Issue 71: What a Year It’s Been
Welcome to Backstory, a weekly newsletter turning global technology shifts into a three-minute read. This week, we’re reflecting on a wild year – Mary Ames, Director of Strategy
THE BIG TAKE
What a Year It’s Been
Well, it’s been a wild year. The Covid-19 pandemic will go down as one of the most traumatic events in human history. The fabric of our lives transformed overnight as cities ground to a halt and life moved inside. Without diminishing the emotional toll this year has had on all of us, it's important to consider the bright spots. We’ve seen remarkable unity, ingenuity, and innovation throughout 2020. That should give us some hope for the second half and beyond.
Testing: The UAE reacted to Covid-19 by unveiling one of the most advanced testing infrastructures in the world. This feat perfectly captured the country’s embrace of efficient technology, streamlined government, and health-first mentality. As we continue to watch the local knowledge economy expand, the testing milestones achieved this year are critical evidence that we’re on the right track.
Space: The launch of the Hope probe to Mars was another historic milestone for the country this year. Despite the ravages of a global pandemic, Emirati scientists and engineers were still able to launch the Arab world’s first interplanetary spacecraft. This feat will continue to propel the scientific and technological community in the UAE and beyond to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
United: The virus continues to flare up around the world. The rest of 2020 won’t be easy by any stretch, but so far we’ve weathered this storm with grace and innovation. We’ve remained committed to our larger goal of creating the region’s savviest knowledge economy and serving as a nexus point for countries around the world. As we embark on the second half of this year, let’s focus on the achievements we’ve made together instead of the gravity of the challenges ahead. We’re on the right track.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“We are each other’s harvest; we are each other’s business; we are each other’s magnitude and bond."
– Gwendolyn Brooks, poet
OUR VIEWS THIS WEEK
Reframing growth: Discussion of the global economy these days is focused on the Covid-19 pandemic, trade war concerns, and other pressures on growth. But what if economists are getting it all wrong? In this piece published by Xische, we take a deep dive into our understanding of growth and pose a simple question: should wellness be the new GDP?
Digital hygiene: Let’s face it: we spend too much time staring at screens. It’s a slippery slope from information overload to digital burnout – and we pay the price with our health. That’s one reason the UAE announced The National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031 last year. In this piece published by Xische, we take a deep dive into the art of wellbeing in the digital age. It’s time to take back our health.
A MESSAGE FROM SPIDERSILK
Practical cybersecurity: In today’s online world, cybersecurity is a critical line of defense for any business. Enter SpiderSilk, a Dubai-based cybersecurity firm specializing in simulating the most advanced cyber offenses on your technology so you can build your best security defenses. Mitigating risk and protecting digital infrastructure can be achieved through the most advanced adversarial simulations and advisory services.
SPOTTED ELSEWHERE
Bunker mentality: It sounds like the plot of a brilliant spy thriller: an eccentric Dutchman living in a giant underground facility built by the German military during the Cold War is running a server farm beloved by cybercriminals. Sometimes reality is stranger than fiction. The New Yorker takes us into the bunker and weaves this look at the future of technology.
Extra peanuts? If you’re missing the crunch of peanuts at 30,000 feet, American Airlines has you covered. The airline has as many as 70,000 bags of unused peanuts thanks to the slow down in air travel. The company just began selling the peanuts online. So if you want to savor those salty snacks on the ground, here’s your chance.
QUICK HITS
Inside the world of online Muslim matchmaking.
If you do video calls on a Mac, this is a great hack.
Building a 'virtual' Hajj.