Virtual work, which was steadily on the rise even before the pandemic, is explored in this timely book that describes the impact of technology on our work experiences, ranging from the individual psychological level to the broad societal implications.Widespread remote work is now possible, but it comes with its share of frustrations. Virtual work has changed our lives in ways big and small, from trying to balance our time to what we wear and where we sit and from how we communicate to where we should look during a videoconference. It's also fundamentally changed what kinds of jobs we can now do.Grounded in research and including lively personal anecdotes, The 10-Second Commute provides a thoughtful and comprehensive scan of the nature of virtual work. The authors, both researchers in management and technology, explore the current questions of our virtual lives, such as: Why Zoom instead of Skype? Why are emojis so useful? Why is videoconferencing so exhausting? How does diversity at work both help and hinder productivity? Virtual work is more than just work-it permeates our whole lives, and it will continue to do so as hybrid work arrangements become the new normal. Helping readers better understand the virtual work experience, this book will engage and inform everyone who is still trying to make it work.

Chapter 1 Introduction: Ready, Set, Get VirtualWork, Forever ChangedVirtual IntelligenceSection One: Virtual PresenceSection Two: Setting the StageSection Three: Technology's RoleSection 1 Virtual PresenceChapter 2 Getting to Know You OnlineGood to (Virtually) Meet You!Colleague vs. FriendSocial Media VisibilityForcing ConnectionsVirtual Office GossipSummary: Musings on Creating Connections VirtuallyChapter 3 Feeling Human OnlineOur Imperfect Virtual SensesCan You Hear Me Now? The Problems of DelayWhat Can We Learn from Online Gaming?Virtual Reality's Value PropositionPersonality OnlineSummary: Musings on Our New Virtual RealityChapter 4 The Video ExperienceVideo vs. VoiceWhat to Use When?Visual Gaze and MindsightSelf-ViewExhaustion, Thy Name Is ZoomSummary: Musings on Life on VideoChapter 5 Language OnlineEnglish, Spanish, Flemish, Text-ish?"You WANT to Go There" vs. "You Want to Go THERE"Emoji, ? or ??What Does the Curly Loop Even Mean?A Brief History of Voice AssistantsSummary: Musings on Verbalizing OnlineSection 2 Setting the StageChapter 6 Have Cubicle, Will TravelThe Not-at-Home OfficeThe At-Home OfficeFinding InspirationWork-Life (Im)BalanceRole-Switching WoesThe Gender Tug-of-WarSummary: Musings on Designing Home SpacesChapter 7 Our Virtual Fashion AestheticThe Dress Code Is Dead. Long Live the Dress Code!You Are What You Wear: Dressing for OurselvesFashion Is Instant Language: Dressing for OthersWhat We Wear, WhereSummary: Musings on What We Wear OnlineChapter 8 Bridging DividesOnboarding OnwardThe Difficulties of DispersionWho Gets Heard?Trust and ConflictIn Technology We TrustSummary: Musings on Building Connective Tissue in Virtual TeamsSection 3 Technology's RoleChapter 9 Perception and JudgmentFeeling Far AwayThe Upside of DistanceArtificial Intelligence and Human JudgmentThe One Best WayBias Baked into the System?AI at WorkSummary: Musings on Human and AI Decision-MakingChapter 10 The Internet-Based MarketplaceThe Rise of the Gig WorkerTo Gig or Not to Gig? Part 1: Individual Gig WorkersTo Gig or Not to Gig? Part 2: EmployersTo Gig or Not to Gig? Part 3: SocietyOutsourcing Knowledge WorkSummary: Musings on How the Internet Is Changing the Face of WorkChapter 11 Tech as LifebloodThe Digital RevolutionTech Drives ChangeThe Closed-System ModelChange Drives Tech: The Open-System ModelTech Adoption and the Emotional Cycle of ChangeWhat Hits the Market and Why?The Beating Heart of Virtual WorkSummary: Musings on Gateways to Technology and Gateways by TechnologyChapter 12 Looking Back and Looking ForwardUncharted WatersThere and Back AgainThe Struggle Is RealOwing My Soul to the Company StoreHybrid Work: The Best of Both Worlds (Once We Get It Right)The New CharterVirtual Work Is Here to StayNotesIndex