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Video-conferencing: another false dawn?

Welcoming you back after this column's rather extended summer break, it doesn't come as a shock to discover that little has changed while we've been away.

In particular, despite the whistle-blowing that's been going on over the so-called green revolution, companies continue to punt the greenness of their products when we all know the truth of the matter. And that is that companies are organisations whose job is to generate money.

If a company can turn a profit while appearing just about 'green' enough, then it will. Alternatively, it'll wave the green flag while hoping no-one notices that the whole thing is a sham.

What's this all about? This week sees a pronouncement that businesses aren't using video-conferencing. Well, hold the front page.

According to BT, the reason people aren't using it is because it's a social and cultural issue. And they should because it's, like, an environmentally sound way of communicating.

Well, maybe.

The reason people aren't using video-conferencing is because the experience is rubbish when you compare it with standing next to someone. Real Life means "when they're perfectly rendered at a resolution high enough to fool the best eyes." In other words, you can touch them.

More importantly, they know you've gone the extra mile to meet them, which counts when you're selling something. And everyone's selling something, right?

How does green get into this? Video-conferencing companies are springing up, we're told, because they argue that the cost of energy and travel will soon see a growth in this area, driven by the increasing cost of travel.

I don't agree. The argument was similar 10 years ago when a pair of ISDN lines was the best connection most could get. It'll all be different when high speed networks arrive, they said. Yet high-speed networks are here - and things haven't changed.

What might just change things is if long-distance travel becomes even more onerous than it already is - and it's pretty bad now. But even then, I wouldn't bet serious money on it.

How is business done? It's about meeting face-to-face, eyeball-to-eyeball. Ask yourself whether it could ever be any different.