The Apps That Are Winning The Coronavirus Quarantine 

In this time of isolation and restricted movement, millions of people in multiple countries are finding themselves confined to their homes. This means that their digital consumption and tech needs have completely changed. We can broadly categorise those in isolation into three distinct groups:

1.Those working from home.

2.Those unable to work from home and

3.Those with children to entertain.

This change to our regular way of life throws up a number of new challenges, central to those is how can we get everything we need to work remotely and where can we now access more digital entertainment?

In these unprecedented times, the demand for apps is soaring but a few have really stood out and are winning the day by smartly (and quickly) fulfilling the needs of the quarantined consumer.

So which two apps are winning the day as we battle to work effectively from outside of the office, try to stay connected with each other and strive for entertainment while confined to our homes?

ZOOM

Zoom is a video conference calling platform which allows multiple users to connect via video or audio chat to a pre-assigned virtual meeting room. This can be done from a computer or mobile device or via a dial in number from a regular telephone. Workers up and down the country are downloading the app on desktop, mobile and tablet to attend meetings with their colleagues and it is appearing in news reports and blog articles like never before.

Many won’t have even heard of this platform until recently but the service has now exploded onto the scene and is likely to forever change our perception of working remotely, our ability to stay connected to our colleagues and what it means to be able to manage remote teams.

With the ability to file share, screen share and even provide remote desktop control via the app, ZOOM does everything you’d expect and need it to. It’s very likely this service will now have cemented itself into many a company’s regular uses even post quarantine.

House Party App

Another virtually unknown which has utterly exploded since shelter in place orders have been imposed around the globe. House Party is a group video chat app which allows you to connect up to 8 live video users into what can best be described as a group Facetime call.

The app plugs into your social media accounts and phone contact list to recognise other users with the app so you can then connect with them either directly one-on-one or as part of a larger group. So unlike ZOOM, House Party feels very much a social platform.

The app excels not just at the ease of connecting people but has added in group entertainment functionality in the form of group games including a Pictionary spin off and others which are surprisingly good fun. The app is doing a great job of helping people not to feel alone and bringing genuine social group interaction into real time.