But chances are you wouldn't be as inclined to wear or give a vibrating social distancing necklace.
You're probably wondering what on God's earth that is (as I was when I first read about it on the Smithsonian's website).
You may remember that Italy was one of the first countries to get buffeted by the coronavirus. As of this writing, it has led to nearly 33,000 deaths in the European country.
Even though the lockdown measures there have largely been eased, businesses big and small are taking steps to curb the virus's spread, and museums are no exception.
At Florence Cathedral, electronic devices worn on lanyards will notify visitors if they’re standing too close to their neighbors.
How? By vibrating and lighting up, much like a noisy cell phone or a pager you'd get at restaurants like Outback Steakhouse, when guests are within roughly six feet of each other.
I think it's an interesting concept, and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if countries throughout the world -- including the United States -- begin to adopt it at myriad venues like schools, ballparks, and amusement parks.
Some might grumble that the buzzing will take away from the experience, but it's better to be safe than sorry -- and it gives people an incentive to keep the proper distance. And who knows? If implemented, there might no longer be as great of a need for us to wear masks.
Guess what else may become the "it" thing until this pandemic is behind us? Drive-in
movie theaters, of course.
If there's something many of us miss doing, it's heading out to the movie theater on a Saturday night with the family. You can only binge on Netflix for so long before the cabin fever sets in.
The outdoor cinema venues have been appearing in recent weeks across the U.S., in cities like Miami and New York.
Local small business owners who have been forced to suspend operations to adhere to social distancing mandates have been reopening old drive-ins or building makeshift theaters in parking lots and showing old movies like Jurassic Park to customers to recoup lost income.
Some locations even have food trucks on hand to provide sustenance.
It's too early to tell whether this model will be viable over the long haul. Permits, staffing, and movie licensing mean heavy overhead costs, and the owners are finding it difficult to turn a profit.
Still, as the saying goes, desperate times call for desperate measures. Businesses the world over -- from museums to theaters -- have to remain nimble if they want to ride out this unprecedented economic storm.
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