I'm almost done with my computer engineering degree and am currently not working.  Of course with all the career fair leads that might change.

I've had a number of jobs with computers and have a few ideas that I'd like to toss around with the rest of the class.

The first issue that I'd like to address is video conferencing.  The technology is there for video conferencing over tv signals and on the internet, the only problem is that people aren't using this potental. The best reason I can come up with is access.  How many people out there really have the equipment to handle either tv or computer conferencing? Is it a matter of cost, or something else?  It could even be as simple as being shy and not wanting to be seen on tv.  Maybe people would rather deal with an unknown face than talk to someone face to face.

The second thought I had was something that I'm not sure can be done.  With video conferencing, there is an audio and visual aspect of communication.  What if there had to be a physical interaction?  Is there any way to simulate this?  For example, at fencing practice yesterday someone had her hand positioned incorrectly.  With her hand posistion, her weapon was held wrong, an attack would have easily found it's mark, and the point would have gone to her opponent.  The coach took one swing and demontrated this, and she got the point (pardon the pun).  How could this be done without the two people in the same room (or city) ?  Of course he could have seen her hand posistion via a tv link, but he would not have been able to take a swing and hit her.  Thus loosing a very powerful learning tool in that lesson.  This may be asking for technology that doesn't exist, but is there a way for a more personal interaction?