‘Technology’
October 6th, 2011 in Culture, Technology No Comments
This interesting interview by PSFK with Campbell McKellar, founder of Loosecubes.com, highlights cultural shifts in the workspace arena that reflect how quickly office environments are changing.
Loosecubes was created out of a need for shared workspace. McKellar recognized early on that there is a growing need for productive and affordable places to work.
Cloud technology, the recession and an increased presence of women in the workforce have contributed to the shift toward flexible and location-independent work. According to the latest research, 62% of American companies allow their employees to work remotely. (more…)
September 26th, 2011 in Furniture, On the Record, Technology, Trends No Comments
Steelcase creates high performance seating products that can improve the health and productivity of millions of office workers – if they are properly adjusted. The chairs are shipped with hang tags and have diagrams underneath the arm caps, which aid them in learning how to adjust the chair, but tags are quickly removed and diagrams are sometimes overlooked.
To further promote workplace well being, Steelcase is adding QR codes to the diagrams on the arms of its leading seating products. These QR codes will invite users to scan them and will lead to interactive videos, enabling users to see how their chair can be easily adjusted.
Visit Steelcase.com for more information
Learn more about QR Codes from Fast Company
Steelcase will begin shipping the Leap chair with QR codes this fall, with other seating to follow next year. (more…)
July 25th, 2011 in Mobile Work, Technology, Trends No Comments
This interesting article examines whether telecommuting is a boon or a curse to the office furniture industry. According to a survey by Staples Advantage, the business-to-business division of Staples Inc., employees who telecommute are happier and more likely to stay with their current employers. 86% of telecommuters interviewed have reported to be more productive and less stressed out from their home office. 76% are willing to clock in more time working from home if they just eliminated the trek to work, while 80% reported a healthier work-life balance. This telecommuting trend is expected to continue to grow.
According to 2009 report by Forrester Research Inc., 63 million telecommuters will be working from home in the US alone by 2016. However, according to this article’s author, all is not gloomy for the office furniture industry. For starters, there is definitely a need for ergonomic home office furniture. Simple work tools like finding the perfect chair to maximizing a small office space with desk and drawer
organizers make a world of difference. Add the right technology solutions to the mix, like email, IT security training and data backup, corporations can save a lot of money by letting their employees telecommute instead. The office furniture industry needs to understand how they can better cater to this new work trend.
Source: Rob Kirkbride. The Monday Morning Quarterback; July 25-31, 2011 By subscription only
July 14th, 2010 in Technology No Comments
The use of robots in the workplace is on the rise as sensors and safety technology become more advanced. This article highlights applications in a hospital, distribution centers, and NASA. While robots have historically been divided into either ultra-expensive industrial uses or low-cost consumer functions, the markets are converging.
General Motors and NASA collaborated on a new robot to be used at the International Space Station, and GM is looking to integrate the technology into future car models. In addition, robot developers are on the lookout for new markets, including videoconferencing functions.
Source: Soon, That Nearby Worker Might Be a Robot, BusinessWeek, by Rachael King, June 1, 2010
