I did a Google search to buy a Wi-Fi controlled coffee maker that self-grinds and takes a water-line. Then all I would have to do is fill it with beans, press a button—on the machine or my laptop--and of course, drink the coffee.
I couldn't find one.
I don't understand. Coffee makers have long been controlled by electrons, and Wi-Fi is everywhere now and cheap. Why not combine the two into a Wi-ffeine, (Wi-Fi and caffeine machine. Copyright: just now by me!) It would add far more control—such as how much to make, strength, etc.—as well as the ability to brew from wherever.
But let's say I had such a wonderful machine, would the Wi-ffeine really change anything that much? So I can program my coffee maker from the car to brew at 9am, big whoop.
It would look like that at first, but over time I would discover more ways the coffee maker had improved my life. Here's one such example: if I was to wake up and realize I forgot to program the machine the night before, I could just grab my iPhone from the nightstand and press the button labeled, "Make coffee now!" By the time I'm ready for that glorious first cup, the Wi-ffeine has brewed it. And all that without cold floors, fumbling with filters and buttons, and leaving my bed.
I feel the same way about video conferencing in that using it within an office may at first seem… superfluous. I mean, why not just walk down the hall to talk to someone? Seems like a lot sound and fury—signifying nothing—for a simple face-to-face.
But what if they aren't there? What if you get trapped by a long—often heard—fishing story? What if you need the input of a third person and they're in the field?
In a video conference, you can extract yourself from the dreaded fishing story much easier—if it gets told at all—and that third person is out-dialed and brought in easily from almost anywhere in the world. You can also share the spreadsheet with the latest numbers, bring in more people, and record it all to preserve ideas, or for posterity.
So at first it might seem like an unnecessary luxury to video conference with a co-worker within the office, but soon you'll notice the improvements and increased power it can bring to your workplace.
And all that without leaving your bed! That is, not if you put your laptop and webcam on your nightstand.
Also, if you know of a Wi-Fi coffee maker, please leave a comment and tell me its name and brand!
