Well, here we are. More than a million infected, nearly 100K dead, and a world shattered. A dark time, it is.
But within all that terror and disease, I see a still do not see "The End". What I see is a new shift, albeit a hard one.
I think that after this, we will see a drastic change in life.
To start, gone will the days be for social gatherings. Concerts, conventions, marathons, and even Sunday prayers will be a thing of the past. Taking their place will most likely be video conference services such as Skype. Maybe a Discord party or something. I'm sure that one day, face to face conversations will just be like your VHS tape, obsolete and inferior in the new age. The only exception would probably be thanking your FedEx or Uber Eats delivery man, but that's really it.
Travelling and tourism might also become rare during this new era. I'm sure that even after a vaccine is found, travelling might still be perceived as something to avoid, as simulation is already good enough for many. Video games and 360 video have long existed, but after this pandemic, I doubt people will exchange them for a risky and expensive tour. With that technology, what's the point anyway.
The everyday act of shopping might also see a drastic change. These days, even baby boomers are going on Amazon or Ebay, heck even AliExpress if that suits their tastes. Retail has been on a decline anyway, so the "bat soup virus" would probably be the final nail in the coffin. And now that many of us can even order groceries, we won't need to beat each other over toilet paper anymore.
As for entertainment, I guess there is no better time start a review channel. And I'm not just talking about tech reviewers like Unbox Therapy or Linus Tech Tips, I'm talking every kind of reviewer. Food, furniture, microwave ovens, you name it. This perfectly ties in with the "online shopping" thing, as one disadvantage of online shopping is not being able to feel the product before you buy. So in this new world where people just go on Amazon to buy stuff, people need someone to advise them, and that's where the reviewers become useful.
The economy may also change forever. After this, working from home will become the norm. Most computers today are powerful and affordable enough for you to do things at home. Designs, spreadsheets, you name it. Large offices will be the thing of the past, and classrooms will be brought to your living room. Freelance work will soon be popular, as we already have the websites to host it. The big companies will have to figure out how to make people work from home, or there won't be giant corporations anymore at all.
And last but not least, no more cinema. Movie theaters have been losing money even before the C virus. So after this, just pay for your Netflix subscription. Blockbusters would also be harder to produce, so appreciate the few movies you get.
As for the more temporary but still detrimental effects, scientific development can also be forgotten about for a while, as all the world's spending is being poured into finding a cure for the current pandemic. Forget about flying cars or better tech, we're trying to cure the corona now. On the bright side, there's a lot less air pollution from the lack of cars on the road.
I also see a temporary struggle in the arts sector, especially fashion. There's no point in buying new designer clothing right now, since we can't go out to show it off. We also can't go to a local theater to see a theatrical play. Animation studios will also struggle to work together due to the massive distance between the animators. The only artistic sector I see with optimism is pornography, both real and drawn, as getting laid will be very difficult since we're all stuck at home. That and independent artists in general.
Man that was long. Why the heck did I write this anyway, it's not like I'm important!
