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HOME TOPICS ABOUT ME A prediction from 1990 about two-way video on PCs that should make you wonder where the folks who dream these things up got their brains. |
technofile Al Fasoldt's reviews and commentaries, continuously available online since 1983 Human nature and 2-way video at the officeBy Al Fasoldt Copyright © 1990, The Syracuse Newspapers Rory O'Connor of the San Jose Mercury-News says he listened to experts describe the computer of the future at a conference. The experts predicted that the PCs of the mid-1990s will have what O'Connor calls "instant two-way video" -- "so the boss can not only send you a message about those weak sales projections, but also watch you sweat while you defend them." But, O'Connor added, "the really big problem with this vision of 1995, according to the guy next to me in the row, isn't technical or organizational at all. " 'Do you believe all this?' he whispered. 'I've been in this business 20 years. What they never figure on is human nature. I asked everybody in this row what they'd do if they had instant two-way video on their computer. They all said they'd tape a piece of paper over the camera.' " |