Second summer in which I've attempted to maintain a reasonable work out put while being physically distant from normal place of work. The changes over time are instructive.
In 2008 I was using a pay-as-you go local web-n-walk stick and the laptop was struggling with vista. Phone comms had to be by a locally-purchased handset and SIM number for the country. Iphone was crippled by absurd roaming charges. Managed after a fashion to support projects with writing, editing, commenting on sites as build proceeded etc, and client feedback.
In 2009 I am in a different location, with local wifi which makes a big difference, but the changes that have made most impact are that the PC got a memory boost so vista no longer destroys it every hour, and I have an online skype number in London so I can make and take all calls through the PC for next to no cost. The google interface connects me with the London weather and industry news minute by minute, and at last there is an Iphone app that gives me Radio 4 while I work so I feel really quite connected with the same realities as my colleagues.
The fact that I am in reality only a few KM from here (picture) no longer bothers me, or occurs to anyone ! What makes this truly different, is that the element of surprise, personal contact, unexpected twist (all that stuff that makes for interesting and deepening experience) can happen despite remoteness. That old sense that when accessing remotely you were merely turning the handle of a machine, is gone.
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