Increased Internet bandwidth, webcams, and conference technology has definitely impacted an adviser’s ability to engage clients that may be located in another state, country, or even continent. Cisco has taken video conferencing technology even further with its introduction of On-Stage TelePresence.
I watched a seamless presentation of this technology here.
My first reaction is that this technology has direct applications to national and regional professional conferences (e.g. FPA conferences). I know that most non-keynote speakers at the national FPA conference personally incur the cost of presenting as no honorarium or travel allowance is paid. Instead, presenters may soon elect to use the TelePresence technology to still engage the audience while avoiding a potentially costly trip, both in terms of travel cost and time taken away from other activities. Locally, small conferences will be able to attract presenters that under normal circumstances would be cost-prohibitive to bring.
Eventually the use of the technology will funnel down to the individual user, meaning advisers may engage with distant clients in a more intimate environment. Perhaps current webcams are suitable to a long-distance engagement, but it’s nice to see what can be done when one thinks outside the box.
(Hat tip: Andrew Tobias)
