Lost in Translation

I've had to give several talks over the past few weeks, a few of them remotely using videoconferencing tools.  One would think that with all the fancy technology and infrastructure, fat network pipes, etc, we would now be at the point where remotely participating in meetings would be a snap.  Well, some things just can't be brought over the wire very well.   

At one workshop, the International ICFA Workshop on HEP Networking and the Digital Divide, was held in Daegu, Korea (see map at left).  The purpose of the workshop was, ironically, to examine issues of global scientific collaboration (a very interesting conference which discussed many critical issues of large scale grid computing and networks, but videoconferencing was not on the agenda).

I was called in to give a talk as an 11th hour replacement for someone who couldn't make it.  My talk was scheduled for 3pm in the afternoon, which translated into 1 am in Chicago.  So, there I was, on a Sunday night giving a talk Monday morning in Korea. Sounds so cool, but it required a lot of imagination. Instead of travelling to Korea (and getting to see the sights like those above) I'm in my steril office in Hyde Park, below.  There I had a small image of the conference venue which showed my slides but not the audience.  So I gave a ridiculous talk to myself.  It was like speaking to a ... laptop.  Had no idea what the audience was doing during the 30 minute presentation. Me? I did'nt have myself on camera so I was walking around my office giving the talk, gesturing to nonone in particular.  I'm glad nonone was around to witness it.  I'm still not sure if anyone witnessed it.