Word: though
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Dates: during 2000-2000
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...political impulse to constrain the power of the wealthy in the interests of the weak and marginal remains strong and is already making a comeback. There are good reasons for thinking this impulse will not lead to new radical groups' achieving political power and implementing a coherent political agenda. Though, in the process of trying to influence the course of events, the global left may invent an entirely new form of governance that will act as a strong brake on multinational corporations and the governments that serve their interests...
With that record of innovation, workers are a bit skeptical about the office of the future. What will the geniuses in real estate come up with in the next quarter-century? If current trends are any indication, hide. Consider "hoteling," the latest workplace experiment, which treats employees as though they were visiting nomads who are assigned a phone and portable desk by a concierge. Or perhaps the "head cubicle," as imagined by Dilbert creator Scott Adams, a square helmet that will let CEOs "stack us up like firewood in a warehouse on the outskirts of town, where rents...
Clueless corporations, which have typically approached the office as a storage site for people and paper, are only just starting to think outside the cubicle, imagining work spaces that foster interaction, not isolation. By 2025, though, the standard-issue, gloomy maze of hallways and bullpens of today may well be replaced--once they have been fully depreciated, that is--by a wide range of office setups that, just like the new economy, stress customization over mass appeal. In this newfangled, dynamic working environment, employees should be able to personalize their work spaces and constantly reconfigure their surroundings to suit...
...says Mark Smith, manager of appliance platforms at H-P Labs. When you arrive at work, you could simply stroll through a secure, smart door and listen as your desktop virtual assistant reads aloud your schedule for the day. The temperature and lighting will adjust automatically to your preferences. Though we probably won't attain the mythical paperless office, there will likely be less of the messy stuff lying about, thanks to high-tech, rewritable parchment. And forget about typing: sophisticated voice recognition will let you tell your PC what to do (though all that yakking could just as easily...
...hold our breath for that one. Just as important as personal space, though, will be group space. Rather than a couple of conference rooms decked out with imposing mahogany tables, picture multiple areas for groups to convene and collaborate--from indoor gardens, playgrounds and cafes to what designers term contemplative caves. Even the lowly office kitchenette might be wired by 2025. Say you're having a spirited debate with a colleague about a pitch to a prospective client just as you're grabbing a cup of joe. By 2025, according to John Seely, director of Xerox's Palo Alto Research...