When will we stop carting our bodies back and forth all over the US or World and start getting better at using videoconferencing and other Internet-based collaboration tools?
Once upon a time, not too long ago, video conferencing and internet-based collaboration tools promised to hook us all up, and reduce corporate travel. We gave it a shot, and saw that video conferencing was choppy, delayed, and just a little.. odd. It seems as if we all collectively said "oh well, I guess we still need the face-to-face... there is no substitute." Now, with so much attention on fuel prices, and in the midst of a shaky economy, but also seeing how improved video conferencing and online collaboration tools have become... one would think we would start trying to do without some of this travel. I don't see this being questioned as much as I feel it should be.
Just my take, from my little world...
Good Answers (2)
One of main reasons why it probably didn't click as much as we wanted it to was because of the mismatch mainly in terms of tacit expectation, Video quality was only one part of it but a few things that made it a bit uncomfortable was probably things like lack of eye contact, I really dont know if you can make an eye contact in a videocon.The 'viewpoint' depends on the placement of the camera in the room which you have not control of and you may not get the feel as you would when you talk face to face. There other reason would be the lack of background visibility, you really don't know who's sitting beyond the view of the camera and you cant see much around too as most cameras would be focussed on one point,the speaker. As an audience in any real conference you are not focussed on just the speaker for the entire duration, you at times look around,the ceiling , the others in the audience, if someone drops his cellphone you impulsively want to look there...this you cant do in a videocon..(ya you can look around in your own room but thats noticeably out of context). You also miss out on the subtle signals like body language that you may want to see while taking an interview as the camera may just be focused passport format, eg you may want to know the kind of shoes the person is wearing and things like that, These are habits and culture that we do not recognize in ourselves but we subconsciously do it.When all this gets missed out in the videocon we tend to feel like we are talking to the person through his window while standing outside on the curb.Not the real thing!
The solution would be a technology which lets me see and focus on what I want and not something that the other person wants me to see and that too which is mostly fixed!.
Having said that even with todays technology when it comes to economics there will be cut-off point where you will be willing to live with all these issues in lieu of the savings your make on the actual travel, Thats the time when you say , ah ! this is better than writing an email or a telecon, I at least get to see how the person looks like. Eg of that would be sitting in India if I get a interview call from a US company its always going to be a videocon, If the company is based in my town Its almost always going to be a face to face.
Bart B.
Director, WSM Americas - [bartbasi@yahoo.com]
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1. We will continue to replace face-to-face meetings with virtual meetings. This is a trend that will continue.
2. We are so very far away from the ability to transfer the amount of information we get in a face-to-face meeting; that even the very best video-conference/virtual meeting setups lack a huge amount of data.
3. Right now, the best video conference systems are good - I can link up with 3 camera shot of conference rooms around the world in real time. I get a great deal of information - but I miss a huge amount.
4. Virtual-World-Constructs are a potentially interesting player in this space, they might allow (with a few orders of magnitude of development) some of that additional information to flow. (Think MMORPG for business; ala "Second Life").
5. This being said - I"m packing again for yet another flight; I think this makes 70 so far for this year.
I am not interested in reducing my travel, in point of fact - today - I want it to increase. I close more business in face-to-face meetings than in virtual meetings. The more I close, the more money I make, the more referenceable customers I have...it's a circle. Would I like to travel less? Of course I would - but it's not a lack of technology in any given system, it is rather a lack of the ability of existing systems to transfer enough information to truly simulate a face-to-face meeting.
Keep the faith,
Bart
More Answers (12)
From my experience, videoconferencing systems are still too pricey for the SMB market. Only large corporations can afford it and the solution more cost effective for them. If a company choses to invest, they still need an internet connection that will support the system in all the places they wish to connect to via videoconferencing. It's cost-prohibitive at this time as well as a logistical nightmare.
You do make a good point, however. Videoconferencing manufacturers and resellers could really leverage the current situation to get their technology out there. They just need a better plug & play system that will appeal to the SMB market.
Amen, Brother Mark!!!
James W.
Web Jedi Master
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I think it will be a while. Although Video conference works for some business tasks, it doesn't for others. I don't think video conferencing will ever replace the benefits of face to face. Then again, gas prices may force many of us to stick to telephone and video conferencing out of shear necessity.
Mark,
I'm waiting for molecular transfer technology to be refined...as in "Beam me up, Scotty"...so that I don't end up in Seattle with a human arm and a fly's head, or vice versa. (Help meeeee....)
We just installed a high-tech, expensive video-conferencing system here that's certainly better than the prior generation of teleconferencing toys, but I miss the smell of jet fuel in the morning. Not to mention body cavity searches by burly men in ATA uniforms.
Maybe that's why the videoconference has never really taken off? Insufficient sensory stimulation.
Hope all is well with you.
Take care.
Gordon
Juergen B.
CCO Join! Holding + Join! Regional Airlines
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There's a quite recent and still open question on that same topic at the referenced link, so I won't just repeat myself ;-)
Links:
Jessica G.
Software Engineer at Google
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As you note, the quality really isn't up to it today, especially for any reasonable cost. Improved quality can reduce the need for travel, but it will never completely do away with it.
There are plenty of "high touch" cultures and practices that just are not going to be friendly to the technology. You can't get the connection of lunch with the customer or the ease of an impromptu conversation with a coworker in the hall through VC, period. For one things, time zones done work that way. Sometimes a day in person communicates more than months of VCs and online collaboration.
Pierre D.
Founder, Zimana / Web Analytics Strategy Services ● Entrepreneurship
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Hey Mark,
I think the issue is that despite technology, people still respond best to warm bodies in the room. When I was at Ford I had the distinct pleasure of bouncing between two assembly plants (Louisville and Edison). Assembly issues that were unique sometimes required up close inspection to get to the heart of the matter.
On the other, I recently worked with a client based in Osaka Japan. It was easy because the documents were all digital. But there was still a need to have someone local to implement the strategy.
My point is that despite the increased use of internet and software, there are some industries and situations that require someone to be present.
Great point! Thanks for reading my post.
Pierre
Michael Dunne [.
Aggressive Business Development Professional
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Mark,
I think it will catch on more for follow-up travel, not initial. If you're not willing to see someone in person (pay for air travel) someone local will be wiling.
Michael
Mark, on the one hand I understand these responses that suggest that face-to-face conferencing will always be better...but I know that you'd trade that away in a second if it meant more face-to-face with family. You win this round, bro.
In my humble opinion, the WebEx product has surpassed videoconferencing in effectiveness and cost would you not agree? Correct me if i am wrong but the only thing lacking in a WebEx would be the visual association of your colleagues and clients and that roadblock may be on the road to resolution. Can anyone think of what a videoconference can offer that a WebEx cannot I would be interested in hearing about. The time for handholding customers and <being there> so to speak is really an arcane idea that needs to come to conclusion. All ideas and opinions of course.
Ray M.
Energy expert, educator, award winning sculptor
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Once Matter transporters are perfected...............
Clarification added July 18, 2008:
In other words, people will never give up face to face meetings for highly critical business issues.
