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Back to Subjects - Social Issues

videoconferencing

videoconferencing Videoconferencing- Breaking the Bonds of Slavery For centuries people have been enslaved in their work and careers. Since the industrial revolution, with the creation of the assembly line and the mass production of products, business owners have enslaved common men and women. Marx and Engels looked at this situation in The Communist Manifesto, the proletariats laboring under cruel and backbreaking conditions for minimal pay. Their relationships with their families become destitute and the exploitation of children occurred in order to bring in money for the family. The enslavement still continues 150 years later with individuals today striving for more material wealth. This effort causes the sacrificing of other important aspects of their life, family cohesiveness and marriages. Divorce rates are at nearly 50% for American marriages, which leaves many children being raised by single parents. This perpetuates the cycle of enslavement by forcing parents to work longer hours in order to support their children. Parallels can be made between American families in the 21st century and the proletariats of the 19th century. Yet, there appears to be hope on the horizon for workers. The hope takes the form of modern technology, more specifically videoconferencing systems. This technological advancement has been made available to the general public in the past five years. Videoconferencing is the technology that allows two or more people at different locations to see and hear each other. Videoconferencing systems require audio-visual equipment such as monitors, cameras, microphones and speakers and also, a means of transmitting information between the two points, including Internet and telephone connections. This technology works by sending high-resolution images captured by a video camera through a telephone or Internet connection to another videoconferencing system. The images are displayed on monitors or a projection screen and can be viewed by each party involved in the conferencing.(Reese 5) Advertisement campaigns for videoconferencing seem to be aimed at two general themes: bringing people face-to-face that are miles apart, in order for your business to be operated more efficiently and that videoconferencing cuts travel expenses and travel time for the employer. For example, Sharp’s ad campaign states: “Videoconferencing has made it possible to evaluate and react to information faster—so now you can operate your business better, faster and more responsively. Sharp’s is proud to offer the latest in affordable, “plug-and-play” corporate videoconferencing equipment and services. Using Polycom’s latest technology, Sharp’s lets you meet face-to-face with clients and business partners while avoiding the expense and worries of traveling around the globe.” (“Sharp ad” 1) Telechoice focuses on face-to-face meetings between businesses and clients and between different branches of a business. Their advertising campaign states: “Telechoice brings your team face-to-face fast. Need to meet up with your client in Chicago? Want an update from your manufacturing plant in Idaho? Looking to train your sales reps in the southeastern regions?” (“Telechoice ad” 1) Videoconferencing promises many benefits for businesses. It provides global communication networks, without leaving your own conference room. This cuts down on travel expenses for the business, making the business more profitable. Videoconferencing also allows information to be transmitted more swiftly and this allows businesses to operate at a faster rate and be more competitive in today's fast paced business world. These benefits are all included in advertisements for videoconferencing. Yet, one advantage that is not included in advertisements is the benefits that employees receive. Utilizing the technology of videoconferencing, employees are now able to work out of their homes and still be kept up-to-date on the business affairs. They can attend conferences without leaving their living rooms. This benefit of videoconferencing definitively breaks the bonds of slavery that binds employees. Videoconferencing allows employees to stay at home with their families, which fosters greater attachment and communication. Divorce rates might drop if spouses are able to spend a greater amount of time together. Videoconferencing also cuts down on the amount of traveling individuals needs to complete for their employer. This also adds up to more time spent with family and less time at the office. Because of this shift, the employee may be more content with their job. Increased productivity may result from the increase in happiness of the employee. Also, videoconferencing allows the employee to be freed from the monotonous office tasks and the stress levels in the office. The employees can work at their leisure and in a setting that is comfortable and relaxed. Videoconferencing unquestionably benefits the employees more than the employers. Yet, there are advantages for the employers. As Marx states, “The need of a constantly expanding market for its products chases the bourgeoisie over the whole surface of the globe. It must nestle everywhere, settle everywhere, establish connections everywhere.” (Marx, Engels 12) Videoconferencing allows the globalization of markets to grow. It makes correspondence between businesses in different regions of the world effortless. Businesses can communicate with one another without leaving their conference room. Capitalism’s spread is made easier with the invention of videoconferencing. Expanding on Marx’s ideas, the invention of videoconferencing could not lead to a socialist revolution. In order for a socialist revolution to take place, workers from all countries must unite. (Marx, Engels 44) Videoconferencing may isolate employees from one another because they would have the option of working from their homes. Video monitors replace face-to-face contact and this may further isolate the workers. This does not allow the unification of employees, the primary necessity for a revolution. In addition employees may be more content with their employers and may be less likely to turn on them. They may be complacent and not want to stir up controversy. In conclusion, videoconferencing may alleviate the bonds of slavery workers have had to endure since the Industrial Revolution. In Thoreau’s work, Walden, he states that, “…the laboring man has not leisure for a true integrity day by day; he cannot afford to sustain the manliest relations to men; his labor would be depreciated in the market.” (Thoreau 3) Thoreau believed that work and economic factors enslaved men. He felt they had no time to look inside themselves or spend leisure time. Videoconferencing allows individuals this opportunity. They may be freed from 10-hour workdays at the office and could enjoy quality time with their children and spouses. These benefits may greatly increase the status of marriages and family attachments, two aspects of life, which have been lacking cohesiveness in the Unites States. Workers may feel a sense of individuality and freedom, as a result of videoconferencing, feelings that have been lacking since the days of artisans. Bibliography:

Word Count: 1081