Fast Five
So much has happened in the past five years –
and we’re not just talking about the debut of Extol
BY LISA HORNUNG
It’s now 2020 and the world is looking back at the
past decade, but here at Extol, we’re celebrating
the past five years. So here’s a look back at some
of the biggest changes in the past half-decade.
COMPUTER LIFE
The fastest changes in any era are usually
in technology, and the past five years did not
disappoint. Computers are getting bigger, faster,
smaller and more efficient. The same can be said of
our smartphones, smartwatches and smart homes
and offices, which are now heading toward 5G, the
first upgrade since 4G game on the scene in 2010.
Now, the technology world is regularly using
artificial intelligence, machine learning, and
quantum computing. Drones are used in myriad
ways, and experts predict autonomous vehicles will
soon be on the road more often than not. Cloud
computing has become commonplace, and those
pesky, easily lost flash drives have nearly become
obsolete. We no longer use CDs to listen to music
or DVDs to watch movies because it’s all easily
accessible with streaming services.
MEATY VEGETARIAN
While meatless burgers have been commonplace
for years, it’s only recently that they’ve become
real substitutes for meat – and meat lovers – like
the Impossible Burger, which is made of soy and
tastes exactly like the burgers we crave.
The company that created it, Impossible Foods,
just released Impossible Pork, allowing pork lovers
to enjoy their faves without the environmental
and animal consequences. More people than ever
are vegetarian and vegan, a designation that in
the past was considered strange and only for so-
called “granola types” and self-professed hippies.
Whatever your diet designation, we’re lucky to
live in a time with so many options.
WE GOT APPY
It seems like everything we do is governed
by apps in ways many of us couldn’t have
imagined before. We can get an affordable ride
at our doorsteps within minutes with ridesharing
apps. We can get nearly anything delivered from
restaurant food to groceries with the help of an app.
We do our banking at our fingertips, send money
to our friends, buy nearly anything imaginable and
have it at our doors within a day or so.
We can find a date, check the weather, text a
friend overseas and get near realtime driving
directions with the touch of a finger or question
to a virtual assistant. The cost of travel has come
down with the advent of home sharing apps like
AirB&B, VRBO and more. We can order plane
tickets, book a train trip and video chat with our
families and pets. New apps are being created
all the time, and there’s no limit to what the
future holds.
IN THE CLIMATE ZONE
Over the past five years, climate scientists
have increasingly issued dire warnings about the
state of our planet and the consequences of our
actions, causing teenagers – and supporters of all
ages – around the world, led by then-15-year-old
Greta Thunburg, to begin school strikes to draw
attention to the issue.
While not everyone has gotten on board with
climate change activism, many of us have at
least become more aware of the issues that face
our world. That means companies, cities and
individuals, even, are more likely to participate
in recycling programs, eco-friendly infrastructure
changes and the general health of the planet.
DIAL IN AND PHONE HOME
The overwhelming majority of Americans –
96% according to Pew Research Center – own a
smartphone. While the constant connectivity can
be an asset, it also can mean more alone-together
time with loved ones. (Alone-together time = the
periods when you’re with others but don’t interact
because everyone’s noses are in their phones and
it’s as if you’re each alone.) While many of us can’t
and don’t want to step away from our devices for
too long, there’s also a growing push to dial in
to your most important relationships by dialing
back on your phone use and focusing on faces,
not devices. At least for a bit.