VOIP in addition to IM @ home
While visiting a friend I saw a IT development collaboration involving a Project manager, UNIX admin, and a PHP coder. They were each working from their homes on a server located in the office. This development session involved 5 computers switched on in three domestic and one office locations.
I'm trying to imagine this process taking place in a single office space... 89 erm.. no. Can't do it.
It all works because they are communicating verbally all the time while looking at specific parts of the system that's pertinent to them. They don't need to be face-to-face to look at each other (nor do I imagine they'd really like to be 8P). Plus, they need no regard for cleaninless or dress code and they can drink/eat/smoke/fart all they want to - which can be a real boon for IT experts.
