Creepy or convenient? Office furniture that can tell when you're not there
We’ve known for a long time that we’re being watched in the workplace, but a new line of furniture products from Herman Miller could be about to take that a step further.
The American furniture company has just announced Live OS, a line of Yves Béhar-designed sensors connected to the cloud that relay information about users to a dashboard.
The sensors can be used to retrofit existing furniture but are also built into the company’s sit-stand desks.
The devices collect data about how desks and office areas are being used by employees and sends it to building managers, who can analyse whether the space is being underused.
The idea is then that office managers can make decisions about office layouts – from which furniture should go where, right down to heating and cooling requirements and lighting timings – in the name of greater efficiency and productivity.
It all sounds rather innocent, but managers will be able to see if workers are using a space as it was intended – and how long you’re spending away from your desk. Although the good news, according to Curbed, is the data will be “anonymised” before reaching management.
The sensors can connect to a users smart phone and be programmed to individual preference. Photo: Herman Miller via Curbed.
Herman Miller isn’t the first company to embrace the concept of office monitoring.
In 2016 Britain’s Daily Telegraph sparked a backlash from journalists and unions after they installed sensor systems at desks.
As a result of the backlash, the newspaper removed the devices the same day.
While the ‘big brother’ aspect of Live OS might creep you out, there are some benefits to the technology.
A desk can connect to your smart phone and be programmed to remember your preferred height.
The health benefits of such features include providing a reminder to alternate between sitting and standing positions, with the desk able to vibrate when it senses you haven’t moved in a while.
Are the benefits enough to outweigh the big brother factor? The cost could be enough to put your employer off.
Individual sensors have a $US100 ($131) price tag, and the software costs $US36 per desk per year. The app that accompanies the sit-stand desks will set companies back $US60 per desk per year, according to Curbed.
The company’s Renew Sit-to-Stand desks currently start at $US1500.
