Monday, Oct 29, 2007, 6:12 AM
The Future of Telecommuting
I truly believe that the future of employment will be much more individualistic and that requiring people to move will be an anachronism. Right now, phone + LiveMeeting is about 50% as good as being there; you're limited in what jobs you can do based on how much a part of your job "being there" actually is. We already have the pieces of technology to push "being there" to about 80%; we just haven't put them together yet. When we do, a bunch more barriers are going to come down. Until then, some folks are on the bleeding edge and isn't that what this whole industry is about anyway? : )
8 comments on this post
Scott Williams:
Monday, Oct 29, 2007, 7:59 AM
Mike Sax:
I have a question for you: how important is a webcam and teleconference software that lets you look at the same screen? Is it really worth the hassle over a phone call? How often do you do it and what's the value (human connection, non-verbal communications, etc.).
Well, that was more than one question... I hope you could share the answers on one of your blog posts - they're very interesting. Thanks for the time and effort!
- Mike
Monday, Oct 29, 2007, 9:30 AM
Andrew Webb:
Currently I do Mondays and Wednesdays in the London office, the rest of the time at home in Brighton.
I remote in to my office desktop via RDP. For comms, I use the phone (Skype and normal landline), email and Microsoft Office Communicator - no more than that.
It works. Oftentimes being away from the office is the only way to get real work done. When I am in the office I make myself available as much as possible, and even encourage people to interrupt and talk to me.
Monday, Oct 29, 2007, 10:27 AM
Jordan:
I hope the dream of telecommuting will come true in China,it will take much funny for us.
The olympic of 2008 will be help in Beijing,and then ,this technology will be widely used.
Monday, Oct 29, 2007, 5:49 PM
Chris Sells:
"how important is a webcam and teleconference software that lets you look at the same screen? Is it really worth the hassle over a phone call? How often do you do it and what's the value (human connection, non-verbal communications, etc.)."
The webcam isn't much use unless I can see faces and the whiteboard and I can move it around myself. I've had some experience with a moving webcam during a remote conference talk I gave and that was wonderful; I want it all the time now!
The screen sharing software is hugely important during 1:1s or group meetings. The ability to work together on something or to see what's being presented during a meeting is invaluable. Sometimes I use this twice or three times/day. I couldn't do this job without it.
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007, 5:32 AM
Bob Iliff:
Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007, 2:02 PM
Chris Sells:
Thursday, Nov 1, 2007, 12:29 PM
Andy B:
What we really need is for government to give tax incentives to corporations that allow their employees to telecommute, as this solves many of these issues.
Tuesday, Nov 13, 2007, 6:24 PM
