Home technology use exploded in 2020; Despite the challenges, Americans embraced the change

At the start of 2021, 55% of U.S. households included someone working from home and 43% had someone schooling from home. (Photo: Shutterstock)

If you’ve lost track of how many digital devices are being used in your household, you’re probably not alone. A new report from Deloitte finds that the pandemic created a crash course in the use of digital devices for working and learning from home, and with that increased use of technology, other upgrades took place, as Americans adjusted to a new level of life online.

Deloitte’s Connectivity & Mobile Trends 2021 Survey found that 2020 was a kind of stress test for Americans and their digital habits; some people were more prepared than others, but all had to make adjustments. “As lockdowns shook fundamental pillars of the economy and challenged the inescapable requirements of living, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated ongoing trends in connectivity and technology, further blurring the lines between our physical lives and the digital world,” the report said. “With work, school, medical visits, fitness, and retail shopping all crowding into the home, rapidly shifting needs drove sudden demands for an evolving suite of connected devices and digital services.”