Comments on: Coworking in Rural Places

By: Erin @ solsticeGIS

Erin @ solsticeGIS — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:57:52 +0000

I’ve tried to structure my business around a mobile co-working model. I often work at a client sites even though I could stay at my home office. Broadband is improving in our rural area but its still challening. Twitter as also become an interesting form of “co-working” with colleagues in my same field. I dream of new business models beyond the 8-5 cubicle.

By: Coworking Wrap-Up

Coworking Wrap-Up — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:01:48 +0000

[...] Coworking in Rural Places [...]

By: katemgilbert

katemgilbert — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:41:08 +0000

I don’t live in a rural environment, but have often daydreamed about a coworking set-up for WAH folks that includes some kind of childcare share. This would not only help WAH parents of young children in balancing work and childcare needs, but also provide a supportive community environment for parents and kids alike.

By: Elizabeth King

Elizabeth King — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:15:12 +0000

Keeping video chat open with other WAH folks while I’m working has proven to be an outstanding way to make my computer-based work less alienating. I had know idea that a term exists to define it, but I now I know I was on to something! : ) I recommend it to anyone, if you’re disciplined enough to, well, shut up and work.

Thanks!

By: Ben Overmyer

Ben Overmyer — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:44:34 +0000

One possibility is having an additional monitor devoted entirely to video; a ubiquitous visual chatroom.

Or, to take it a step further, a setup with several monitors (some on different machines), each with multiple people on video chat.

It’s hardware-intensive and not portable, but it could replicate a more bustling environment for those of us living in rural locations.

By: RemoteRevolution

RemoteRevolution — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:46:48 +0000

This is such a great article, in part because it’s put in the personal context of experiences in your own town and the lackluster broadband options you have to “choose” from. A lot of people forget that here are vast tracts of land throughout the United States and Canada that do not have broadband access, some without even reliable dial-up. In the future, as rural broadband initiatives increase the number of places and people that are connected, I can see these co-working arrangements springing up everywhere but having (perhaps) maximum value in rural areas. In a city, I feel like if I went to such a place I would just end up chatting, drinking coffee, and not getting a thing done. In a rural area, I can foresee something far more productive happening. Thanks for this article, it’s great and really got me thinking. I Google-mapped Tok, Alaska and man, it was hard to find ;)