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Fast innovation surrounds us, yet conference calls are still a slapstick comedy of errors

If you're feeling like the world of tech is moving too fast and you'd really like to go back to the year 2000 when things were simpler and more clunky, just get on a conference call. It's an irritating slapstick comedy of "what?" and "sorry, go ahead" and "who said that?" and "no you go ahead" and "everyone remember to speak into the microphone for the one person calling in".

I'm thankful for the technology, basic as it may be. It lets me stay home on treacherous travel days like today and yet still call in to an all-staff meeting. But every conference call has that annoying elephant in the room that folks refuse to acknowledge: that conference call and virtual meeting technology is still only at the basic stage where they're possible, but barely useful, usually aggravating, often counterproductive and nowhere near as efficient or effective as in-person meetings and presentations.

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