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OUR ORIGINAL SERIES
Latest stories of our network
How COVID’s changed living and working in cities
Why the pandemic could see new ways of living in cities
After a year of working from home, which urban trends in how we work will stick around? In the face of bad Zoom signal and limited contact, we're adapting to the biggest challenge in recent human history.
Business as unusual: City trends for the new normal
Adjusting to life in lockdown has been hard, but a glimmer of hope is on the horizon. COVID-19 has changed the way we live and work. What will our jobs and living spaces be like when we return to the 'new normal?' Here are the trends that could shape the future of work, technologies empowering these shifts and how we can make this new tech-forward way of life safe from cybercriminals.
Cybersecurity crucial for homes of the future
Working at home has meant a rise in intelligent buildings and smart homes. From keyless entry to voice-activated elevators, the demand for hands-off tech is up. And as you'd expect, the numbers using laptops at home has increased. As we're becoming more reliant on home technology, we need to secure our homes against hackers – like securely configuring home Wi-Fi and using strong unique passwords to protect devices and control panels.
Recent Kaspersky research shows 58 percent use internet security software beyond what's built in, most (65 percent) agree antivirus software is a must-have for good 'digital hygiene,' but only 48 percent password-protect their Wi-Fi.Pop-up workspaces mean less time in the office
As we plan for life after the pandemic, most workers will likely head to the office just two or three days a week. This has a huge impact on how employers will use their properties, if they keep using them at all. Low-cost alternatives are small private offices, hot desks and co-working spaces.
Pop-up workspaces mean virtual work will be available to anyone who wants it. But without the protection of business cybersecurity, individuals need to protect themselves and their employers. A simple tip: Turn on your virtual private network (VPN) at home or on public Wi-Fi – to protect your and your employer's data.
Rise of Zoom towns and 15-minute cities
COVID-19 has seen many turn and look outward – living outside cities. Millions are changing small apartments for bigger properties further from city centers and closer to green spaces. Meanwhile, Zoom towns have arisen: Vacation destinations turned virtual working hotspots by those escaping the city.
The 15-minute city, where everything from shops to parks are within 15 minutes from home, is now a reality for many. Huge malls are making way for grocery stores, only a bike ride away. All this means people spending more time in their neighborhoods and prioritizing lifestyle, based on affordability, commercial infrastructure, parks or whatever they value most.As the digital world evolves, society benefits from the multiple uses of technology. But as tech continues to play an increasing part of our lives, we need the right cybersecurity solutions and defences to keep us safe from hackers and cybercriminals. The question remains: What do you think of all this?
Five best sci-fi TV shows predicting tech’s future
Videos we love: Five amazing sci-fi shows that predict the future of tech
Technology could go anywhere in future. We ask you, which of these five sci-fi on-demand TV shows predicts it best?
Which sci-fi series gets our tech future right?
Predicting the future of tech is hard. These five on-demand sci-fi TV shows all predict different technological futures for humankind. Which do you think is closest to the truth?
Alphas (above)
Watch on Amazon Prime
In a new twist on the superhero saga, in Alphas, a select few humans have developed super senses, but they're also plagued by harmful drawbacks. For the crime-fighting supergroup, their strengths and flaws act as both help and hindrance.
Altered Carbon
Watch on Netflix
Set in a future where consciousness is digitized and stored in human spines, people can survive physical death by having their memories and consciousness "re-sleeved" into new bodies. What could go wrong?
Black Mirror
Watch on Netflix
Could technology alter memory and perception? Will AI be our friend or foe? Can we tell a digital human from a real one? This anthology of self-contained future worlds will satisfy the most curious minds, but is not for the faint-hearted.
Brave New World
Watch on Amazon Prime
This 2020 adaptation loosely based on Aldous Huxley's influential 1932 novel envisions a perfect, happy society, where everyone knows their place. But, with advanced genetic technology, is it possible?
Devs
Watch on BBC iPlayer (UK only)
In a world where quantum computing can predict all human behavior (ouch,) humanity places its trust in a crack team of developers to restore their freedom.
There you have it – our five favorite sci-fi shows predicting a technological future. Which stands out for you, and why? Tell us on Twitter or Facebook and see what others say. And at Tomorrow Unlocked, we have our own predictions for the future of tech. Strap in – this is Imagine Beyond.
Latest Stories
Five of the most insightful COVID-19 documentaries
Videos we like: Documentaries on how COVID-19 changed our world
How much will our lives change after COVID-19? We look at five of the most powerful documentaries made during the pandemic.
How did filmmakers see COVID-19?
The global community meets an invisible enemy, and must race against the clock to save humanity – COVID-19 is a compelling story. How was it seen by filmmakers around the world? These five must-see documentaries from creatives worldwide exploring different sides of the pandemic.
76 Days (above)
Directed by Hao Wu and Weixi Chen
China
What was Wuhan like in the pandemic's early days? Wonder no more. This acclaimed documentary is a poignant snapshot of struggle and resilience in the battle to survive the coronavirus.
hacker:HUNTER Ha(ck)c1ne
Directed by Didi Mae Hand
UK/Switzerland
The pandemic stretched hospital resources more than ever. Among the first to take advantage of the struggle was a wave of deadly hackers. Follow as the healthcare system fights the virus on two fronts.
Part of a series commissioned by Tomorrow Unlocked.
Coronation
Coronation from Ai Weiwei Films on Vimeo.
Directed by Ai WeiWei
China
Each country responded differently to the outbreak. China's was one of military and extreme efficiency. But what impact did that response have on their people? Behind the scenes of China's battle against a silent killer, directed by acclaimed artist Ai WeiWei.
Eight countries, one global pandemic
Directed by Great Big Story
USA
This heartwarming documentary follows eight households from across the globe every day through the pandemic, to see how different families coped with lockdown.
The Curve
THE CURVE | Full Movie | COVID-19 Documentary Thriller from Oscar®-Nominee Adam Benzine from Jet Black Iris on Vimeo.
Directed by Adam Benzine
USA
The Trump administration's response to COVID-19 receives an insightful, highly emotional look from Academy Award-nominated director Adam Benzine.
It wasn't just professionals capturing the pandemic through a lens. During lockdown, we asked creatives worldwide to capture one hour from their pandemic experience. Watch the playlist we made from these moments – TWELVE.
What have we missed? Share your pick of COVID-19 documentaries with us on Facebook and Twitter, or let us know which of these you found most insightful.