Recently I was in a discussion with someone who was saying that “maps were dead.” I believe that the major problem with that argument is that it does not define maps.

Yes, I will agree that traditional paper maps and charts are not as popular as they used to be. Paper does not store in a very compact format.

A set of maps for all of Canada would be several pounds to carry around. Dozens most likely. I can carry the same set of maps on one DVD. One disc. With that I can view them on my computer or transport them to my GPS so anywhere I am I can get directions to anywhere.

With a GPS I can get a set of co-ordinates. That set of co-ordinates while not a map by itself is now part of our major need for geo-location.

If one looks at flickr, many photos are tagged with location. Some cameras even have GPS chips built into them, instant location.

Geocaching, a very high tech game of hide and seek where people hide caches for people to find, posting co-ordinates which can be viewed on an electronic map or downloaded into a GPS unit to find.

Navigation systems, satnav navigates millions of people from point A to point B. You are looking at a map in there.

With everything, we have Google Earth where you can view all sorts of information, from fast food places to maps showing global warming. It’s open so people can share pretty much anything.

In short, maps are not dead – not by a long shot. Everything has just moved to the digital domain.

A few days ago I was reading “Why the 9 to 5 Office Worker Will Become a Thing of the Past” on Pick The Brain. It’s an interesting read, I suggest you check it out.

I have come to the realization that in many cases, the traditional workplace of showing up every morning, attending scheduled meetings and going home at a fixed time does not make any sense for either the employee or the company.

The obvious solution to this problem is planning around the mental energy cycle by breaking the work day into multiple segments. The traditional office setting doesn’t accommodate this because there are few available recharge activities. People can’t do household chores, run errands, or engage in recreational activities without leaving the workplace.

So, where does that leave us work wise. Do we work from home or do we work more at a “informal office” setting like WorkSpace?

I think the solution is a mixture of both. One does need a traditional office for some things like meetings and to collect mail etc but that’s about it. In many cases, one can rent a virtual office to handle those jobs very easily. No need to spend 2000+ a month on another physical place that doesn’t get used a lot.

With modern communication tools such as

1) Phones (both landlines and mobiles)
2) IM
3) E-Mail (including e-mail everywhere on the Blackberry)
4) Virtual Meetings

We are never out of touch – it really doesn’t matter if you are at home or on a cruise ship – with connectivity you can be anywhere and still work.

For some jobs, you have a fixed schedule – you work when it’s necessary but for many information workers there is no 9-5. A 8-10 and then 6-10 workday might be more productive.

At the end of the day, it’s about results not what time people work at. Breaking up the workday inproves productivity and everyone wins.