One of the great developments is the use of video conferencing. Now people can network from all over the world right from their own office or home. This has tremendous implications for training, for business meetings, or even connecting with friends. Skype allows people to talk one on one with visual capabilities. I can now see my grandson without traveling to his house.
Now the medical community is tapping in to this resource with video patient consults. This is especially valuable in rural areas where specialists in rural medical centers can conduct an “office visit” from a distance so patients don’t have to travel long distances for doctor visits. Doctors can also electronically sign and send prescriptions to distant pharmacies at the push of a button without having to wait for snail mail.
This type of technology can cut down on travel time saving hours of nonproductive time, and overnight expenses, not to mention fuel savings and much, much more.
Colleges are utilizing this technology to provide online courses that allow people to take classes at home. This eliminates time away from family, cost of housing expenses, and provides the opportunity for people to learn at their own pace.
This only scratches the surface of what video conferencing can do but is another big advantage of the information age.