Windows Phone Thoughts: Shifting Time & Folding Space: Telecoms Take on Transport

"Martin Geddes. . . recently asked an important question: "How do telecom and transport substitute [for] or complement one another?" Geddes argues that although trillions of dollars ride on the answers, we mostly don't have a clue. It's a fascinating essay that I won't try to summarize, but one key point -- the distinction between "travel for sense of presence" and "travel for information exchange" -- is relevant here. . . . Last weekend, my DSL was upgraded from 384Kbps to 3Mbps, and I can take it to 7Mbps if necessary. At what point does the link carry enough emotional bandwidth to begin displacing travel for sense of presence? I'm not holding my breath."

Jon Udell at Infoworld has written a though provoking article about the possibilities and limitations of telecom and transport, arguing that time-shifted content and space-folding telepresence are becoming complementary. For example it is often not necessary to drive to meetings to share information which could be done by a phonecall or videoconference. However it can be useful to listen to pre-recorded audio without interruptions in the car and 'face time' is often needed to start and get the most out of relationship. Jon rhetorically asks if we want to shift time, fold space & juggling atoms and bits and his answer is an emphatic, Yes! What about you guys? Does this high speed juggling act sound attractive to you or is there a price to pay for cramming ever more into a life of constant motion and busyness?