Five features of future workspaces @ Technology seems set to redefine the idioms of work and life
Technology is going to transform not only
businesses, but also the individual’s working environment, in ways that have
not been envisioned before. No matter how much information we have to be able
predict it, the future will have a bit of haziness to it. However, through this
haziness, five features of the future office are already clearly visible.
Smaller work desks
As a result of rapid
technological changes, the work-desk has shrunk from 8’x8’ to an average size
of 5’x2’.
With this, the
per-person density has now dropped to 100 sq.ft from 200 sq.ft in the 1990s. In
the next few years, this density is expected to drop down further to 60 sq.ft
per person, as the need to provide every employee with a dedicated desk will
get replaced by activitybased settings. The major enablers of this change are:
reduction in the number and size of devices, millennial’s focus on open
informal work settings and the need on the part of businesses to reduce their
real estate spends.
Shared economy spaces
With telecommuting,
remote working and freelancing on the rise, dedicated office resources will
remain idle for a major part of their lifetime as employees get work done outside
the office at convenient locations such as cafés, lobbies, airport terminals
and home. Industry leaders and planners across the globe have realised that
reducing travel time and ensuring work-life balance are at the centre of talent
retention and increased productivity. As a result, organisations will develop
workspace solutions that integrate offices with shared economy spaces including
co-working spaces, hotel business centres, and work from home/near home option.
The gains from such a move are two-fold: Besides reducing the real estate
portfolio footprint by 50%, this will contribute to greater employee
satisfaction.
More transport options
Transportation options
will revolutionise travel. The plethora of options will include driverless
cars, drones and even rockets, besides an increasing range of regular transport
options, which include trains, taxis and personalised transport. All these
options will coexist and allow consumers to pick the mode based on distance,
thrill and cost.
Vertical, horizontal and
lateral means of transport will cross-connect into cities, buildings and
workspaces. This revolution in the transportation sector will be built on the
foundations of an extremely efficient and ecofriendly methods to get users from
Point A to B. The designs will be in harmony with individual requirements and
the natural environment to promote sustainable living.
Well-being solutions
Buildings and Workspaces
will be designed keeping the individual at the heart of all solutions.
Workspaces will have multiple options that encourage individuals to sit, stand
and be mobile during the work day. This will be achieved by providing walkable
work desks (treadmill workstations), pedal collaborative solutions (pedal
tables) and posture and massage seats. Furniture will be designed as devices
that promote health and well-being. Big data and analytics will ensure mass
customisation as well as individual-driven well-being solutions.
Flexible spaces
The final frontier for
the transformation is allowing fixed assets to be transformed instantly based
on user needs. Currently, all assets that provide work, life and play solutions
are idle 25% to 50% of the time. Current estimates show that cities are
responsible for 60% to 80% of total energy use worldwide. While individuals
work, their homes remain empty; when the same individuals retire to their
homes, their workspace remains idle. It will not be long before we witness
spaces that could act as workspace during the day, change to entertainment
zones by evening and sleep zones by night ensuring 100% utilisation of the
asset with zero dormant periods during the 24-hour cycle.
Source | The Hindu | 12 July 2017
Regards
Pralhad
Jadhav
Senior Manager @
Knowledge Repository
Khaitan
& Co
Upcoming Lecture | ACTREC - BOSLA Annual lecture series (125th birth anniversary of father of library
science, Padmashree Dr. S. R. Ranganathan) on Saturday, 12th August 2017 at Advanced Centre for Treatment,
Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. (Theme | 'MakerSpace')
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