Letter: Wonders of technology save time and money
When the high-speed rail link known as HS2 is eventually forced upon us, it will cost billions.
But we are told that it will cut down the travel time to London in order that we can have important ‘face-to-face’ business meetings a bit quicker.
They also say it will do wonders for the country’s economy.
These events rarely take place on the platform, however.
So, slogging all the way across the metropolis will still be part of the deal – although this is never mentioned in discussions about HS2.
Well, I had a leisurely ‘face-to-face’ meeting with my daughter last week.
No travelling was involved, but the connection time amounted to about five minutes, which was the time it took to connect up to Skype.
Furthermore, it cost nothing.
She wasn’t merely in London, she was in Hong Kong; I could even see the harbour over her shoulder.
It’s known as modern technology.
Phil Lawton, Red Lake
Comments for: "Letter: Wonders of technology save time and money"
erics
It's one thing to have a social chat over Skype, it is another thing altogether to have a meeting between several people, building relationships, trust and exchanging knowledge and ideas. There is a reason why video conferencing has not really taken off - it is of only limited benefit in the real world!
James
The comparison between talking to your daughter on Skype and a video-conference 'business meeting' is a touch disingenuous, I think.
Clearly, the writer's Skype conversations with his daughter are the next best thing to the face-to-face meetings you'd be able to have if she was near you. But I'd find it hard to believe (being in a broadly similar situation myself) that they're an adequate substitute.
As for the business meeting, it's a case of 'what erics said'. Some things can be done by phone, video, whatever, but the whole relationship-building thing can't. I still happen to believe a proper job interview can't either.
Agree that the necessity of HS2 is debatable, though. We all despise the idiot car drivers trying to shave vital minutes off a road journey. Essentially HS2 is trying to do the same (albeit in a safer way) to the rail journey.
Kat de Gama
When I worked in academia we only used videoconferencif someon was tmportant to travel or I'll. There is nothing like a one day seminar or three day conference in embodied for. Wine and nibble really make the ideas flow!
Wenlock Un
Before anyone passes negative comment on Kat's typing/grammar, I have found that the Star website was not correctly applying editing of comments prior to submission. How apt when we are talking about the wonders of technology!
Picking up on Kat's comment re; motivation in meetings, it is quite noticeable how online meetings tend to be attended by only those who actually have a real purpose for being there, as opposed to those who 'come along as it may be useful in the future' at face to face occasions.
And Eric, there is of course another reason why video conferencing has not really taken off - most of us would rather not admit to our staff/colleagues/business partners that we don't actually understand how to operate it!
Kat
Dear Wenlockand other friends. I love a chat on the SS whey I'm out of the county. I'm not illiterate but I have a visual impairment and the new website won't allow me to expand font size on an iPad. One of my dogs kicked her water bowl over my pc so I hope you will be tolerant until it's repaired!
Kat
Apologies for typos! I have a visual impairment. SS's new website won't allow me to increase font size on an iPad and my puppy knocked her water bowl over my pc!
Bill
Ironically, I worked on a project in Hong Kong and after two trips of a fortnight each it became impossible to deal with all the detail either on the phone or via video conferencing so I finished up spending 3 years out there.
Whilst a 'formal' meeting with a set agenda or a presentation lend themselves to VC, anything that involves discussion and debate, let alone 'brainstorming', is pretty ineffective unless it's face to face.
Kat, you need to rearrange the locations of your iPad, puppy and her water bowl. Some things belong on the floor, not others!