This must be an american thing, I've been an office worker (in IT) since '98 in London and have always worked in an open office as has everyone else I know. I would hate to work in a cubicle. We all talk to one another, if someone emails or IM's if its more than a one word reply we tend to get up an wander over and have a chat, you solve problems much quicker that way. and there's a pretty standard unwritten rule, headphones on means do not disturb. I don't see the issue

iphone/ipad/osx all have cisco/pptp/l2tp vpn and exchange connectivity as standard.......

its the google update service running in the background doing it.....

clearly you have an allergy to something you encounter everyday..... you need to have a full allergy test - get it done privately, about £200 in england.

seriously, as commercial airliner, look when it takes off - the flex of the wings - then look again at nature, an eagle or similar, there's a reason nature choose that profile.