Federal Meetings Go Virtual

The General Services Administration announced Tuesday that it will create virtual meeting centers at federal buildings across the U.S., making it easier for federal employees to conduct face-to-face meetings without having to travel. The centers, which will include high-definition video, advanced audio equipment and collaboration tools, will be built at each of GSA's 11 regional headquarters offices as well as four headquarters locations in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area.

The meeting centers will be available in early 2011 and for use by federal agencies at a fixed hourly rate, GSA said. The centers also will be available to stateside military families so they can meet virtually with service members overseas, GSA said.

Do you currently travel to attend face-to-face meetings? How will these virtual meeting centers change the way you work, and how might the different generations in the workplace react to such changes?