XPost: rec.arts.sf.written, rec.arts.sf.science   
   From: sna6345@gmail.com   
      
   "Your Name"  wrote in message   
   news:130120141632490428%YourName@YourISP.com...   
   > In article , David   
   > Friedman  wrote:   
   >> In article <130120141307202555%YourName@YourISP.com>,   
   >>  Your Name  wrote:   
   >> >   
   >> > Of course, if sci-fi really predicts the future, then cars of any sort   
   >> > will be useless because we'll simply use Star Trek transporters to beam   
   >> > everywhere. Live in New York, but work in Sydney? No problem, get there   
   >> > in a fraction of a second.   :-)   
   >>   
   >> We already have the functional equivalent for many purposes --   
   >> telecommuting. A good deal easier to do.   
      
   > Telecommuting doesn't really work,   
      
   Like hell it doesn't.   
      
   which is why so few real-world   
   > businesses actually have that ability.   
      
   Plenty do, most obviously with the major telecoms operations   
   that can do almost everything config wise remotely and only   
   need to have someone physically visit the exchange when the   
   system has worked out that a card has failed and someone   
   needs to go there and physically change the card if it has failed   
   etc.   
      
   Our local TV transmitters are all done like that now.   
      
   The used to have people on site all day and now someone   
   only goes there when something needs to be changed   
   physically or they are installing some new hardware etc.   
      
   And call centers outside the country are absolutely classic   
   telecommuting.   
      
   It's only slightly more   
   > realistic than the "paperless office", which still doesn't exist   
   > (despite predictions in sci-fi stories).   
      
   I don't get any paper at all from any of my ISPs   
   or any of the financial institutions I use anymore.   
      
   > One reason is because costs businesses a lot more (or is taken out of   
   > employees wages) since they then have to pay for the internet   
   > connection, modem, extra printers, etc. to be installed in employees   
   > houses.   
      
   Must be why all of the financial institutions charge more   
   if you want a paper bill now.   
      
   Another reason is because some people are simply lazy and don't   
   > do any work if they stay at home.   
      
   Some are like that at the workplace too. It is completely trivial   
   to check if they are doing any work or not in both cases.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)