Virtual vs Real

The virtual world of emailing, video conferencing, texting, IMing etc has broken down many barriers in communication (not only geographical ones) and enables its users to connect and share information/ideas/thoughts faster and wider than ever before.

However, in this hyper-linked world is there still a need to connect ‘face-to-face’?

We are social creatures and need human interaction.  Although, more and more of our associations and friendships are being formed through virtual communication
channels with people whom we may never meet.

At the end of last week I was on a conference call to some associates in Vancouver who run Conscientious Innovation and the next day I was in London sharing ideas and thoughts (plus beers) with PSFK Founder, Simon King.  I got a great deal from each differing experience.

The conference call was made possible through internet research and then emails, but it gave me an opportunity to speak to market leaders of which I would never had had if the virtual medium hadn’t existed.  And the personal meeting was extremely fruitful in terms of the face-to-face interaction and reactions you have when sitting opposite someone.

Business is done online but a meeting is still held to sign contracts…online gaming is huge but the convention circuit for them is as popular…therefore is the virtual just a ‘filler’ and ‘bridge-builder’ to the still needed contact of the ‘real’?