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With regards to remote work technology , we've done pretty poorly: 1. Normal video chat is awful. We can't create eye to eye contact. We can't see body languag

by petra 11y ago

With regards to remote work technology , we've done pretty poorly: 1. Normal video chat is awful. We can't create eye to eye contact. We can't see body language. It's not very useful to build trust or bonding that way , and this is critical. There might be solutions but they're only availble to very expensive telepresence suits. 2. We haven't managed to create an informal environment via video chat , say like lunch or the water cooler. 3. Working from home requires a lot of self-discipline which is hard . Social face-to-face pressure works better as a motivator for people in general(see battle units) , and it rarely translate well into electrons. 4. Working from home is isolating, and it might be due to limits of the technology.

owyn 11y ago
Regarding #1 What about The Interrotron? http://www.fastcodesign.com/1663105/errol-morriss-secret-weapon-for-unsettling-interviews-the-interrotron http://www.fastcodesign.com/1663105/errol-morriss-secret-wea... That could be a major improvement for video conferencing. #2 is solved by Slack for us... but still, #3 and #4 is why I don't work at home. :)
- petra 11y ago
  The interrottron look great. I've search a bit , and there's even DIY instructions for building something similar , pretty easy: http://makezine.com/projects/eye-contact-device/ http://makezine.com/projects/eye-contact-device/ I wonder why it hadn't caught up? Also , if you turn the screen/camera 90 degrees , you may be able to capture body language. With regards to #3/#4 would working in a local communal center, remotely to your job would work ? Is it possible to design some culture that would help with the motivation problem ? Anyway, it feels like something that deserves a sub forum of it's own, with a community experimenting and sharing, right ?
ryanSrich 11y ago
1. I disagree. You can draw a lot from phone conversations and I've developed a great amount of trust in all the remote employees I work with on a daily basis. Certainly you should meet face to face at least 2-5 times per year (once per quarter seems like a great fit), but it's not a requirement to bond with co-workers. 2. I'm not sure you need informal video chat with co-workers. #random/#ideas channels seem to do just fine. 3. Couldn't disagree more. Working from home requires the same amount of discipline as a location-dictated workplace. The difference is that a remote job is much more enlightening because there's no burden of a commute. You also don't have to put on some fake act for a lousy boss that wants you in the office at a certain time. 4. Again, I completely disagree. It's only isolating if you let it be. Get outside for a hike or a walk. Go to a coffeeshop. Find some friends to grab lunch with. I shouldn't have to point these things out. It's pretty obvious that the only way you'd be isolated is if you deliberately lock yourself in the house and never go outside. I've worked remotely for two years now and honestly I'd have an extremely difficult time going back to location-dictated employment.
- petra 11y ago
  reading your response to #3 , you are different from most people, who are usually motivated by social pressure, and "face-to-face". Good for you.
  - tluyben2 11y ago
    In the past when I had a bit rougher edges I often asked after 30 minutes in a meeting face-to-face why we were in that meeting still; was there anything to discuss we didn't discuss in the first 5 minutes? The answer was almost always no. People with these face-to-face urges and (too long) meeting urges usually just want a break from work (but paid) and/or social interaction. I like that as well, but we have bars & restaurants etc for that, not the office. I rather work flat out (focused and organized) for 4 hours and then take off or go to a bar or take a walk for the 'meeting' instead of loitering in the office for 8 hours and commute for 2.
- tluyben2 11y ago
  Completely agree. Apparently the consensus here is that you and me are weird :) Are you looking for something new? :)
brc 11y ago
I haven't worked in an office in 10 years. If I do visit one I find it takes incredible discipline to actually sit down at your desk and work, and not take part in all the water cooler-ing that goes on. I have made friends with people I have never been ina room with. We talk about the weekend, sports, tell jokes, etc. all over video chat. If you aren't creating that informality, it's the people not the tech.

by petra 11y ago

owyn 11y ago

Regarding #1 What about The Interrotron? http://www.fastcodesign.com/1663105/errol-morriss-secret-weapon-for-unsettling-interviews-the-interrotron http://www.fastcodesign.com/1663105/errol-morriss-secret-wea... That could be a major improvement for video conferencing. #2 is solved by Slack for us... but still, #3 and #4 is why I don't work at home. :)

petra 11y ago
The interrottron look great. I've search a bit , and there's even DIY instructions for building something similar , pretty easy: http://makezine.com/projects/eye-contact-device/ http://makezine.com/projects/eye-contact-device/ I wonder why it hadn't caught up? Also , if you turn the screen/camera 90 degrees , you may be able to capture body language. With regards to #3/#4 would working in a local communal center, remotely to your job would work ? Is it possible to design some culture that would help with the motivation problem ? Anyway, it feels like something that deserves a sub forum of it's own, with a community experimenting and sharing, right ?

ryanSrich 11y ago

1. I disagree. You can draw a lot from phone conversations and I've developed a great amount of trust in all the remote employees I work with on a daily basis. Certainly you should meet face to face at least 2-5 times per year (once per quarter seems like a great fit), but it's not a requirement to bond with co-workers. 2. I'm not sure you need informal video chat with co-workers. #random/#ideas channels seem to do just fine. 3. Couldn't disagree more. Working from home requires the same amount of discipline as a location-dictated workplace. The difference is that a remote job is much more enlightening because there's no burden of a commute. You also don't have to put on some fake act for a lousy boss that wants you in the office at a certain time. 4. Again, I completely disagree. It's only isolating if you let it be. Get outside for a hike or a walk. Go to a coffeeshop. Find some friends to grab lunch with. I shouldn't have to point these things out. It's pretty obvious that the only way you'd be isolated is if you deliberately lock yourself in the house and never go outside. I've worked remotely for two years now and honestly I'd have an extremely difficult time going back to location-dictated employment.

petra 11y ago
reading your response to #3 , you are different from most people, who are usually motivated by social pressure, and "face-to-face". Good for you.
- tluyben2 11y ago
  In the past when I had a bit rougher edges I often asked after 30 minutes in a meeting face-to-face why we were in that meeting still; was there anything to discuss we didn't discuss in the first 5 minutes? The answer was almost always no. People with these face-to-face urges and (too long) meeting urges usually just want a break from work (but paid) and/or social interaction. I like that as well, but we have bars & restaurants etc for that, not the office. I rather work flat out (focused and organized) for 4 hours and then take off or go to a bar or take a walk for the 'meeting' instead of loitering in the office for 8 hours and commute for 2.
tluyben2 11y ago
Completely agree. Apparently the consensus here is that you and me are weird :) Are you looking for something new? :)

brc 11y ago

I haven't worked in an office in 10 years. If I do visit one I find it takes incredible discipline to actually sit down at your desk and work, and not take part in all the water cooler-ing that goes on. I have made friends with people I have never been ina room with. We talk about the weekend, sports, tell jokes, etc. all over video chat. If you aren't creating that informality, it's the people not the tech.