Comments on: Absent fathers http://2020science.org/2009/09/26/absent-fathers/ Providing a clear perspective on developing science and technology responsibly Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:36:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Andrew Maynard http://2020science.org/2009/09/26/absent-fathers/comment-page-1/#comment-28558 Andrew Maynard Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:42:25 +0000 http://2020science.org/?p=2256#comment-28558 Hopefully we will see more - and better - virtual meetings in the future. It seems the technology is getting there, but we need a bit of a push to both make it more acceptable, and to get rid of some of the rough edges that still occur. I like the "virtual me" idea btw - something to work on :-) Hopefully we will see more – and better – virtual meetings in the future. It seems the technology is getting there, but we need a bit of a push to both make it more acceptable, and to get rid of some of the rough edges that still occur.

I like the “virtual me” idea btw – something to work on :-)

]]> By: September McCarthy http://2020science.org/2009/09/26/absent-fathers/comment-page-1/#comment-28557 September McCarthy Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:34:51 +0000 http://2020science.org/?p=2256#comment-28557 I recently "attended" a conference on digital marketing, along with 1000's of others, from my home. It was a virtual conference with all the same trappings of an in-person conference - presentations with q&a sessions afterwards, chat rooms, and vendor booths to visit. It was quite remarkable, and if there was more than one presentation that I was interested in being given at the same time, I could catch up on it (without being able to ask questions, of course) at my convenience on the website. I believe we will see more and more of these for many reasons, so while there is no substitute (yet) for face-to-face discussions of many subjects, it may be that your travel requirements will begin to reduce soon. Another thought that occurs to me for your situation . . . could you attend the school meetings virtually, i.e. be on a cell phone with the speaker turned on so they could hear you? Your photo could be displayed on the phone - a mini-virtual-you :-). While it wouldn't be the same, at least you would be participating and know what was discussed. Just a couple of thoughts on your dilemma. I recently “attended” a conference on digital marketing, along with 1000′s of others, from my home. It was a virtual conference with all the same trappings of an in-person conference – presentations with q&a sessions afterwards, chat rooms, and vendor booths to visit. It was quite remarkable, and if there was more than one presentation that I was interested in being given at the same time, I could catch up on it (without being able to ask questions, of course) at my convenience on the website. I believe we will see more and more of these for many reasons, so while there is no substitute (yet) for face-to-face discussions of many subjects, it may be that your travel requirements will begin to reduce soon. Another thought that occurs to me for your situation . . . could you attend the school meetings virtually, i.e. be on a cell phone with the speaker turned on so they could hear you? Your photo could be displayed on the phone – a mini-virtual-you :-) . While it wouldn’t be the same, at least you would be participating and know what was discussed. Just a couple of thoughts on your dilemma.

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