Many years ago when I was working at Wang, I had the privilege of being part of a think tank where proof of concept was the focus. One of the many things we worked on was what we called the remote office connection. In 1987, at the Wang user conference, I demonstrated use of a laptop to access a PC desktop that accessed the Wang mini-computer in my lab that then connected us to an application on a mainframe computer. Slow, but effective, many folks were amazed it could be done, and at the same time, questioning the business value. (Remember, this was 1987 when remote workers were not even a passing thought.)
Back then we could only imagine how far this would go once technology allowed more flexibility. (Wi-Fi did not exist, I needed a telephone line to make the connection.) Last week I was flying home from a business trip to Las Vegas, and at thirty-six thousand feet, had connected to the Internet using on board Wi-Fi. While online, I connected to our server in the UK, using VPN, to access some files I required. I then connected to a desktop PC located in that office, to make some minor corrections to another document, rather than copy it and have to reload it later. Think about what I had done. I was now able to do what I had demonstrated in 1987, but without requiring a landline to connect, and from thirty-six thousand feet.
In my view, the capabilities we have and take for granted today, are really works of wonder. In 1987, folks thought what I had shown was amazing, yet could not see value. Today, everyone is connected and performing as if they were in the office next to you, even though they are half way around the globe away from you. Collaboration takes on a whole new dimension in every part of our lives. Wi-Fi, portable/mobile devices enable us to be online 24/7, communicating and sharing with colleagues, family, and friends. If for some reason it is not readily available, we get frustrated.
Take a moment and look around you. Think about how much has changed since you were younger. Cell phones are now computers. Connectivity is wireless. Video calls are available to all. It is an amazing world and an amazing journey that is ever changing. Enjoy the ride.
What say you? Do you have a story to tell? What are your thoughts on this topic? Do you have a topic of interest you would like discussed in this forum? Let me know. If you are looking for some great research information from our industry, feel free to visit our research site and download some of our Industry Watch Reports today at www.aiim.org/research
Bob Larrivee, Director of Custom Research – AIIM
Email me: blarrivee@aiim.org
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www.aiim.org/training
I will be speaking at the following events:
• Fusion 2014, May 5-8, 2014 in Dallas, TX
• Share 2014, June 18-20, 2014 in Johannesburg, SA
• AIIM Forum UK, June 25, 2014 in London UK
• NIRMA 2014, August 10-13, 2014 in Las Vegas, NV
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