It Seems To Me

Thoughts and Rants on Technology, Business and Politics

The January 29th, 2005 edition of The Economist had an excellent article (subscription required) describing how the low cost airlines are making it possible for people to live and work anywhere in Europe. Of course, this concept is not unique to Europe. In the US, Southwest Airlines began a revolution that expanded the idea of commuting from cars, buses and trains to include airplanes as well. Here in Europe, many people now live in one country and work in another. From the Economist article:

Europe's low-cost airlines have done more to integrate Europe than any numbers of diplomats and ministers. They have helped to create a new generation for whom travelling to another European country is no longer exotic or expensive, but utterly commonplace.

I was almost 40 years old before I made my first international call outside of the US and Canada. When I was growing up, Europe and Asia seemed so far away and international telephone calls were prohibitively expensive. Besides, back then it wasn't like I knew anyone in those countries.

Today the world is a much smaller place. In my last job I led teams with members in Belgium, London, France, India and Australia. I now make international calls for pennies a minute. And services like Skype make it possible to talk to fellow broadband users anywhere in the world for free. Email and blogs make it possible to stay connected with friends and family regardless of location.

Global air travel has become affordable enough that even physical distances are becoming less relevant. I made my first trans-Atlantic flight (from San Francisco to London) in the spring of 2000. Prior to that trip I stressed for days over the imminent jet lag and worked a myriad of techniques to stave it off. Now I live in London and commute back and forth to San Francisco on a regular basis. I made four trips in the summer and fall of 2004 and I have two more scheduled in the next month. It is just not that far any more. I get on a plane in London and ten hours later I am in San Francisco. If I am lucky I have had a decent nap on the plane and, when I land, I am off and running eight time zones away.

Technology has made it possible to bridge space and time, shrinking and virtually eliminating geographical distances. The next time you hear someone say "Where are you calling from? It sounds like you are in the next room," remind them that technology has made the world a smaller place. You are not as far away as it seems.