Among the comedic and light-hearted ads from Super Bowl LV, Toyota’s 'Upstream' struck a different tone. The ad features Paralympian Jessica Long, focusing on her personal story and promoting a message of hope and resilience that resonated with pandemic-era viewers.

Narratives around diversity and inclusion in the advertising landscape have largely focused on race, ethnicity, and gender. Influencer agency Purple Goat is adding people with disabilities to the conversation with an aim to erase tokenism and push for more accurate representation.

COVID-19 has made in-store shopping a challenge for everyone, but especially those who face hurdles when navigating stores. Neatebox’s free app creates an inclusive and stress-free experience whereby users book assistance in advance and receive personalised in-store service.

Why are people reconsidering their relationships with Big Tech? How might geopolitics impact innovation? Can digital tools help boost resilience amid uncertainty? In this part of the 2021 Expert Outlook, we speak to three experts about the shifting role of technology in the wake of the pandemic.