To what extent will remote work and distance learning survive after the Corona era?

Dan Cristal raised this point in one of the discussion groups I attend.

There's probably a ton of speculation on the subject, but I want to add my two bits and address the question from an experiential-personal point of view rather than a theoretical one.

So here goes: I attended more digital meetings in the last month than I did physical meetings in the past year (and a lot more are coming). The division was about 60% for the purpose of learning, and about 40% for work sessions.

I have found that digital encounters have significant advantages over physical ones:

A. Availability. It is easier to schedule a digital work meeting since you only have to agree on a schedule , and are NOT dependent on a physical location for the meeting, including the accompanying logistics (pizza or turnip carpaccio, as the case may be 😃)

B. I don't know how much you, as residents of the "center area" are aware of the issue, but the option to bypass the need to travel / drive there for a physical meeting is for me, a resident of the periferia, a real treat 😃.

Since the saving of time and money on the "surrounding logistic issues" is obvious, there is no need to elaborate.

As to content and suitability:

For tutorials (of the frontal type, not computerized interactive learning systems) I found a great fit, for both: -large frameworks (lectures with hundreds of participants where the lecturer MUTES all participants and turns off the video and addresses only questions in chat), and -intimate workshops (up to 10 participants, where there is almost uninhibited interaction between all participants and between the teacher /instructor/ moderator).

My experience is that time is used much more efficiently, and much more content is transferred, with fewer deviations from the planned agenda.

The post-factum availability of session recording is also a significant advantage. In our view as knowledge managers and conservators this is an unexpected bonanza with the potential to be post-processed by automated means in the future - a fact well worth thinking about.

Likewise for work meeting sessions: much more focused and purposeful, and since they require more intense focus, there is better preparation and a shorter duration.

As for the downside:

A. Yes, the technology is still a bit limp, the quality of the video and audio sometimes falters, but I suppose it will improve later on with the 5th generation deployment and natural advancement. The same goes for security issues.

B. It is not yet clear to me how multi-session conferences will be organized in terms of this technology, but it seems to me that they are already working on it, and solutions are forthcoming.

C. 😭 There is absolutely NO option for efficient and intimate NETWORKING, MINGLING, HUGGING and GOSSIPING in the digital environment, not to mention ENPANADAS / COKE / COFFEE / BREAKFAST / BRUNCH/ LUNCH / SNACKS but we will have to find other alternative solutions for this (the personal fridge looks like a tempting option).

C. Another obvious drawback is tasks / sessions that require field attendance ( field audits for instance), but as the video gets better it may be a less acute issue with time.

Overall I am pretty satisfied (regardless of my personal misanthropic issues 😃)

As for the original question: It seems to me (a guess educated by experience if you will) that an irreversible process of a more widespread adoption of digital meetings has begun, and the usage and experience on a personal level will also ease the responsiveness of employers (owners and managers) who have so far flinched from both remote training and remote work approval.

To what extent and at what rate? You know to whom prophecy was given , but the trend is pretty clear, I think.

So have a happy holiday my dears, and maybe the following digital meetups will allow me to show my ugly face in your enlightened company, and who knows, we might as well meet and hug later, and have coffee together, if not with everyone, at least with a selected few as times improve.

🤗🤗🤗💗💗💗😀