So Far Apart, and Yet, So Close

Aparna Nancherla

This afternoon, your company's executive team has a joint meeting with branch division partners located in both Tokyo and London. But no one is on an airplane or together in one city - when was the mystery behind business time travel cracked? Actually, it's simpler than... More »

Virtual World, Real Learning

Rex Davenport

A research team at North Carolina State University led by Mitzi M. Montoya has developed a new way of measuring how "real" online virtual worlds can be. This is a critical advance for the emerging technology. Many true believers think this is the wave of the future for ... More »

Mile-high hot spots

Aparna Nancherla

Flying these days is officially more taxing than prison - at least you're not charged for pillows, blankets, food, and drink (1) in the slammer. In fact, you still don't even get your one phone call onboard. According to the Federal Communications Commission (2), cell p... More »

Dumb People and Smart Ideas

ASTD Staff

The Dumbest Generation Mark Bauerlein Tarcher/Penguin When our parents criticized us for our laziness and slovenly ways, we thought they were off the mark. We now tar the emerging generation with same brush. Has anything changed? Heck, yes. We eventually amounted to som... More »

Case Study: Directv

Ann Pace

The cable industry deals with large amounts of information to which employees must have easy access. DIRECTV's in-house and outsourced customer service agents serve its 18 million customers over the phone. Because of industry characteristics and its rapid growth rate, D... More »