VIDEOCONFERENCING AND WORK TRAVEL

This paper looks at the prospect of videoconferencing becoming a major substitute for work travel. Unlike some forms of telecommunication, this does seem a field where there is scope for substitution away from person movements (Button, 1991). Initially some background information is provided as to the nature and development of videoconferencing. A microeconomic framework is the established within which one can attempt to forecast the up-take of videoconferencing facilities over the next decade. Results from a survey of UK users and non-users of videoconferencing are then used to gain a better feel of relevant parameters. For the covering abstract of this conference, see IRRD number 853879. (A)