Commercial Integrator + Security Sales Sept/Oct 2023 - 43

C llab rati n
TODAY and TOMORROW
Current offices are now collaboration centers. Of course,
that means that tech and aesthetics are critical to success.
es as " collaboration centers, " instead of using the old terminology.
We recognize that 98% of all meetings will include at
least one remote participant, and we know spaces must seek
to provide equity and inclusion for all participants. Of course,
tech and aesthetics are critical to this formula. As many have
said, " The office needs to earn the commute. " That calls for
a mature blend of not only technology components but also
high-quality physical built environments. This raises many
questions, including these: How do we think through health
and wellness? How do we think about natural light? How do
we think about combining all these pieces that enable us to
perform the best way we can as human beings? Being different
requires thinking different.
Achieving the best of both worlds for IT and facilities
teams begins with core alignment principles. Historically,
technology experts have played a crucial role in translating
use cases into capabilities; meanwhile, design teams have
focused on leveraging physical layout, structure and materials.
But what if these roles were traded? What if technology
companies and systems integrators considered places and
spaces, rather than just products? And what if design teams
sought products that optimized more approachable spaces?
Today, it's imperative to get these dynamics right.
Teams benefit greatly from leading with design. This
approach encompasses both structure and intention. The
movement toward making spaces less " corporate " draws
from warm and approachable sensibilities found in personal
spaces or frequented venues, such as hotels, pubs, office
condos and co-working spaces. Wet bars are replacing
ping-pong tables, while collaboration suites are supplanting
dull conference rooms. Although not every use case can be
addressed with a single solution, a design-centric philosophy
yields an atmosphere that fosters increased creativity and
confidence. People perform better when they feel better, and
spaces that evoke emotion and deviate from a hospital-room
aesthetic positively impact knowledge workers. Even hospital
rooms themselves are evolving!
To initiate the journey toward a design aesthetic, teams
should consider the harmony that can be achieved by
combining the beauty of colors, materials and shapes with
technology. A century ago, products were designed to last for
more than 100 years. Enhancing a room's look and feel can be
accomplished through well-placed Persian rugs, a mixture of
plants and other biophilic treatments, or utilizing semi-open
offices. Instead of emphasizing technology as the focal point,
integrate it seamlessly into the physical space. The essence
of a great physical-space aesthetic stems from a skillful blend
of physical and digital elements, creating a " phygital " experience
that sets the standard for inspiring spaces.
Sam Kennedy
IMCCA Member Crestron
In many cases, the future of work involves blending both technology
and experience to achieve the desired goals.
In larger rooms, the biggest problem that we're trying
to solve is meeting equity. Achieving the goal of meeting
equity helps everyone stay engaged during collaborative
sessions. The technologies that have been the most
impactful in larger spaces - the ones that truly deliver on
meeting equity - are those associated with automated
speaker-tracking solutions. A camera and software combination
that has the ability to pinpoint the collaborator
who is talking at any given moment is incredibly powerful.
It provides remote attendees with a view of the speaker,
framed in the same way as their virtual colleagues. Therefore,
it offers the viewer all the nonverbal cues that might
otherwise not be visible.
We're learning that adaptability and flexibility are the
keys to providing solutions for the hybrid workplace.
Sept/Oct 2023 | Commercial Integrator+Security Sales & Integration
43
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Commercial Integrator + Security Sales Sept/Oct 2023

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