XPost: rec.arts.sf.written, rec.arts.sf.science   
   From: sna6345@gmail.com   
      
   "Robert Bannister"  wrote in message   
   news:bjjocbFdl86U1@mid.individual.net...   
   > On 13/01/2014 1:43 pm, sna wrote:   
   >>   
   >>   
   >> "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.   
   >   
   > OTOH, a lot of businesses and particularly government departments use a   
   > great deal of paper in pointless "mission statements" and other bullshit   
   > exercises.   
      
   It remains to be seen how much of that is done on paper from   
   dead trees in the future.   
      
   They even hire expensive "facilitators" to come in and make   
   > work harder by introducing more paper-wasting bullshit.   
      
   I doubt too many do it on dead tree paper anymore.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)