R6ndn Kennedy mnank@acm.org elecommunication technologies reduce the effects of distances. As we see more and more widespread adoption of sophisticated computer networking systems, the most notable being the Internet and World Wide Web, this becomes a cliche but remains no less of a truism for its obviousness. Although I had always been aware of this at a certain level (my last column discussed some of the social impact of electronic commerce, distance selling made possible by computer networks), it has been brought home to me in quite striking ways recently. I have moved from Ireland to New Zealand, and am working as an independent contract programmer. My work so far is for Irish companies. This fact is, in itself, remarkable enough - a person can move from one side of the world to the other and continue working relationships with people based in his home country. What struck me more strongly, though, was the ease with which I was able to work on Web sites based in Ireland, or submit programs as part of an overall system being developed in conjunction with a programmer who is asleep while I am working (there is a 12 hour time difference between here and Ireland). I could log on to a server based at some unknown location, make changes to pages and scripts and observe as these Web sites were visited by people from all around the world. This is a commonplace occurrence in the computer industry today - virtual workplaces, distributed teams, asynchronous computer-mediated communication - but it is nonetheless astounding for that. On a visit to the Settler's Museum in Dunedin, I was repeatedly reminded of the amount of changes that have occurred in the 150 years since this part of the world was settled by Europeans. The early settlers came by boat, a journey of several months, and return was not an option for many. Communication with home was slow and infrequent. Contact between even individual regions of New Zealand was at times poor. Distance was a major barrier to all who came here, and often meant the complete severance of ties with home whether for the Europeans or the Maori who came before (for whom communication at a distance was even more difficult). Now, the journey can be made in 24 hours (for those with the stamina to sit in an airplane seat for that long!), return simply a matter of saving for long enough and contact can be instantaneous. One of the exhibits in the Museum were some diaries kept by some of the early settlers, documenting the happenings of their lives as they embarked on a new life in a strange place. I too keep a diary of my adventures (such as they are) in Aotorea, but it is kept on the Web. Any friends and family with Internet connections (which is most) who want to keep up to date can read updates on what I am doing, with illustrations and pictures, all displayed immediately on their screens. I may be thousands of miles away, and probably fast asleep, but the Internet enables me to maintain these essential contacts quickly, cheaply and easily. The barrier of distance has been largely removed. T Computersand Society, March 1999

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