Anonymous

UK

IT Director

With 25 years inthe inductry perhaps I am one of the older generation but with three MSN & Mobil junkie kids I like to think I am connected to the new generation. Experience has taught me several things (1) there are more hyped technologies than adopted technoliogies (2) early adopters often dont experience the benefit first clained and (3) second or third generation technology is when there is mass, if any, adoption.

As an implementer of dial-up corporate email I can recall convincing the board that it was necessary but in retrospect I was pushing at an open door (1995). Had I tried to sell them a whole company adoption for £1m then it would never have got off the ground so the lesson may be to start small.

I've also implemented multi-point video conferencing and point-to-point IPT-videophone and that worked but only to a degree.

There is nothing that can replace the immediacy of a telephone conversation for quick questions/updates or a face-to-face meeting for a couple of hours even if that means some attendees travelling for 24-hrs to make the meeting.

As for the future, the art of communication will undoubtedly advance and be supported by improving technology but I just cant see photo-realistic techno-generated characters creating the same level of communication value.

Hopefully I will be here in 2050 to see if I was right.