I'm referring to the ability of engineers today to pick where they want to live. Engineers were once forced to live where the jobs were. They disrupted their lives and, in many cases, the lives of family members to move to where the job was. In some cases, unfortunately, quality of life was an abstract concept rather than a way of life.

All that is changing today with the communications and networking breakthroughs developed by those same engineers. Engineers enjoy anytime, anywhere accessibility. We have cellular technology for facsimile delivery, pagers, mobile phones and PDAs. The clunky telephone seems quaintly outmoded. And, in many ways, it is. The phone isn't nearly as instructive as a graphic drawn by your peer on a videoconferencing system that you or your colleague can broadcast to any member of your remote team.

Sales teams have always worked remotely to be close to customers. It has also worked well for hardware teams. Individual hardware designers work as consultants, brought into a company for a specific project. Larger teams, designing software or hardware, can now work in the same efficient, flexible and cost-effective way yet still be part of a company.

The drivers, as always, are economic. Engineering organizations worldwide have limited resources, which translates into not enough talented people. Adding flexibility and efficiency to the human-resources mix helps attract talented and motivated people.

This is not to say remote engineering teams are easy. It takes a certain level of commitment by everyone for a remote strategy to be successful. Putting a solid, well-trained management team in place-wherever that place may be-with well-defined projects is a key to success. Communication is another key to success. Without it, projects would be doomed and the corporate culture nonexistent.

Remote projects should be independent, yet well-defined, giving engineers authority and responsibility. Engineers should be excited by the challenge, which will make it easier to maintain their commitment.

Many engineers jumped at the chance to be part of the Internet craze earlier this year. As we move into 2001, there is a backlash against the Internet or business-to-business industry. Many of those same engineers now look fondly at the electronics industry as the place for real innovation and creativity. The Internet is new and it created a buzz, but it doesn't offer nearly the excitement and challenge that designing electronics can.

Electronics engineering's resurgence, I believe, will continue far into the future. Silicon Valley will still be the center for engagement. But the innovation produced here has allowed the creativity and innovation to expand around the globe and multiply. It lets engineers-for the first time-live and work where they choose. That makes engineering a great profession now . . . and in the future.

C. Michael Chang is Co-founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Verplex Systems Inc. (Milpitas, Calif.).