

































© Shutterstock
0 / 34 Fotos
Touch screens
- Businesses will have to rethink public touch screens—in fast food restaurants, ATMS, airline kiosks, etc.—as more customers see these surfaces as an infection risk, no matter how regularly they’re cleaned.
© Shutterstock
1 / 34 Fotos
Touch screens
- An alternative has already started gaining ground: smartphones. You can check in for flights, order food, and manage your funds from your personal device.
© Shutterstock
2 / 34 Fotos
Buffets and salad bars
- In the new world of social distancing, sharing utensils to grab food which various people pass in a queue won't really fly. À la carte or individually packaged meals, along with properly spaced out dining rooms, have already become the norm.
© Shutterstock
3 / 34 Fotos
Handshakes
- Health experts say handshakes, and similarly high fives, might not come back. Dr. Anthony Fauci told The Wall Street Journal in April, “I don’t think we should ever shake hands ever again, to be honest with you.”
© Shutterstock
4 / 34 Fotos
Handshakes
- Potential non-contact replacements include waving, a small bow (already common in some parts of the world), a hand-over-heart gesture, and an elbow bump.
© Shutterstock
5 / 34 Fotos
Cash and coins
- The germs on physical money have long been a cause for concern, but now there’s a real risk to passing it around.
© Shutterstock
6 / 34 Fotos
Cash and coins
- Most shops are integrating the contactless tap function on credit and debit cards. There are also services like Apple Pay wherein you can pay using your phone.
© Shutterstock
7 / 34 Fotos
Human restaurant workers
- Many jobs like fast food workers have been under threat of automation for a while, but the virus may speed up the process.
© Shutterstock
8 / 34 Fotos
Human restaurant workers - Robots have already been developed to run tasks like making and serving food, washing dishes, and taking orders, so dining outlets could be a lot less human.
© Shutterstock
9 / 34 Fotos
Ink signatures
- Most of us spent a lot of time as kids working on our signatures, but with social distancing the already-declining “wet” signature—putting pen to paper—may become obsolete.
© Shutterstock
10 / 34 Fotos
Ink signatures
- Digital signatures have already started being incorporated into documents, though there was some pushback from those who didn’t trust it. Now, however, many businesses and banks will have no choice but to accept an eSignature.
© Shutterstock
11 / 34 Fotos
Privacy
- As many people have had to move their lives and errands online, an even greater focus from companies will be trained on tracking, logging, and analyzing consumer/user data. It’s all in those long terms and conditions pages we didn't read.
© Shutterstock
12 / 34 Fotos
Privacy
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections function like tracking devices on your cellphones as well, which is being used for contact tracing, but also makes the idea of being a complete reclusive mystery a thing of the past.
© Shutterstock
13 / 34 Fotos
Cruises
- The environmental and ethical effects of cruises had already started to tarnish the ships’ reputation, but with the stories of entire vessels quarantined and cut off from the world, confined to their windowless cabins, it’s certainly not the trip you want to take anytime soon.
© Shutterstock
14 / 34 Fotos
Cruises
- Instead, traveling post-pandemic will probably look a lot more local, perhaps relying on road trips or something with less involvement of large numbers of people in confined spaces.
© Shutterstock
15 / 34 Fotos
Free samples
- Beloved free samples are indefinitely paused, leaving no alternative except to actually buy something and then figure out if you like it.
© Shutterstock
16 / 34 Fotos
Shared table condiments
- This one is pretty self-explanatory, but it hits hardest when your meal arrives and you need ketchup. Instead, individual portions of sauces are often made available on request, but it might be better to bring your own.
© Shutterstock
17 / 34 Fotos
Overtourism
- Tourism’s biggest problem was the fact that there was too much of it, but that stopped being an issue when the World Health Organization declared the pandemic. It may not become an issue again for years.
© Shutterstock
18 / 34 Fotos
Overtourism
- Fewer people will have the funds to travel as well, after the financial hit of the pandemic, and many others will be paranoid about traveling. To combat under-tourism, cities like Lisbon in Portugal are integrating strategies to draw locals back into the city, making it more livable, and giving it a steadier economy.
© Shutterstock
19 / 34 Fotos
Lending
- Whether it’s a pen, a book, or a tissue, these small things we never thought twice about in the past are now potentially threatening to our health. Along with masks and antibacterial gel, we’re going to be much more prepared when we leave the house.
© Shutterstock
20 / 34 Fotos
Reusable bags
- Though people are worried about the virus traveling on reusable bags, and some US cities have temporarily banned them, it’s important to note that the science around the issue is contentious. Instead of resorting to single-use plastic, opt for washable reusable bags.
© Shutterstock
21 / 34 Fotos
Full airplanes - "Densification," as airlines call it, is squeezing in more seats on planes, but the pandemic is sure to put a halt to that plan, especially since many airlines are already surpassing the regulatory limits of how many seats you can put on an airplane, according to transportation analyst Seth Kaplan.
© Shutterstock
22 / 34 Fotos
Full airplanes - An Italian company called Aviointeriors has designed a concept seat called "Janus" that might well be adopted by many airlines in the future. It reverses the middle seats along with including plastic shields between them.
© Shutterstock
23 / 34 Fotos
Movie theaters
- The rise of online streaming has already hit theaters hard, but pandemic-related closures have companies worried that they may not survive. To make matters worse, many film releases have been delayed by entertainment companies.
© Shutterstock
24 / 34 Fotos
Open-floor offices
- Employers are hypersensitive about the potential for liability if people get sick at work, so open-floor offices where workers sit close to one another may not return even after restrictions end.
© Shutterstock
25 / 34 Fotos
Open-floor offices
- Working from home has shown to be much more widely accessible than many companies believed, but for those who need to return to the office, they can expect greater distances between employees, plastic shields, and no sharing of supplies.
© Shutterstock
26 / 34 Fotos
Business travel
- Even after travel restrictions are lifted, some say traveling for business may never be the same, particularly as the much cheaper videoconferencing company Zoom has taken charge, already reaching 300 million daily meeting participants in April.
© Shutterstock
27 / 34 Fotos
Long lines
- With social distancing in place, long crowded lines are no longer an option, especially since lines with few people can already snake around the block. For things like product releases, queues have already been made virtual.
© Shutterstock
28 / 34 Fotos
Sharing food - Dr. Isaac Bogoch from the University of Toronto told Global News, "If people are sharing food, the virus may contaminate the food that they're eating or on the fork or knife that they're sharing. And that's a perfect way to transmit this to other people."
© Shutterstock
29 / 34 Fotos
Big shopping malls
- Concerns over the enclosed, popular spaces have driven people away from malls, leading to huge drops in their revenue. Some have had no choice but to close. The rise of online shopping was already taking over, but now it’s really holding the monopoly.
© Shutterstock
30 / 34 Fotos
Marathon racing events - Bart Yasso, former chief running officer for Runner's World, told CNBC that he wasn't optimistic about the near future of marathons. "A lot of these event companies are going to really be hurt by this, and some of these smaller races just aren't going to survive," he said.
© Shutterstock
31 / 34 Fotos
Concerts
- Huge numbers of people pressing against the stage is not an enticing prospect right now. Instead, there are drive-in concerts popping up where people stay in their cars, as well as online shows. When concerts return, they'll likely be very spaced out and masks may be required.
© Shutterstock
32 / 34 Fotos
Water fountains
- Experts have said that water fountains aren't safe to use, as they put many people's noses and mouths over the same surface. See also: What staying in a hotel will look like post-pandemic
© Shutterstock
33 / 34 Fotos
© Shutterstock
0 / 34 Fotos
Touch screens
- Businesses will have to rethink public touch screens—in fast food restaurants, ATMS, airline kiosks, etc.—as more customers see these surfaces as an infection risk, no matter how regularly they’re cleaned.
© Shutterstock
1 / 34 Fotos
Touch screens
- An alternative has already started gaining ground: smartphones. You can check in for flights, order food, and manage your funds from your personal device.
© Shutterstock
2 / 34 Fotos
Buffets and salad bars
- In the new world of social distancing, sharing utensils to grab food which various people pass in a queue won't really fly. À la carte or individually packaged meals, along with properly spaced out dining rooms, have already become the norm.
© Shutterstock
3 / 34 Fotos
Handshakes
- Health experts say handshakes, and similarly high fives, might not come back. Dr. Anthony Fauci told The Wall Street Journal in April, “I don’t think we should ever shake hands ever again, to be honest with you.”
© Shutterstock
4 / 34 Fotos
Handshakes
- Potential non-contact replacements include waving, a small bow (already common in some parts of the world), a hand-over-heart gesture, and an elbow bump.
© Shutterstock
5 / 34 Fotos
Cash and coins
- The germs on physical money have long been a cause for concern, but now there’s a real risk to passing it around.
© Shutterstock
6 / 34 Fotos
Cash and coins
- Most shops are integrating the contactless tap function on credit and debit cards. There are also services like Apple Pay wherein you can pay using your phone.
© Shutterstock
7 / 34 Fotos
Human restaurant workers
- Many jobs like fast food workers have been under threat of automation for a while, but the virus may speed up the process.
© Shutterstock
8 / 34 Fotos
Human restaurant workers - Robots have already been developed to run tasks like making and serving food, washing dishes, and taking orders, so dining outlets could be a lot less human.
© Shutterstock
9 / 34 Fotos
Ink signatures
- Most of us spent a lot of time as kids working on our signatures, but with social distancing the already-declining “wet” signature—putting pen to paper—may become obsolete.
© Shutterstock
10 / 34 Fotos
Ink signatures
- Digital signatures have already started being incorporated into documents, though there was some pushback from those who didn’t trust it. Now, however, many businesses and banks will have no choice but to accept an eSignature.
© Shutterstock
11 / 34 Fotos
Privacy
- As many people have had to move their lives and errands online, an even greater focus from companies will be trained on tracking, logging, and analyzing consumer/user data. It’s all in those long terms and conditions pages we didn't read.
© Shutterstock
12 / 34 Fotos
Privacy
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections function like tracking devices on your cellphones as well, which is being used for contact tracing, but also makes the idea of being a complete reclusive mystery a thing of the past.
© Shutterstock
13 / 34 Fotos
Cruises
- The environmental and ethical effects of cruises had already started to tarnish the ships’ reputation, but with the stories of entire vessels quarantined and cut off from the world, confined to their windowless cabins, it’s certainly not the trip you want to take anytime soon.
© Shutterstock
14 / 34 Fotos
Cruises
- Instead, traveling post-pandemic will probably look a lot more local, perhaps relying on road trips or something with less involvement of large numbers of people in confined spaces.
© Shutterstock
15 / 34 Fotos
Free samples
- Beloved free samples are indefinitely paused, leaving no alternative except to actually buy something and then figure out if you like it.
© Shutterstock
16 / 34 Fotos
Shared table condiments
- This one is pretty self-explanatory, but it hits hardest when your meal arrives and you need ketchup. Instead, individual portions of sauces are often made available on request, but it might be better to bring your own.
© Shutterstock
17 / 34 Fotos
Overtourism
- Tourism’s biggest problem was the fact that there was too much of it, but that stopped being an issue when the World Health Organization declared the pandemic. It may not become an issue again for years.
© Shutterstock
18 / 34 Fotos
Overtourism
- Fewer people will have the funds to travel as well, after the financial hit of the pandemic, and many others will be paranoid about traveling. To combat under-tourism, cities like Lisbon in Portugal are integrating strategies to draw locals back into the city, making it more livable, and giving it a steadier economy.
© Shutterstock
19 / 34 Fotos
Lending
- Whether it’s a pen, a book, or a tissue, these small things we never thought twice about in the past are now potentially threatening to our health. Along with masks and antibacterial gel, we’re going to be much more prepared when we leave the house.
© Shutterstock
20 / 34 Fotos
Reusable bags
- Though people are worried about the virus traveling on reusable bags, and some US cities have temporarily banned them, it’s important to note that the science around the issue is contentious. Instead of resorting to single-use plastic, opt for washable reusable bags.
© Shutterstock
21 / 34 Fotos
Full airplanes - "Densification," as airlines call it, is squeezing in more seats on planes, but the pandemic is sure to put a halt to that plan, especially since many airlines are already surpassing the regulatory limits of how many seats you can put on an airplane, according to transportation analyst Seth Kaplan.
© Shutterstock
22 / 34 Fotos
Full airplanes - An Italian company called Aviointeriors has designed a concept seat called "Janus" that might well be adopted by many airlines in the future. It reverses the middle seats along with including plastic shields between them.
© Shutterstock
23 / 34 Fotos
Movie theaters
- The rise of online streaming has already hit theaters hard, but pandemic-related closures have companies worried that they may not survive. To make matters worse, many film releases have been delayed by entertainment companies.
© Shutterstock
24 / 34 Fotos
Open-floor offices
- Employers are hypersensitive about the potential for liability if people get sick at work, so open-floor offices where workers sit close to one another may not return even after restrictions end.
© Shutterstock
25 / 34 Fotos
Open-floor offices
- Working from home has shown to be much more widely accessible than many companies believed, but for those who need to return to the office, they can expect greater distances between employees, plastic shields, and no sharing of supplies.
© Shutterstock
26 / 34 Fotos
Business travel
- Even after travel restrictions are lifted, some say traveling for business may never be the same, particularly as the much cheaper videoconferencing company Zoom has taken charge, already reaching 300 million daily meeting participants in April.
© Shutterstock
27 / 34 Fotos
Long lines
- With social distancing in place, long crowded lines are no longer an option, especially since lines with few people can already snake around the block. For things like product releases, queues have already been made virtual.
© Shutterstock
28 / 34 Fotos
Sharing food - Dr. Isaac Bogoch from the University of Toronto told Global News, "If people are sharing food, the virus may contaminate the food that they're eating or on the fork or knife that they're sharing. And that's a perfect way to transmit this to other people."
© Shutterstock
29 / 34 Fotos
Big shopping malls
- Concerns over the enclosed, popular spaces have driven people away from malls, leading to huge drops in their revenue. Some have had no choice but to close. The rise of online shopping was already taking over, but now it’s really holding the monopoly.
© Shutterstock
30 / 34 Fotos
Marathon racing events - Bart Yasso, former chief running officer for Runner's World, told CNBC that he wasn't optimistic about the near future of marathons. "A lot of these event companies are going to really be hurt by this, and some of these smaller races just aren't going to survive," he said.
© Shutterstock
31 / 34 Fotos
Concerts
- Huge numbers of people pressing against the stage is not an enticing prospect right now. Instead, there are drive-in concerts popping up where people stay in their cars, as well as online shows. When concerts return, they'll likely be very spaced out and masks may be required.
© Shutterstock
32 / 34 Fotos
Water fountains
- Experts have said that water fountains aren't safe to use, as they put many people's noses and mouths over the same surface. See also: What staying in a hotel will look like post-pandemic
© Shutterstock
33 / 34 Fotos
Things that may become obsolete post-pandemic
Disrupting the simple things we took for granted
© <p>Shutterstock</p>
We all know the world has been changing at an exponential rate, but the introduction of the pandemic has put that change into overdrive. Our communities and daily lives already look so different, but while many people are just waiting to "go back to normal," they might be missing the fact that "normal" no longer exists.
This moment in time happens to be the intersection of pandemic, mass globalization, and innovative technological advances, all coming together to radically disrupt the simple things we took for granted for so many years.
Curious about what we might be leaving behind for good? Want a glimpse at what the world might look like instead? Click through to find out.
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