Where would you choose to work from?
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00:00 This could be your reality if you could work anywhere in the world.
00:05 But is it really possible to work from anywhere?
00:09 So sure, you could go to a factory in any country and get a job there.
00:28 But that's not what we mean by working anywhere.
00:31 You'd still be surrounded by the same four walls every day.
00:36 When we're talking about working anywhere,
00:38 we mean literally anywhere you choose to go.
00:41 People around the world are doing this already,
00:44 and they're known as digital nomads.
00:46 These are people who work in coffee shops,
00:49 in a park, or wherever else they please.
00:52 But they aren't doing any job.
00:55 To be a digital nomad, you need to have skills that you can use on the Internet.
01:00 So what kind of jobs are those?
01:03 Since the Internet affects almost every industry and profession,
01:07 there are many different jobs you can do online.
01:10 You could be a freelance writer,
01:12 a translator,
01:13 or a social media coordinator for one of the biggest brands in the world.
01:18 With the ability to freelance,
01:20 in theory you could work at all three of these jobs.
01:23 You might even earn more money than you would in a traditional 9-to-5 job.
01:29 Another benefit of being a digital nomad is that you can choose your working hours.
01:34 Do you like to get your work done in the morning,
01:35 or are you more of a night owl?
01:38 The choice is yours, and it can all be made while working anywhere.
01:42 Well, not exactly anywhere.
01:45 At least not yet,
01:46 as reliable Internet isn't available everywhere.
01:49 Places like Singapore, Europe, or Taiwan
01:52 have some of the best Internet coverage and speeds in the world.
01:56 If you worked in these countries,
01:57 it would be a pretty safe bet that you'd get Internet coverage almost everywhere.
02:02 Unfortunately, you may not be able to work on a beach in Costa Rica
02:06 and have a good Internet connection.
02:08 That is, not until companies like SpaceX and Google
02:11 put fast, reliable, and affordable Internet literally all around the world.
02:16 By putting thousands of satellites in space,
02:19 these tech companies will be able to beam the Internet down to receivers,
02:22 and then to you, anywhere in the world.
02:26 With being able to work anywhere you want,
02:28 why wouldn't everyone do this?
02:30 If you could work anywhere you want to,
02:32 it could have some serious implications for businesses, transportation, and even cities.
02:38 Being able to work anywhere means
02:40 companies would no longer have to pay for office space.
02:43 That would save some companies hundreds of thousands,
02:45 if not millions of dollars a year.
02:47 Not only that, you'd no longer have to commute to your office,
02:51 saving you money as well.
02:53 Instead, you'd go wherever you choose to work that day.
02:57 What could we do with all that empty space?
02:59 New York City has hundreds of thousands of businesses,
03:02 with a vast majority of them having offices.
03:05 Some even have entire buildings.
03:08 What could we do with all that empty space?
03:11 We could convert the office buildings into apartment buildings.
03:15 This would vastly change the housing market,
03:17 making it more affordable than ever.
03:20 And hey, since you could work from anywhere in the world,
03:22 you might even work in your home.
03:24 That sounds pretty good.
03:26 You might be making more money,
03:27 have more time,
03:28 and even be saving money with your decreased commuting costs.
03:33 But with no more office buildings,
03:35 what would happen to janitors,
03:37 building maintenance people, and bus drivers?
03:40 With everyone working in a non-office environment,
03:43 some jobs could become obsolete.
03:45 Luckily, if you worked in the personal service industry,
03:48 you'd still have a job.
03:50 I mean, you can't get a haircut online.
03:52 At least, not yet.
03:54 But many services you might think can't be done online
03:57 are actually starting to be worked remotely.
04:01 Things like surgery can now be done online
04:03 with a surgeon working remotely.
04:07 But it doesn't have to be like that.
04:10 Everyone becoming a digital nomad probably isn't the best idea.
04:14 Maybe only certain people can work from anywhere.
04:18 Speaking of which, that's what we're doing today.
04:21 With the help of Energy Solutions,
04:23 we're spending the entire day in a forest,
04:26 making this video.
04:28 Their portable solar panels and batteries
04:30 allowed us to work the entire day without using electricity.
04:34 Where will we go next?
04:41 Well, that's a story for another WHAT IF.
04:45 [MUSIC PLAYING]
04:48 (upbeat music)