Telecommuting is anything that eliminates a physical trip through the use of telecommunications. It includes:
- Distance Learning
- e-Commerce
- Tele-Conferencing
- Tele-Justice
- Tele-Shopping
- Tele-Work, and more
Most of these technologies are being developed in “Silo’s” or vertical markets yet they all share the same requirements for bandwidth and technologic support. A region and its constituent communities would almost certainly benefit from a more integrated approach to the deployment of these technologies. TCR believes that telecommuting is a leading indicator of a region’s preparedness for the Information Age.
Until about 250 years ago, human kind did most of its work from the home. With the dawning of the Industrial Age, work was shifted from the home to the factory and then to the office. Writings at the time expressed great concern about the ultimate impact that centralization might have upon society. You may judge the validity of those forecasts for yourself.
In contrast to the centralization of the Industrial Age, the technologies of the Information Age offer a de-centralization opportunity. We are about to enter a period in whichtechnology provides a communication system to keep us together, while physically, we are allowed to disperse to those communities which offer us the values that we seek for ourselves and our families. Telecommuting is the vehicle which initiates this new structure.
A region that has a strong telecommuting population is a region that is beginning this transition because it implies the existence of:
- a mature relationship between employees and employers
- a positive regulatory structure
- the existence of adequate bandwidth throughout the region
- businesses who address the support needs of the home-based worker, and
- a managerial perspective that seeks competitive advantage by balancing remote work against the cost of space, the demand for transportation and the needs of the organization, the employee and the community.
The economic benefits that derive from this movement are significant. A region that supports a transparent economic integration across all its communities- urban and rural- will reduce its public costs, enhance its global competitiveness and attract and/or retain a quality workforce.
It is interesting to note where society is along the path, i.e. our school’s schedule is based upon the needs of the Agrarian Age and our offices operate based upon the needs of the Industrial Age. We have lots to do!