What do you think the office of the near future is going to be like? Will it be much the same as present with slightly faster computers with perhaps video conferencing being used more effectively? Or do you think it will be more radically changed with more people working in virtual teams or virtual companies, requiring a greater reliance on mobile and web based technologies to get things done.

Virtual office

Well IBM have been considering this problem too, and they have predicted that the virtual office will increasingly become more important, driven by such things as globalisation and increasing concerns about the environment meaning less travel. This will mean that the work environment will be become more centred around mobile platforms with increasing reliance on social networking and instant messaging for communication, with no place for desktop PC’s, phones or email. They also predicted that the traditional meeting would change rapidly as 3D and gaming tools would become more important enabling the ability to hold quick online meetings.

But when?

What I like about this sort of thing is that no-one ever specifies a timeline in which this is all going to happen! But for me, if I look at the way my kids use instant messaging and their mobile phones for all their communications, then indeed I can see that shortly there will be future generations of workers used to working together in these ways. The desktop is on its way out already with laptops now outselling them. I do believe however the inertia and the gatekeeper role of IT in large organisations, will serve as a drag on any quick change. I also think that 3D and gaming tools will first make their mark in the area of training, where I believe there is huge potential.

In the meantime I have been looking for a web cam to support my new virtual workplace! This Philips webcam which comes with a Multimedia headset and boom microphone caught my eye.

What do you think the office of the future will be like?