital channels for most banking transactions. The infrastructure that makes all of this possible, routinely processes massive amounts of sensitive data and needs to constantly evolve to ensure it all remains secure. To gain a better...
I’ve got good news and bad news. The bad news is: we’re not getting any younger. The good news is: we’re not going away anytime soon, either, as life expectancy for Canadians is higher than ever before! At least, I think that’s good news—check back with me in 2050 and let’s see how we all feel about it. Globally, we’ve hit astoundingly high population numbers for people aged 65+, exceeding a threshold of 672 million...
We’re halfway into 2020, and still trying to navigate the uncertainties of a COVID-19 world. This is no less true for businesses and industries, as new developments necessitate immediate operational changes and unprecedented levels of flexibility in order to keep the doors open and the lights on. The human impact of this pandemic – both in terms of customers and employees – has been a particularly complex and urgent problem to contend with. The Real...
Simple Home Technology Upgrades It’s an excellent time to be alive if you’re an early adopter of technology; it’s slightly less excellent if you’re a well-meaning-but-late-anyway adopter (like myself). The breakneck pace of technological innovation can easily leave you behind the curve, with new startups, apps, and devices appearing on an almost daily basis. Trying to catch up to the pack can be daunting and expensive even if you’re willing to get with the times....
The future is now-ish, if you’re brave enough for it. With Alexa, Google, and Siri becoming household names, we’re right on the cusp of living in futuristic spaces that are equal parts habitation and technological wonder. However, it remains to be seen whether all this emergent technology will elevate us to a shining utopia, or leave us trapped in a Black Mirror episode. Here are a few incredible technological developments popping up on the horizon,...
It’s been a few weeks since working from home became the norm, as opposed to the exception. Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchen counters—any available spaces, really—have become improvised offices, unless you already had a home office set up. Self-isolation measures have been something of a stress-test for remote workplace setups, as you scramble to use your home technology and devices for a full day’s work. However, the same devices are likely also fulfilling secondary roles in...
