IBM en Steelcase - een grote fabrikant van kantoormeubilair - presenteren BlueSpace, een gezamelijk ontwikkelde toekomstvisie voor een interactief en geïndividualiseerd kantoor. Het project combineert de knowhow van IBM en Steelcase tot een nieuwe kantoorwerkplek, waarin geavanceerde computer-, sensor-, display- en draadloze technieken verwerkt zijn. Dit alles met als doel te komen tot een aantrekkelijkere werkplek voor personeel, met daarbij een verbeterde productiviteit, onderlinge communicatie en ruimtebenutting:
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Highlights of BlueSpace include:
- BlueScreen -- a touch screen which is adjacent to the computer monitor puts users in control of their physical and virtual environments. Interactive icons allow users to adjust -- with the touch of a finger -- temperature, airflow or lighting to suit their preference. Users can direct heat to cold feet, adjust humidity levels, increase volume of white noise or modify lighting. Interactive icons help employees share projects, better communicate with team members, and access real time news feeds.
- Monitor Rail -- consists of a work surface that travels the length of the work space and a dual monitor arm that almost rotates to a complete circle, allowing the users to be positioned anywhere in the area. Currently, most office environments have stationary computer monitors that limit the position of users.
- Everywhere Display -- a display projects information onto any surface, be it a wall, desktop or floor. It transforms everyday objects into interactive displays, untethering employees from their desktop computers. Wireless computer-processed sensing technologies enable touch sensitivity, allowing fingers to act as cursors, even on walls or desktops. A guest badge in the office vicinity automatically helps cloak confidential information by prompting the Everywhere Display to project a generic image.
- Threshold -- designed in response to a need for increased privacy control, this patent-pending moveable work surface, ceiling and wall act as a "technology totem"' that provides on-demand visual and territorial privacy to the user. Color-coded lighting at the top of the threshold in blue, red and green alerts colleagues when an employee is away, busy or accepting visitors. An integrated front panel display on the threshold can visually communicate what each employee wants to share with colleagues, such as current projects and scheduling.