World economy working from home gets a glimpse of the virtual future

A tablet computer shows online teaching material at the home of Wong Mo Yee, a primary school teacher in Hong Kong, China, on April 9. Wong said the coronavirus crisis highlighted the need for clear goals about what should be taught at home instead of rigidly sticking with the in-class room curriculum. — Paul Yeung/Bloomberg

The lockdown gripping much of the world economy has spurred a real-time stress test of the long-heralded digital future.

Virtual brown bag lunches have replaced office gatherings; schools have rushed out Internet-based learning; the International Monetary Fund will this week hold its Spring meetings online; and the US Supreme Court for the first time will hear arguments by telephone and allow live audio broadcasts.