The positive side of this disruption is that it boosted the adoption of video communication in mediation to a level well beyond what Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) experts had been able to achieve in 20 years of efforts. Have a look at the visionary paper published by Colin Rule in 2000 and you will see what we mean. To put it mildly, let us say that a vast majority of mediators were not technologically savvy and were not interested in getting savvier because, well, online dispute resolution “would not work”. It is highly ironic but not surprising that some of those who dragged their feet are now presenting themselves as experts on how to mediate using ICT (information and communication technologies).
