Virtual Reality

Aero · Post by **Aero** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 2:33 pm

http://apnews.excite.com/article/200812 ... J2DO0.html

Looks like in a few more years we'll be able to solve the education cost problem by tele-education. And the telecommute problem by avatar and the physical education by avatar etcetera etcetera etcetera.

Shopping by avatar? Is anyone surprised?

Mike Holmes · Post by **Mike Holmes** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 3:50 pm

There is a real question as to whether or not a physical presence has a salutory psychological effect on students, employees, etc. Many have an intuition that, sans a physical presence, it will be hard to assert control.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for telecommuting (I wish I could for my job). But the hurdle to overcome is proving that it works as well as being there. And that seems to be a ways off.

Mike

MSimon · Post by **MSimon** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 3:50 pm

I solved the problem by reading free electronics magazines.

MSimon · Post by **MSimon** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 3:51 pm

Mike Holmes wrote:There is a real question as to whether or not a physical presence has a salutory psychological effect on students, employees, etc. Many have an intuition that, sans a physical presence, it will be hard to assert control.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for telecommuting (I wish I could for my job). But the hurdle to overcome is proving that it works as well as being there. And that seems to be a ways off.

Mike

I found that 1/2 my time at any job was spent BSing. OTOH you learn stuff. Esp. about company politics.

Mike Holmes · Post by **Mike Holmes** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 3:57 pm

Yeah, I think that the intuition in question may simply be fear of something new. But hasn't Harvard Business School done a study on this yet or something? Sounds right up their alley.

Until I see some scientific evidence, I'm just hoping that telecommuting turns out to be economical.

These things don't always turn out like you want: there was a study done in Sweden a while back that, contrary to popular belieft, proved that workers who were downtrodden worked harder than happy employees. I was overjoyed to read that...

I think more recent research has countered that idea somewhat, but there's still little incentive for companies to make their employees happy at this point.

I'm tempted at this point to open up the question of a shorter work week. But maybe that'd be better left for another thread.

Mike

KitemanSA · Post by **KitemanSA** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 6:51 pm

We can take it to another thread after this post.

I would go to a 32 hour week in a heart beat, even with the proportional loss of pay. I offered to go part time to my employer, but it seems they are not interested.