Remote work tech I'm excited about in 2023
The future of work is now.
I could, theoretically, plug my laptop into a Goal Zero charger, load it into the cargo bag on the back of my e-bike, ride into the BLM land outside of town, and settle in for a writing session atop nearby Horse Mountain after logging onto Starlink’s portable WiFi device.
The future of work is here, dear reader, and it’s always changing. The best we can do is at least attempt to stay abreast.
Hey reader,
Today’s essay is a listicle. I know, I know — in the minds of some, this undoubtedly represents a low point for Mountain Remote.
It doesn’t have to be that way. Contrary to the belief that listicles were popularized by contemporary media brands like BuzzFeed and Thrillist, this form of written content has actually been around since the 1800s. It’s rundown everything from Sir John Lubbock’s list of 100 books to read in 1886 to dissections of President Biden’s recent State of the Union address.
See, the listicle can be awesome and impactful when done correctly. Here I hope to do just that, by breaking down the technology that will shape remote work this year.
Making the list is Elon Musk’s other company (not this one or that one) as well as an increasingly controversial “generative AI” software (not ChatGPT).
Let’s hop right in.
Community shoutouts
A warm welcome to the 31 new subscribers since last week’s dispatch! You’re here among a crew of remote-focused tech- and adventure-hounds. I hope you take value from this week’s newsletter.
On that note, big thanks to those who shared last week’s dispatch about my family’s greenhouse gas reduction plan. This was, by a good margin, the most-viewed Mountain Remote essay yet, and I look forward to updating it over time.
Props to Dan for upping to a paid subscription! I’d post a photo of you here, but that just wouldn’t be fair to the rest of us who lack your stunning good looks. You’ll have to settle for a beer at some point.
Now, let’s tech out.
Remote work tech I'm excited about in 2023
In December I came across this tweet from The Ocean Cleanup founder Boyan Slat:
Maybe it’s because I admire Boyan, or perhaps it was that I’d just read a slew of articles in NYT, WaPo, and other top-tier pubs critical of technological advances. Either way, I’ve thought about the tweet a lot since.
Technology solves so many problems on a daily basis — and like any movement of forward progress, it’s not always perfect (see this article I edited for consumer tech site SlashGear, for a few prominent — and sometimes humorous — examples of when tech goes wrong).
Remote work as we know it today wouldn’t be possible without rapidly advancing digital technology over the past 20+ years. Developments like fiber internet, Apple’s M1 chip, and the monthly recurring invoice allowed remote work to move past the days of work-from-home pyramid schemes, discovered through posters hung on flagpoles next to dog-walker ads and flyers promoting upcoming punk shows.
The tech landscape in the remote workspace is constantly evolving. This is the remote work tech I’m embracing this year to boost my outdoor adventures.
1. Jasper.ai
I first tried Jasper.ai a few months back at the prompting of a client. Like any self-respecting writer, I was at first skeptical of a technology that promises to result in the disappearance of thousands upon thousands of digital content creation jobs.
But then I started playing around with it. I prompted Jasper to create a variety of types of content ranging from blog posts to sales emails, and the results were impressive. So much so, in fact, that this month I re-kindled my copywriting services with a new business model that incorporates Jasper to assist in “human-powered, AI-assisted” content creation for online businesses.
AI-generated copy requires editing and fact-checking, but as far as producing general web copy, the results are largely sufficient. Add a bit of human voice and tone, and the copy is nearly indistinguishable. I don’t see it replacing the need for writers or editors. But I do see it becoming a tool that writers and editors are expected to have mastered, and I’d rather be ahead of the curve than have to change industries because I refused to accept the future.
Note, I am in no way condoning AI to replace journalistic reporting, narrative writing, or even what it means to be “a writer.” Through my trial and error with Jasper, however, I do see it providing immense benefit to business owners and content creators who can use it to offload some bandwidth in order to better focus on creating good content.
This year will be a test to see what is possible. I sent an email out to several former clients and the conversion rate of those wanting to see what I could produce for them was quick and high.
This appears, at least initially, to confirm my belief that AI will divide the world of digital creators into two camps:
those who complain about it, are terrified of it taking their job, and refuse to use it
those who embrace its inevitability and use it to their advantage, rapidly boosting their careers as a result
As noted above, I see a big market for “human-powered, AI-assisted” content creation services provided to online businesses. Time will prove me right or wrong.
One final note here — nothing on Mountain Remote has ever been written by AI. Actually, the ability for writers to pass off AI-generated copy as their own is in my view one major risk of generative AI. It’s already happening with school essays, and I have no doubt that copywriters the world over are currently using it unbeknownst to their clients. Honesty and transparency will be key, especially given that there are already services that attempt to detect whether writing was created by a human or robot.
2. Starlink
Is it possible for a tech-focused list to not mention Elon Musk? Not today.
As a snowboarder who frequently posts up on my laptop in ski lodges, Starlink has revolutionized my winter this year. The ability of a remote ski area like Powderhorn Mountain Resort — where cell service is unreliable at best — to offer an internet speed of 50mbps or higher is a complete game changer. It’s even allowed a coworking space to open at the mountain, and what’s more, the internet there is good enough that I can take calls in between powder runs.
Satelite internet is currently helping Ukrainian troops stay connected and saving peoples’ lives after car crashes in rugged places. Its potential to connect remote populations around the world is invaluable. As is its ability to soften the rural/urban connectivity divide, which promises benefits including more job opportunities and emergency services in places that until now have not been able to take advantage of such amenities.
Get your own Starlink WiFi device and you can enjoy this luxury pretty much anywhere.
3. OnStar
In last week’s dispatch, I noted my recent purchase of a Chevy Bolt EUV. One of my favorite features thus far is OnStar, and not only because of the safety security net it provides — the Premier package takes available 4G signal wherever you are to turn the vehicle into a password-protected WiFi hotspot. The car came with a one-month trial of OnStar Premium, and I may be hooked.
Am I going to pay the Premium rate of $50 per month for the privilege of vehicular log-ons? No. But will I call and ask if I can add the WiFi hotspot onto a cheaper, more basic package? Absolutely.
I’ve had speeds above 40mbps. The range extends to nearly 50 feet from the vehicle — making it possible to sit at a park bench and take advantage of the WiFi from your car.
The other day I parked in a beautiful pull-off overlooking the Colorado River outside of Palisade. With Mt. Lincoln as my background through the windshield, I worked in my car for an hour. It was refreshing and I drove away inspired not only by the productivity but by the fact that it was even possible.
Society is years away from reliable autonomous driving in most situations. But car-based web hotspots take us a big step closer to eliminating the productivity gap caused by commuting because it allows work to be completed while on the road (provided the presence of a driver).
Mountain Remote subscribers who’ve been around since last summer may recall the essay about the power of remote work to revolutionize America’s public transit system. The same argument can be applied to OnStar — when carpooling, tasks previously requiring being tethered to a desk or cafe table can now be accomplished while in motion. All it takes is decent WiFi.
4. Notion integrations
If you use Notion, you know. If not, I’ll fill you in. Notion is a project management tool a la Asana and Trello, but its customizable user interface and freeform workability allow it to go much deeper. Users can create docs including spreadsheets, multi-faceted task lists, and customized word processing in seconds, and share them with team members for live collaboration.
Not only that, but Notion integrates with dozens of software and programs to allow teams to manage entire workflows across multiple places, all in one spot. I’m currently experimenting with integration through Zapier, which itself allows you to work across thousands of apps.
As I get better at using Zapier (and Notion, which admittedly has a rather steep learning curve), I hope to manage communications across multiple client teams and projects all in the same dashboard, eliminating the current need to open a new app or tab on my computer each time.
5. Goal Zero chargers
Frequent travelers are likely familiar with those small phone charger banks — the ones that hold enough power for a phone charge or maybe two, but often sit unused in your travel pack because they simply aren’t that valuable when you already have your charger with you.
Goal Zero offers what you’d hoped to be getting when you bought that power bank. I recently acquired the Sherpa 100PD and Sherpa 100AD for a review article I wrote. I The Sherpas allow you to charge everything from phones to laptops to pretty much anything else while on the go with 100W of power distribution for charging and 60W intake on device recharge.
The smaller of the two, the Sherpa 100PD, is acceptable for most use cases (the AD fits standard US Type B plug-ins, which the PD does not). It holds enough power for several phone or laptop charges, meaning you could be on a multi-night backpacking trip without having to worry about your phone dying along the way. It’s less than eight inches long and under four inches wide, so it fits comfortably into most backpacks.
Here is an ultimate remote work/outdoor adventure nerd-out scenario that bridges a few of the items on this list (because that’s why we’re here, isn’t it)?
I could, theoretically, plug my laptop into a Goal Zero charger, load it into the cargo bag on the back of my e-bike, ride into the BLM land outside of town, and settle in for a writing session atop nearby Horse Mountain after logging onto Starlink’s portable WiFi device.
The future of work is here, dear reader, and it’s always changing. The best we can do is at least attempt to stay abreast.
Mountain Remote news and further reading
On the topic of career advancement, this piece from Quartz offers a fresh perspective on viewing a professional transition.
I went into a rabbit hole watching videos from Freethink earlier this week. This video on constructing the perfect neighborhood fits perfectly with the mantra of remote work and digital nomadism.
That’s all for now. See you next week!
Great article, even with the schade included!
I am very happy to find & read your blog.