CREJ

March 2017 — Office Properties Quarterly —

Page 25

Early tech integration helps satisfy user needs

echnology is an essential

element in every commer-

cial workplace today, and

it should be a catalyst for

enhancing innovation and

communication. A successful work-

place should include technologies

that support collaboration and

engagement in a variety of spaces

ranging from an individual work-

station to a large conference room

and everything in between. Ideally,

these systems should be so human-

centered, easy to use and seamless-

ly integrated the clients don’t even

notice the details of the technology

but, instead, simply focus on get-

ting their work done. Unfortunately,

workspaces fitting this description

are generally the exception rather

than the norm.

Most interior designers attempt

to design workspaces as holisti-

cally as possible. However, because

of the conventions of the modern

design process, it’s rare that they

can extend their vision beyond the

physical environment. The technol-

ogy systems usually are not part

of their scope. This can have the

net effect of these systems being

“bolted on” in the 11th hour, result-

ing in a disjointed user experience

and, potentially, a significant lack of

worker engagement and use.

Most audiovisual components

used to create these systems are

just that – components that are

meant to be grouped together in

a larger system to fulfill a specific

function, such as presentation or

collaboration. The manufactur-

ers rely on AV system designers

or system integrators to put them

together. This

often happens in

a vacuum, late in

the process, with

little coordina-

tion between the

architect and the

end user. So details

regarding the

flow of the room,

acoustics, lighting

and integration

into the supporting

furniture often are

missed or never

addressed, result-

ing in a technology

system that, while

fulfilling a certain functionality

requirement, misses the mark of

the overall desired experience and

vision of the end user.

In addition, the technology

industry itself is changing rapidly.

Nontraditional technology manu-

facturers, like contract furniture

manufacturers, continue to invest

in and integrate sensor technologies

into their furniture and workplace

frameworks that go beyond basic

functions to provide actionable

space-utilization data. This data is

invaluable for facilities personnel,

workplace strategists, architects

and end users in terms of assess-

ing how functional and successful a

workspace truly is.

For instance, there are height

adjustable tables that can now

include a sensor to generate data

showing how often the end user is

standing versus sitting, how often

they are at their desk versus away

and other metrics designed around

the individual.

There are several room schedul-

ing display systems that go beyond

just simple room booking functions

to offer real-time, room-utilization

data through integration with iBea-

con Bluetooth networks. These

systems can detect user presence

and identity and generate real-

time “snapshots” of how effectively

a given space is being used and,

optionally, who is using it. In a nod

to an increasingly mobile workforce,

it is now possible to manage book-

ing of hoteling stations, in real-

time, through the use of dedicated

scheduling apps and mini-displays.

Workers want frictionless meet-

ing spaces that support information

sharing and presentation, where

they can easily interact with local

and remote participants, and where

the surroundings, furnishings and

technologies are all working in con-

cert.

One easy solution to this situation

is to start a conversation during

the conceptual stage around what

technology clients are using today,

how they are using it and what

they want to do tomorrow. The

resulting information will dramati-

cally alter the workspace design. If

these conversations happen early

in the design process, among quali-

fied technology professionals and

the architects and designers of the

workspace, the odds of achieving a

fully integrated, technology-enabled

workplace that delivers an excep-

tional user experience are much

higher.

Technology

Patrick O’Neal

Director of

enterprise

technology

solutions,

Workplace

Resource, Denver

Workplace Resource

Technology decisions should be integrated into the earliest stages of office design in

order to ensure a seamless finished project.