The U.S. and the developed world have witnessed a sharp growth in
remote and mobile work patterns. The flexible office arrangements
encompass a broad spectrum of situations, such as telecommuting (for home
office workers or mobile workers), virtual offices, flex-time and
part-time employment. As technology allows people to collaborate across
time zones and continents, the concept of a single, physical workplace is
becoming far less important than in the past.
A survey by Chicago-based Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Incorporated, an international outplacement firm, concluded that telecommuting,
including remote and mobile computing, will be 'the predominant workplace
trend in the next millennium. By 2004, according to an IDC report there
may be 55 million remote or mobile workers in the U.S., up from 39 million
in last year
We are using a variety of devices and telecommunications networks to
get work done and to collaborate from home, from satellite offices, while
on the road, or from headquarters. According to a GartnerGroup survey,
about 63 million workers -- nearly 50 % of all fully employed Americans,
carry and regularly use a cellphone. And more people use cellphones for
work-related purposes than for personal use.
Now add PDA's and mobile computers. In the five-year period from 1999
through 2004, North Americans will purchase over 100 million PDA's and
mobile PCs. That's a cumulative annual growth rate of 78%.
By 2003, according to a META Group Research paper by Jack Gold
"Coping with Mobile Multiplication," more than 30% of corporate knowledge
workers will have one or more companion computing devices "to augment the
computing experience." The authors defined companion computing devices as
PalmPilots, Windows CE Handhelds and Professionals, and smart phones.
Little wonder that manufacturers are now tailoring clothes and designing
backpacks with special pockets to accommodate our digital accessories.
To take advantage of mobile and remote computing, the META Group
concludes, "IT organizations must develop strategic architectures that
provide guidelines for matching users to the appropriate form factor, and
institute policies and procedures for platform selection and support."
Awarenex, the Sun Microsystems Laboratories prototype, is demonstrating
such an architecture.
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Oracle Labs
