As people continue to find new ways to take advantage of digital tools and networks, old assumptions about what it means to work remotely no longer apply. Current trends reach more deeply than a simple smoothing and broadening of communications. Fundamental social changes are occurring as the gaps in time and distance, which were at some point sufficiently bridged, are phasing through insignificance and moving towards irrelevance.
Two developments in particular are core to these changes: social networking and simple, inexpensive high-definition video conferencing. Communicating across the network was only the first step. These new tools and practices are pushing further by giving users a tangible presence within the network medium itself. We are no longer launching messages from the shore across the sea, but rather swimming out to meet somewhere amongst the ripples to engage and build connections shaped by a rapidly evolving culture of interaction.
How should our expectations for distance collaboration change in the context of this evolution? Panel includes: Ann Bamesberger, Sun Microsystems; Casey King, CTO of LifeSize Communications; Matt Collier, SVP of Corporate Development of LifeSize Communications; and Ross Mayfield, Founder/President/Chairman of Socialtext.