4.4 CASE OF LOCKDOWN DUE TO PANDEMIC COVID-19 4.4.1 MAJOR SHIFT TO DIGITIZATION As per a report released by GOOGLE, how dependence on digital increased during lockdown. Time spend on smartphones in the week 3 of COVID-19 disruption inched towards 4.5 hours per day, online video accounted for more than 70% of India’s total data usage. CRED, a transparent and fully digital platform of highly trusted individuals, brands and individuals, conducted a study on the credit card spends of its members across Delhi, Mumbai & Bangalore. There were basically two insights gathered. The first being purchase decisions driven by health and safety. The second insight indicated a shift to digital means, spends that have been moved online, have surpassed pre-COVID spending levels. Sharp spikes were recorded in online grocery and e-commerce. E-commerce spends surpassed, pre-COVID levels post the lockdown across all the cities. Delhi spends grew to 135%, while Mumbai was at 133% and Bangalore at 124%. In another study conducted by Hannah Llyod Jones, Dsitrict-tech.com, Meditation and Wellness Apps have had a surge in downloads since the outbreak of coronavirus. With in-person social interactions out of window, people have been utilising technology to socialise with their loved ones. In times full of despair and anxieties, the need of interaction
increased manifolds, thus a major shift was seen in usage of social media and communication apps for mental well-being and satisfaction.
‘Houseparty’, a group video chat platform, topped the charts on the app stores in 17 countries. Google’s Duo has received 10 million new sign-ups in just few weeks.
4.4.2 IMPACT ON INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS 22 March 2020, “...to pay respects to their huge service to the nation during such trying times, all citizens should acknowledge and salute their efforts by standing in the balconies and at the doors of their houses and clap or ring bells for five minutes as a show of appreciation.” April 5, 2020, “...millions of Indians across the country switched off lights at their homes and lit candles, diyas or turned on mobile phone torches Sunday night, responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to show the nation’s “collective resolve and solidarity” in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.” “You may be alone at home but 130 crore people are with you,” said P.M. Narendra Modi Though very cliché but a classic example of unity in diversity was observed during the pandemic, when the prime minister asked the people to perform certain activities. People participated whole heartedly, was of course a reason to extend their gratitude towards the warriors, but somewhere down the mind, it was also a sense of communication and belongingness which they felt. Distant, yet in-person social connection was observed when people came out of their house to perform the activities. SAKSHAM GARG | SEAT NO. 1659 | B. ARCH | DESIGN DISSERTATION| SEMESTER IX | RIZVI COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE 45
