Business Travel Vs. Telepresence-A Battle for the Stronghold

Business Travel Vs. Telepresence-A Battle for the Stronghold

Business Travel is without a doubt a huge contributor to revenue for hotels, car-rental businesses, and of course air and train travel. Technologies such as video conferencing, [Skype], virtual worlds such as Second Life, and even applications as limited as Face Time have showed the benefit of communication sans travel and the headache and expense that comes along with it. However, beyond these emerging technologies are even more advanced ones such as high definition conference rooms [and evolving robots] to give way to new tools known as “telepresence.”

“Cisco and Polycom are currently the two biggest players in the field…and the market they’re battling over is growing” (Bennett). Further research has yet to determine the impact that these technologies will have on the airlines, hotel chains, and rental car companies. Cisco Telepresence, developed by Cisco Systems provides real like office suites designed to mirror images of each other and the rooms can simultaneously patch in participants from multiple locations,” (Bennett).

Telepresence is viewed in large as an eliminator for travel budgets. In addition the ability to see physical cues such as hand gestures and head nods would make it easier to communicate in international locations where language barriers would pose a problem (Talbot). The reason telepresence has a competitive advantage over other teleconferencing technologies (Skype or Face Time), is due to its high quality of image and sound. Co-workers can interact by actually seeing each other’s eyes and facial expressions. “Because there’s no transmission lag, it’s easy and natural for people to interrupt each other,” (Bennett). Compared to virtual realities such as Second Life, a person interacts with a real world distant location and human beings as opposed to avatars and a fictional space which relies heavily on graphics and the use of a keyboard or mouse (Clapp).

But is this the future? Is this the workplace environment every human being who feels, breathes and longs for human connection can survive in? Most complaints around the web have come naturally from high cost, but bloggers and journalists have also expressed the growing concern of a lack of real human interaction. Sure you can see the people’s eyes and hear their voices but what about that walk through the office where you see those who normally wouldn’t be involved in the meeting you’re about to enter. Or that break you love to take in the coffee room with coworkers from varying departments. “Every organization has a social network that you have to understand and build a relationship around to get a program off the ground…and every time you go back you build more rapport-‘management by walking around’-you learn a lot that way.” (Bennett).

Telepresence is most definitely a time-saving, travel expense limiting, beneficial form of communication in the work place. As an avid user of Skype and video-conferencing mediums, I know first hand how beneficial it is to use a form of technology that allows me to be with those I am not privy to actually being with in human form. I believe telepresence will have more prominence in the future, but I hope it will not replace entire human interaction among business.

Works Cited

Bennett, Drake. "I'll Have My Robots Talk to Your Robots - BusinessWeek." BusinessWeek - Business News, Stock Market & Financial Advice. 17 Feb. 2011. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. .

Clapp, Mari. "Use Telepresence To Simplify Business Meeting Solutions." Technology Articles - EzineMark - Free Content Article Directory. 2 Feb. 2011. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. .

Talbot, Chris. "Telepresence Use on the Rise, Says ABI Research - Video News from Channel Insider." Value-Added Reseller (VAR) and Technology Channel Partners News - Channel Insider. 4 Sept. 2010. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. .

"TelePresence - Main Page - Cisco Systems." Cisco Systems, Inc. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. .