During the economic downturn, many companies tightened the strings on travel and opted for alternate ways to connect and collaborate with partners, customers and colleagues.  As a result, the airline industry was forced to adapt to the increasingly competitive air travel market by lowering the cost of flights and cutting the number of flights offered. However, as we start to see signs of economic recovery, we’re also starting to see signs indicating the travel industry is bouncing back.  In fact, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics recently said passenger airlines in Q3 2010 saw their highest profit margins since 2001. According to the report, several factors contributed to the sudden turnaround, including the growing demand, new fees to check luggage and rising ticket prices for domestic travelers.

What will be interesting to see is how this recovery affects those who have now started to use and embrace alternatives to travel, such as telepresence.  Research shows that when people use telepresence, they are much more likely to recognize and value the benefits than those who have never used it.  Additionally, the overwhelming majority (90 percent) of frequent users (those who use telepresence once or more per week) say the technology saves them at least 2 hours of valuable work time a week—yet only 33 percent of nonusers believe they could save any time using the technology. These results demonstrate a significant gap between user and nonuser perceptions.

That said, it will be interesting to see if those who have now embraced telepresence and video collaboration technologies will revert to their “old” ways, spending hours on planes traveling around the world to meet with partners/customers/colleagues face-to-face, or whether their face-to-face experience with telepresence has transformed their way of thinking and working.  As an avid user of telepresence, I know I personally would have a hard time going back to the old ways of doing business, but am curious to hear from you.

What do you think?  If you had a choice, would you go back to flying for business or have you embraced the new way of working?

Recently, Fast Company, a publication that focuses on innovation in technology and business, took a look at the philanthropic actions of Mark Zuckerberg, creator of Facebook. Mark recently cut a $100,000,000 check to the City of Newark Public Schools. The act was instigated by a chance meeting with Newark Mayor, Cory Booker, whose ideas to improve his city’s floundering educational system impressed the young billionaire.

Fast Company took the opportunity to look at the current state of education and debate if money is truly the catalyst needed to get Newark’s schools moving towards improvement. After all, Newark spends more than double the national average on their students and only graduates half of them.

They also used the opportunity to poll both readers and experts about what they would do if they had $100 million to spend on education. Not surprising, the handful of education experts they polled welcomed the challenge (and also wished they had this problem in real life) and had very differing ideas.

These “radical” ideas for spending the $100 million on educational programs were less “radical” in the “outrageous” sense of the word, and more “radical” in the 80s definition of the word. They were far out! And we agree with quite a few of them. Especially the one expert’s idea to make the classroom better through video teleconferencing (VTC).

The idea for utilizing VTC in classrooms was intended to bring high quality and previously unavailable educational opportunities to students. Learning French? Why not converse with students in Paris? Studying underwater wildlife habitats? Why not virtually tour the Great Barrier Reef? The fact is, VTC can help take one-dimensional lessons and turn them into once in a lifetime educational experiences.

Although VTC is an effective way to deliver virtual fieldtrips and other educational opportunities to students, the technology could be used across many of the other “radical” ideas to help schools more effectively and efficiently execute on them. Here are some examples:

Radical idea #3: A new focus on music, art and dance – many schools are cutting their arts and music programs due to lack of funding. Although arts education is fundamental, it’s expensive. Instead of needing a specialized unit of art and music teachers, schools could instead pool and share art and music teachers and resources via VTC.

Radical idea #11: Every student meets daily with a tutor – the logistics and cost of pairing a student with a daily tutor makes this idea something that could only be executed with a spare $100 million in a school budget. However, enabling students to reach out to teachers or tutors for specific homework help via video from campus or home would be an inexpensive and effective way to ensure that after school academic assistance is available for struggling students.

Radical idea #4: Give parents time off for parent/teacher conferences – this concept was proposed to help strengthen the relationship between parents and teachers and make parents more invested in their children’s educations. However, it’s highly unlikely that parents would be able to get time off for conferences like they do for jury duty, even with $100 million. Instead, parents and teachers could be kept in more constant contact via VTC. No time off would be needed, and teachers and parents could interact much more frequently than they could in person.

When you look at the state of education in the United States today, there’s no question that some “radical” ideas are needed to get things on track and help us to better compete in our evolving global economy. However, it doesn’t take $100 million to start thinking radically. Maybe all that’s needed is a new way of working….and learning. Let’s break down the walls between our kids and a better education…and do it with VTC.

Telepresence was once in the realm of science fiction, but as the technology is becoming a key part of many companies’ communications strategies, consumers are also showing an increased interest in telepresence and video collaboration technologies. One new Pew Research survey has pointed out that almost one-fifth of American adults have tried video calling, translating into nearly a quarter of all Internet users.

Some may argue that they’ve heard “this is the year of video” for years … and it never happens. But recently, we’ve seen video pick up momentum, market share and market interest. Just consider the following trends:

Mobility
Video is pervasive. At the consumer level, we have video nearly everywhere, from mobile solutions and tablets to PCs and game consoles. As an increasing number of telepresence solutions are implemented, you no longer need an executive boardroom dedicated specifically for telepresence or web collaboration. People are realizing that they can still have the boardroom if they want, but there are also endpoints for desktop telepresence, telepresence on-the-go with HD web cams and portable collaboration tools that can be moved from room to room. With rapidly increasing improvements in broadband and general telepresence hardware, people can use telepresence in a local coffee shop, at the airport or from the home office.

“Consumerization”
According to recent research from Harris Interactive, 14 percent of U.S. adults currently make video calls and 34 percent of them are willing to pay for them. As more people become interested and familiar with video collaboration, the belief that video is just for the enterprise is becoming outmoded. Telepresence and video collaboration allow organizations and individuals to maintain a face-to-face presence. Organizations of all sizes and people with varying budgets are using telepresence to stay connected and be more collaborative.

So could 2011 finally be the tipping point for telepresence? What do you think?


The Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba has included a detainment camp for suspected terrorists and other individuals accused of being threats to homeland security since 2002.

The detention camp has had a somewhat negative reputation during its use, and its future has been in doubt on multiple occasions. The Obama Administration has fought for the closure of the detainment camp and transfer of its detainees to prisons and other facilities within the United States on multiple occasions.

However, Congress has blocked the move in the past, and the President recently signed the 2011 Defense Authorization Bill which prevents its prisoners from being transferred to the mainland or other countries. This has effectively stopped the closure of the facility for the time being.

In addition to the uncertainty of the detention center, the futures of the prisoners within have also been in question. The Bush Administration claimed that as captured enemy combatants, they were not entitled to protections from the Geneva Convention. This was overruled by the Supreme Court. Later, it sounded as if some prisoners would be brought to the mainland to face trial, but Congress blocked the funding.

To connect detainees with their families, the International Committee of the Red Cross has been facilitating video teleconferencing (VTC) sessions. By enabling VTC sessions, the Red Cross is allowing these detainees, many who haven’t spoken with their families in a decade, to see wives and other loved ones without either party having to travel.

The VTC sessions are more than a simple humanitarian gesture, however. The ability to speak with their families has improved the mental health of the prisoners. It also has made the environment more secure for staff.

According to ABC News, the first of these calls began approximately one year ago. These calls were arranged for detainees who hailed from Afghanistan and Pakistan. The calls have recently been extended to detainees from Yemen, which represents the largest population of detainees.

The calls can last up to one hour in length, and are paid for by the Red Cross.

VTC is breaking down the walls separating these detainees and their loved ones at home, while simultaneously making the detention center at Guantanamo Bay safer for staff. Now that’s a new way of working.

Some countries have seen a fair share of war, political instability and changes in leadership. Very few have seen the problems and hardships that Afghanistan has seen.

The country’s location along major trade routes has lead to it being conquered on many occasions and by many different empires. From the empires of Persia and Macedonia, to modern day powers like Britain and Russia, Afghanistan has had claim staked to it by many different parties.

It was the last of these parties, an Islamic group called the Taliban, that took power in the late 1990’s and into the 21^st century, that shaped Afghanistan into the nation that many Americans think of when the country’s name is spoken today. They destroyed ancient Buddhist statues and other cultural artifacts in the country that they felt were blasphemous or un-Islamic. They also greatly discouraged education, especially the education of women, due to their fundamentalist views.

Now, with the Taliban no longer in control of the majority of the country and a new government in place, Afghanistan is looking to rebuild and establish a democratic system complete with educational opportunities and social services for its citizens. It’s slow going in many parts of the country, however, due to cultural roadblocks towards educating children, especially women.

In an effort to show a different culture to people in Afghanistan, one where education of both male and female students is the accepted norm, schools in the US are using video teleconferencing (VTC) to have their students interact with students in Afghanistan.

According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, Students from the private Windward School in West Los Angeles have been interacting with students from the all-male Kodola Drab School.

The Kodola Drab School is in the Garmsir district of southern Afghanistan, in Helmand province, which was previously ruled by the Taliban. The Garmsir district has been the focal point of school rebuilding and restoration projects by US soldiers looking to undo the damage done by the Taliban and bring education back to Afghanistan’s children.

The VTC connection between Windward and Kodola is opening a window and bringing students an unparalleled education opportunity to see what life is like for people in very different cultures and parts of the world. It’s also allowing students in Afghanistan to experience a culture where education is a prized and accepted part of life for all children.

The Windward School will be following up their VTC sessions with the Kodola Drab School by filling and sending book bags with supplies to help the students learn. These will most definitely be appreciated in a region where people are often without electricity, telephones or running water.

Afghanistan is a nation with a rich culture and a complicated past. By breaking down the walls that separate the US and Afghanistan, VTC is creating unique educational opportunities for students in both countries and providing a model for equal education that Afghanistan can work towards in the future.

Military families are an amazing group. They’re close-knit families that find support and perseverance through each other and their community.

It’s no surprise then that when it came time for Army Sgt. 1st Class, Scott Toshio Mitsuno, a parachute rigger with Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan, to reenlist in the Army, he’d want his family there for the special occasion.

Unfortunately, Mitsuno’s family is from Fountain Valley, CA. Also, the individual he wanted to conduct the ceremony, Lieutenant Col. Eric Koji Terashima, his cousin and an intelligence officer in the Marines, was stationed at Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, NC.

To enable Terashima to conduct Mitsuno’s reenlistment ceremony, a three-way video teleconference was set up. During the teleconference, Mitsuno stood alone in a room in Afghanistan in front of a monitor and was sworn into the Army by his cousin while their family looked on in support.

Mitsuno wanted Terashima to conduct the ceremony since they were very close with each other growing up and relate to each other as servicemen.

This is a perfect example of ways that defense agencies are using video teleconferencing (VTC) and Telepresence. Although VTC and Telepresence technology can help to speed the delivery of information and orders between the battlefield and decision makers and help to improve the quality and amount of information coming through to military decision makers, it also has incredible applications in boosting morale and keeping soldiers connected with those waiting for them at home.

VTC and Telepresence are breaking down the walls separating our soldiers and the families that love and support them back here in the states. Now that’s a new way of working – and serving.

Having to go to the emergency room or seek a specialist’s care for a health condition can be a very harrowing experience. Now imagine if you had to receive treatment for a condition but couldn’t communicate with your doctor to tell them what was wrong, or comprehend what medical advice or options they are giving you. That would be pretty terrifying.

The fact is, for patients who don’t speak English or speak English as a second language, this is a reality anytime they need to receive medical attention.

It’s for this reason that the federal government included the right to medical interpreting in the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The act was bolstered by a presidential order in 2000 that mandated all hospitals receiving federal funds to make medical interpreting available to patients that needed it.

Unfortunately for many hospitals and other healthcare organizations, the logistics and costs of keeping a staff of interpreters is difficult. In some cases, using family members or hospital employees as translators is necessary and can be problematic if they don’t have the medical background to accurately interpret.

According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, a 2002 study funded by the Commonwealth Fund found, on average, 31 mistakes in each encounter of medical interpreting in 13 sessions. When the topic of conversation is life or death, shouldn’t we be shooting for zero mistakes in each encounter?

But how can hospitals feasibly keep a staff of interpreters that are skilled in foreign languages and capable of interpreting medical conversations? This is where video teleconferencing (VTC) and Telepresence are making a difference.

Organizations like the Health Care Interpreter Network, a cooperative of hospitals that share trained healthcare interpreters, are being founded to help battle this problem. The network gives hospital staff access to trained and filtered interpreters via VTC if one isn’t available. This makes interpreters that speak Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Thai, Russian, Farsi, Tongan, Hindi and American Sign Language all available right in the examination room – instantly.

VTC and Telepresence are breaking down the walls separating patients from the medical advice and treatment they need. Now that’s a new way of caring.

A recent story in the New York Times about three state schools in Britain connecting students to tutors in India via the Internet has sparked an interesting debate about the use of technology for enhancing education.  On the one hand, the program has offered affordable, one-on-one specialized instruction through a medium that’s popular with students: collaboration technology. However, skeptics argue that the cultural differences could impact students’ learning and that outsourcing tutoring could threaten teachers’ jobs.   While there are legitimate points raised on each side, the larger issue is the role that collaboration technology is playing in transforming the educational experience for students, faculty and administrators.

Having worked in the education sector at Cisco, I’ve seen countless inspirational stories on how video collaboration technology can be successful in breaking down barriers and allowing students to gain a new perspective outside their immediate world. One such example, Kentucky School for the Deaf, uses video collaboration to interact with other deaf students at other schools, an opportunity that is otherwise rare for the students.  East View Middle School in New York has also been using video collaboration technology since 1999 as part of its Global Ambassador’s program, connecting students from around the world to discuss the issues of climate change, pollution, etc. and share perspectives on important topics.  And high school students at Stamford High School in Texas use video collaboration technology to teach elementary students around the world about the cotton industry. This not only allows youngsters to learn more about life in an agricultural town, it also gives the Stamford students the chance to share their knowledge on an industry that drives their local economy.

Today’s generation of students have unprecedented access to information.   With learning no longer confined to the four walls of the classroom, these students are part of seismic shift in the education process. The reality is that collaboration technology is transforming the way we learn, breaking down borders between towns or countries, and giving many students the opportunity to actively be part of a global community.  Telepresence not only lets students witness new experiences, it allows them to be an active participant in it.

What do you think?  Has video collaboration technology enhanced a learning experience for you?  Do you think the technology could further enhance learning in your city’s school system?

We all know the ongoing economic situation has been tough on local and state governments – with tightening belts on cutting budgets across the board. Since school budgets come predominantly from state tax dollars, this belt tightening has led to schools being asked to do more with so much less.

With arts and extracurricular programs being cut or eliminated and other resources shortages, it has made it increasingly difficult for educators to provide an interesting educational opportunity for students outside the classroom walls. Seriously, how can you propose spending budget dollars to send students to the local planetarium when if you can’t afford enough textbooks?

Schools that have invested in video teleconferencing (VTC) and Telepresence solutions are finding virtual fieldtrips to be excellent alternatives. Take Capshaw Elementary School in Cookeville, Tennessee, as an example.

According to a recent article in their local paper, The Herald-Citizen, the third grade students at Capshaw were studying a unit about factories. The third grade teachers decided that a field trip to nearby Calsonic Kansei‘s manufacturing plant in Shelbyville would be perfect to help bring the lessons to life for the students. Unfortunately, the funding just wasn’t there to take the 100 mile trip.

So, the students were brought to Upperman High School’s distance learning lab, where they connected live via video with the Calsonic Kansei’s manufacturing plant. They received a history lesson about the company and tour of the facility. Best of all, they got to experience three different production processes and then ask questions about each.

This was the first time a virtual fieldtrip was done for students in Putnam County. Based on the results, it won’t be the last. Student questions were indicative of a true understanding of the concepts they were learning in the classroom.

VTC and Telepresence are breaking down the walls between students and high level educational opportunities outside of the classroom. Now that’s a new way of teaching….and learning!

Here at Break Down the Walls, we were truly excited to see Congress pass the 2010 Telework Enhancement Act and President Barack Obama sign it into law.

The act requires agencies to determine telework-eligible employees, establish telework policies and establish programs to communicate these telework policies to their employees. The Act also requires agencies to name an official to oversee their telework program and incorporate telework into continuity of operations planning.

The act is a solid first step in the government embracing telework which is not only greener, but also has significant potential to cut costs for a government that is looking to tighten its belt during difficult financial times.

However, a recent article that surfaced over the holidays in Newsweek got us doing a bit of thinking. In the article, Mickey Kaus argues without particular protections being put in place for teleworking government employees, there’s a good chance that they could start to be overlooked for promotions, slammed in performance reviews and see other problems from management. He then goes on to ask questions about just how much money telework will save the government and just how productive teleworking employees can possibly be.

The tone of the article suggests that it’s written by someone who doesn’t personally believe that government employees are as dedicated to their mission as we know they are. In fact, he comes out and says that if they’re in the office, things will at least get done because “there’s nothing else to do.”

We disagree whole-heartedly with Mr. Kaus on this one. We believe that the increased adoption of telework will result in significant savings for the government. How? Because it’s already being used in some government agencies and private sector organizations to help address many of the problems facing the government today.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) currently sees over 80 percent of its eligible workforce telework. As a result, the USPTO is currently a very hot place to work and having no problems recruiting despite the rest of the government struggling to fill tens of thousands of federal vacancies. And, although it’s a private sector organization, Microsoft recently saved $90 million in one year by substituting teleconferencing for travel.

As far as teleworking discrimination goes, we can only speculate since teleworking across the federal government is still in its infancy. However, with organizations like the USPTO already embracing telework with no reported problems, it would seem somewhat far fetched. And with a generation of mobile workers coming up through the schools, teleworking will be expected by the best and brightest when they hit the job market – which would mean the government losing them to private enterprises and agencies that DO promote telework.

In fact, if promotions and performance reviews are still based on getting the mission accomplished and being productive, perceived discrimination against employees who DON’T telework could become an issue. By eliminating commutes and allowing employees to work from anywhere, the government is making their workforce more productive and effective. They’re also ensuring that they can do their work and accomplish their mission even when they can’t get to the office due to weather, disaster, etc.

To us, it seems the article is way off base. This is the first we’ve heard that telework could possibly make the government less productive. In fact, all signs point to the opposite. And if telework helps make government employees work better and smarter, wouldn’t they be the ones with the advantage?

If you thought Santa only traveled by sleigh, pulled by Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder and Blitzen (oh…and Rudolph), you’d be wrong.

Sometimes, Santa travels by video. Especially when the little boys and girls that are in need of presents on Christmas can’t get to their local mall to sit on his lap.

Children at The Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle and Bristol Royal Hospital for Children in the UK can tell you that first hand.

Using video teleconferencing (VTC) and Telepresence technology from Cisco, young patients and their families were able to speak directly to Santa in the North Pole via a video from their hospitals. The children shared their Christmas wishes with the big man himself, while Mrs. Claus and Santa’s elf helpers were on hand to give gifts to the children.

Delivering Santa via video enables children who are stuck in the hospital during the holidays to share in some of the Christmas spirit.

VTC can help the jolly man in red visit children in hospitals all across the globe. In addition to visiting children in the UK, Santa also has appeared via video to hear children’s Christmas wishes in Germany, the US and other places around the world.

In fact, just last weekend (in the midst of frantic gift wrapping and list checking) Santa appeared via video at Poudre Valley Health System (PVH) in Fort Collins, CO. The pediatric unit at PVH was one of 18 different hospitals across the US that Santa visited via video, which also included the Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA.

Here at Break Down the Walls, we’re always discussing how VTC and Telepresence can be used in the public sector to make organizations run more effectively and efficiently. It’s great to see VTC and Telepresence technologies used for something that truly touches individuals and makes their days brighter.

Bringing holiday cheer to children stuck in the hospital? Now that’s a new way of working (for Santa, anyway) and truly brings a smile to our faces!

It’s a been proven: teleworkers are more focused, productive and able to balance their family life and work life. But in comparison to other industries, the public sector has been slow to adopt telework policies. President Obama, however, is making significant strides to change that. Last week, the House passed the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010 requiring federal agencies to establish policies that enable government employees to work remotely.

Teleworking in the public sector is not new.  In fact, government workers were advised to work from home in April 2010 during the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington to avoid the traffic snarls from high-security measures.  And when snowstorms, also known as snowpocalypse, closed down federal offices in Washington for days in February 2010, teleworking kept government agencies running and operational.  Until now, though, teleworking has only been implemented during extreme situations.  Yet, 61 percent of the federal workforce holds a telework-compatible job. If those eligible work from home at least once a week, government agencies would see productivity increases, federal employees would realize transportation-related savings and the nation would experience reduced carbon emissions.

Furthermore, research shows that teleworkers find more satisfaction in their jobs compared to those who are office-based and that teleworkers experience a greater number of benefits associated with working remotely. Giving federal employees more freedom to telework is expected to save the government money since it will spend less in onsite resources, help retain employees because of increased flexibility and be prepared for the unexpected disruptions that stall operations.  Overall, it’s a promising move that we can expect will be adopted by more government agencies down the road.

This week, nearly all transportation services were crippled by icy conditions throughout Northern Europe. Citizens from Poland to Britain struggled with delayed airports, stymied train services and miles upon miles of road snarled by the unexpected grip of arctic weather.

The threat of heavy snow continues to linger over rail, road and air passengers in England as the relentless weather carries on, with motoring and passenger organizations blaming the Highways Agency and local councils for a failed response to the bad weather. Workers have been stranded on the road or at the airport; even many of Parliament’s lawmakers have found themselves stuck at home, unable to make it in for important meetings due to the poor travel conditions.

It’s no wonder why interest in video collaboration peaks when airports close, trains get stopped in their tracks for hours and when commuters are forced to leave their cars on highways.

Already, many forward-looking organizations have implemented business continuity plans and have invested in alternatives to business travel. Competitive and smart companies are implementing telepresence solutions to combat the unexpected occurrences that catch many off-guard. Video enables these businesses to execute their planned meetings, reduce downtime, keep business on track, and visually connect with partners, customers and global counterparts despite disruptions.

From the April eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland, to worldwide H1N1 flu scares, 2010 has been a rough year for business continuity. And who’s to say that 2011 won’t be as equally challenging if not more? Every year will bring new and unexpected obstacles to conducting business on both the global and local level. Businesses should be asking themselves if they’re prepared for the inevitable, whether it is a natural or a manmade calamity.

During the Cisco Collaboration Summit in Phoenix, AZ, we unveiled a series of product introductions, innovations and service offerings designed to make telepresence and video collaboration more affordable and simpler to manage. All of these new services, endpoints and experiences, combined with Cisco’s recently announced infrastructure and medianet architecture advancements, bring true pervasive video one step closer to reality and solve challenges around video delivery, interoperability and quality.

What’s particularly exciting to me are the new endpoints, the Cisco TelePresence EX60 and the Cisco TelePresence System 500 32-inch, which extend the reach of the family of personal telepresence units with smaller footprint requirements and lower price points.

The EX60 is a desktop system that is ideal for individual contributors and knowledge workers throughout an organization. It has a smaller footprint and a lower list price than the popular EX90. As with the EX90, the EX60 is equipped with an integrated document camera that is able to flip down and show the person you are communicating with the physical documents on your actual (not virtual!) desktop. The HD screen can also double as your PC screen to make the flow from working to meeting to sharing content even easier!  The smaller size and lower cost can help enable more companies to deploy telepresence at a faster rate throughout their organizations.

The Cisco TelePresence System 500 32-inch (CTS 500-32) is a pedestal-based endpoint designed for the private office environment. The system gives executives a virtual in-person experience and life-like representation common to the popular CTS 500 37-inch, yet it has a smaller form factor and a lower list price. Additionally, the CTS 500-32 features an auto-retractable camera and can be used as a secondary PC monitor when not in a call.

We’re excited to make both of these new endpoints available this quarter and to show to our customers we are committed to bringing pervasive video to the forefront of our personal work environments.

To watch a demo of the new EX60 visit the Collaboration Virtual Launch Experience.

The ongoing economic crisis has the American government scrambling to find discretionary funds for vital programs in an atmosphere of heightened concern over the budget deficit.

Last Monday, President Obama’s Federal Deficit Commission released a report detailing different ways the federal government can work towards reducing the deficit and getting our country back into the black. In what came as no surprise to us here at Break Down the Walls, the Commission said that one area where government spending can be cut and belts tightened was in travel.

According to an article in the Washington Examiner, in FY2001 the federal government spent approximately $9 billion on travel for mission-related business. In FY2006, that increased exponentially to just over $14 billion. That’s a lot of taxpayer dollars the government is spending for executives to fly across the globe, stay in hotels and eat meals.

In these trying economic times, and in light of our extreme national debt, its time for the federal government to take a step back and revaluate the amount of travel being done by federal employees. It’s also time for the government to begin embracing the technologies that could significantly cut the need for travel, and subsequently travel costs, over time. Technologies like Telepresence and video teleconferencing (VTC).

By embracing and implementing VTC and Telepresence solutions the government could continue to see the benefits to collaboration and communication that come from in-person meetings without the need for extraneous travel. That’s because these technologies enable face-to-face communication between individuals regardless of the distance separating them.

These technologies could essentially eliminate the need for a wide range of government travel. Training and other professional development content could be delivered via VTC directly to an employee’s office. Meetings between employees in different countries could be done face-to-face via Telepresence. The possibilities are nearly limitless.

With budgets tight and agencies looking to trim costs, it just makes sense to find cheaper, more effective alternatives to travel in the federal government. By embracing VTC and Telepresence, the government can operate more effectively and efficiently and save significant amounts of tax payer dollars. Now that’s a new way of working.