‘The love theme’ sounds like an instrumental song from the late, great Barry White. But we’re thinking broader than romantic, sexy lurve. There’s motherly love and brotherly love; love for our friends, fellow human beings and family pets. We examine how technology can help make and maintain those relationships, especially in the time of a pandemic that otherwise isolated so many people in the world from real human contact with those they loved.
Technology has already helped so many keep in touch with their loved ones through video links, social media and more. That’s nothing new – communications technology has always had a strong social role from the humble telephone onwards. How will it take that role further in the future?
I was lucky to have my own family to stay home with, but I found the first hug with my parents after not seeing them for so long highly emotional. It must be so much more acute for those who live alone. Caroline Hayes looks at the...