Technology and The Office Of The Future

Every day the cloud delivers greater choices about where we work, the 'Internet of Things' and associated apps provide flexible ways to interact with our colleagues and offices have morphed from square boxes into 'smart' buildings.

This seamless fusion of our physical and digital worlds and the data we collect inform the design of our offices, can increase our happiness at work, improve our productivity and reduce our impact on the planet.

A recent Morgan Lovell survey of 500 office workers revealed that only 37% felt their technology was good or cutting edge; however, the possibilities for innovation in the office of the future are infinite. Selecting solutions that provide the best fit for a business will depend on its strategy, culture, size and budget. Most importantly, the choices we make must be about our people and their kaleidoscopic personal and professional requirements. As we often say in the office design industry - one size will not fit all.

For each of the following areas, we will look at technology that is available now as well as more ground-breaking innovations that will feature in our near future.

Workplace design

Wellbeing and culture

The environment

Unsurprisingly 53% of respondents in our survey expect to use digital communication solutions in their future workplace but only 40% currently have access to devices and apps which enable them to work remotely.

Single person booths or dynamic group areas supported by turn-key hardware and software solutions make it simple to work side-by-side with remote workers. Teams can simultaneously share, upload, edit or track live documents on smart-screens within any time zone - dramatically reducing email traffic. The experience is enhanced by overhead microphones, cameras and subtle lighting.

Our offices house people whose physical, psychological and social welfare is a primary concern for the workplace of the future. So it's no surprise that new technologies are emerging every day to support and enhance our working lives and experience in the employee-centric offices of the future. Technology provides multiple responses to the question that is now being asked by business leaders and HR executives, "how can we enhance the working lives of our people?"

With a focus on enhancing our health and comfort, apps can connect users to their office delivering individual control over their preferred temperature, lighting and window blinds. The same software will encourage us to achieve movement targets, prompt us to adopt mindfulness techniques and offer the convenience of booking company sponsored virtual GP appointments.

Technology blends flawlessly with furniture of the future to enhance office workers' comfort and productivity. As in today’s high-end cars, ergonomic chairs can automatically adjust to a user’s preferred height and comfort settings. Built in sensors link to the user's desk which can intermittently raise to encourage healthy periods of standing. The use of voice-activated technology which is becoming ubiquitous in our homes with Alexa, Google and Siri will continue to phase out keyboards and mice in our offices.

However, there is a wellbeing balance to be struck when we consider our use of technology in the workplaces. 'Digital overload' - the constant stream of messages, interruptions and 'always-on' culture can control us, impact our health and intrude into our home lives. So progressive HR executives will implement policies that insist on technology down-time with tech-free meetings and strict holiday procedures. Sensor technology already exists to map an individual's level of concentration and can support the required focus by preventing any interruptions and adapting the local temperature, air quality and lighting accordingly.

Every business increasingly feels the weight of social responsibility, environmental targets, a drive to reduce occupational costs and the need for people to work in a healthy building.

Our buildings are essentially becoming computers with a roof. They are 'growing brains' connected to the cloud by hundreds of thousands of micro-sensors and processors which will take automation to the next level, and respond without our intervention. Every light bulb, tap, water pipe and power outlet will have a sensor alerting facilities managers to problems. Sensors will measure the air quality, temperature humidity, occupancy and ambient light in different work zones. They can make adjustments to minimise power consumption, maximise energy production and maintain a perfect environment for the users' health and wellbeing.

Net-zero buildings designed to balance or redress carbon emissions, water consumption and ecological impact are becoming a possibility by leveraging smart technology and using alternative sources of power.

Flying taxis aside, there are hosts of technological solutions emerging that may sound more like science fiction but may in a relatively short time frame become reality.

Robotics is rapidly making headway into the domain of white-collar work. Digitally intelligent workers can already interact and greet visitors, communicate arrivals and undertake repetitive tasks whilst processing vast levels of data. Video surveillance, swarm intelligence and facial recognition technology allow robots to take over workplace security patrols and menial tasks.

Offering the ultimate in collaboration, the boardroom in the office of the future will experience the most significant change. Our ability to present captivating information knows no future bounds when we consider the future of interactive tables and walls. Meetings will take place in digitally shape-shifting rooms using multimedia platforms such as Augmented Reality, 3-D projectors (allowing 360° views of participants), telepresence and holographic streaming. Already making great waves in healthcare, colleagues will meet as hyper-realistic, virtual characters, seemingly working in the same room on floating 3-D screens viewed through Virtual Reality headsets.

These advances make the ability to tour an unbuilt space or pitch ideas in a totally immersive environment from anywhere in the world an everyday possibility. Somewhat daunting, the extension of this concept involves the ability to teleport additional sensory experiences of touch and smell into the boardroom. Turning information into computer-readable data will be straight-forward with 'thought-reading glasses' implanted with an additional layer of sensors.

The impending driverless cars will extend to mobile office pods on wheels. These workspaces will transport you from home to the office in your own personal bubble, enabling you to work uninterrupted whilst you commute. Or you can park them anywhere as a comprehensively equipped, mobile meeting space.

Imagining a workplace where technology stands still is more challenging than trying to make sense of the myriad of technological transformations that will shape the office of the future.

The workplace technological ride ahead will be fast, furious and exhilarating and it is up to us to control the pace and direction. Used wisely, technology will inevitably improve workplace design. It will influence our choice of where to work and whilst we are in the office, it will enhance our health, our wellbeing and inspire collaboration. Technology can additionally support our collective aim to reverse damage that we have imposed on the planet - whilst simultaneously reducing how much our office costs to run.

The office of the future will be a destination and hand in hand with technology, this destination will become an experience.