The virtual workplace is a more ambitious idea than video-conferencing. Imagine a workplace within an organisation, but instead of travelling to reach it, you just need to log in. This workplace could have offices, halls, even a digital water cooler or coffee machine, and would be populated by the people who were at work.

Users can move through the virtual workplace just as in a computer video game. The virtual workplace might provide certain applications and information, but its real strength would be in simulating the characteristics of a successful work environment. It may also be able to suppress any unpleasant characteristics, such as noise levels, background music, the frequency of interruptions, and so on. What would you design in your personalised space?

The user can interact with people via the computer as if in a real space. They can "look" in someone's office to see if they're in. They can shut the door if they don't want to be disturbed unless it's "urgent". Many people can get together to discuss a problem, or the user can stop by the digital water cooler to socialise with other users.