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New digital technologies promise to enable large numbers of people to work wherever and whenever they wish and to choose between a stationary or nomadic lifestyle. In
Digital Nomad, Makimoto and Manners explore the new potential for modern nomadism, beginning with the technology that is making it possible. They cite some examples of current nomads, such as the president of a major European technology company who does not have the traditional perk of the president's office. Instead, he spends his workweek traveling around Europe from one company site to the next. Digital technology has made it more economical and efficient for the company to work this way. But the authors point out that there is more to nomadism than the technical ability. They discuss how nomads tend to be difficult to track, making them difficult to tax and control. Many governments see nomads as threats and some governments are currently discouraging nomadic lifestyles that have existed for thousands of years. How will world governments react then to those who opt for a high-tech nomadic life? The authors also discuss what parts of the world may be most attractive to tomorrow's digital nomads, speculating on how future technological developments may further enhance the ability to live and work on the go. It's debatable if many people really want a life with no physical roots, but Makimoto and Manners's speculations read like a dream come true for those who'd love more variety in their work lives.
Book Description
This is a highly readable book on how technology will vastly change our working lives in the 21st century. Identifying recent corporate trends in downsizing, mergers, de-mergers, and acquisitions, the authors argue that these dislocations of working life are merely precursors to the massive changes that are headed our way in the next century. These changes, according to Digital Nomad, will be at the hands of technological advance, and they will cause a bigger shift in mainstream lifestyle than has been seen in 10,000 years.
