In Chapter 1, we discussed systems, which are made up of interacting, interrelated parts. Because cultures are systems, the interconnected parts of any culture affect one another and the whole. For example, the technological revolution has had multiple and far-reaching implications for cultural life. Computer-mediated communication allows us to interact with people who are not geographically close. Today many people form and sustain online friendships and romantic relation- ships. Telecommuting allows people who previously worked in offices to do their jobs in their homes or while traveling. Multinational organizations can hold virtual conferences that allow employees around the world to communicate in real time and with full audio and visual contact. The one factor of technology affects other fac- tors, such as how, where, and with whom we communicate, as well as the boundaries of work and personal life. Because cultures are holistic, no change is isolated from the overall system.