Think Flat

The above scene, or one similar to it, is happening around the world everyday.  You've probably heard of Second Life before, an on-line 3D virtual world which provides a new environment for people to interact in.  Until recently, most businesses focused their virtual world efforts on marketing.  Now, many are also using Second Life and other virtual programs to rehearse presentations, train employees, and recruit and initiate new hires.

For companies with geographically scattered work sites, I would expect technology like virtual worlds to help promote teamwork, camaraderie and even morale.  Think of the advantages of being able to work “face-to-face” with a co-worker on a sales pitch you are giving next week in London.  The only problem is, you are in New York and she is in Dubai.  Fine-tuning timing, spacing, and interactions is tough to do over the phone.  Virtual practice obviously isn't perfect, but it saves you the expense, and time, of a “real world” meeting.

Speaking of “real world”, it still amazes me how it is flattening before our very eyes.  Technology like Virtual Conferencing makes it more feasible for companies to have employees that are residents of far-flung places.  VC is just the tip of the iceberg, every year it gets easier to communicate with your co-workers around the globe.  The ubiquity of technology truly is helping to create a Flat World.

If you'd like to learn more about how companies around the world are using virtual meetings, check out Business Week's recent article on the subject.  I thought it was a great read, and gave me some ideas for ways to communicate with my fellow Infoscians.