By Bond Collective Staff
The futuristic office is well on its way to becoming reality.
New technologies and new ways of working have transformed the traditional office space from a drab, uninspiring place to sit and work to a tool that businesses can harness to promote collaboration, focus, growth, and much more.
In this article, we introduce you to innovative technologies that are set to transform the modern workplace yet again and push the futuristic office toward the 22nd century.
Futuristic Office Ideas
1) Transparent Monitors
Visual clutter is a very real thing that can have a negative — often undetected — effect on the way your team works. One of the major contributors to this visual clutter is the traditional computer monitor.
The futuristic office, though, will eliminate this distraction with the addition of transparent monitors and transparent TVs.
This advanced technology combines liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and transparent organic light-emitting diodes (TOLEDs) to produce a frameless monitor or TV that is almost completely transparent when switched off.
Transparent monitors, like 4K and 8K TVs, are still prohibitively expensive enough that it would be unreasonable to place a unit on every desk in your office.
But as the technology becomes more common and the prices continue to drop, transparent monitors will become a big part of the futuristic office.
2) Floor Plan Light Switch
The futuristic office will be decidedly greener than offices of the past — and we’re not talking about the color. Workspaces built to conserve resources (to be environmentally friendly or “green”) are already a significant office design trend of the last few years.
A big part of that movement is reducing the amount of electricity your office uses throughout the day by turning off lights when the space isn’t being used.
But row after row of light switches can make finding the right balance of on and off more difficult than it should be. The floor plan light switch is the solution to that problem.
Instead of a simple on/off toggle, the floor plan light switch displays a layout of your workspace in its entirety (much like a floor plan or a blueprint).
When you want to activate or deactivate the lights in a certain room or zone, you simply press that area of the switch. No more flipping random switches on or off in search of the one (or ones) that controls the lights in question.
3) Digital Workboards
Whiteboard technology has been around since the middle of the 20th century and is a big part of the modern office environment. In the 21st century, though, that same concept has gone decidedly digital.
Built-in computer processors have transformed these vertical surfaces into a workboard that functions as both an interactive display and a computer monitor, while still serving as the writing surface that everyone is used to.
In the futuristic office, digital workboards will be perfect for a wide variety of work tasks such as conducting conference calls, taking notes, giving presentations, and conducting brainstorming sessions.
As the technology continues to develop, more and more businesses will find innovative ways to incorporate digital workboards into their everyday activities.
4) Dynamic Glass
The same technology that makes transparent monitors possible is being used to create dynamic glass windows for the futuristic office.
Dynamic glass — also known as smart glass — gives users the ability to change the characteristics of the glass to prevent glare, preserve indoor room temperature, and only allow certain light wavelengths in.
In addition, dynamic glass can take into account specific variables such as cloud cover, sun exposure, light angle, and time of day to provide the best view from inside.
And, as the technology improves, dynamic glass could make it possible for any surface to:
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Change from window to computer monitor
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Double as a digital workboard
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Become opaque from the outside but transparent from the inside
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Emit light of its own
Dynamic glass is a significant step toward the reality of the futuristic office.
5) A.I. Assistants
The voice assistant is rapidly becoming a staple of life at home thanks to devices such as Siri, Alexa, and Nest. In the futuristic office, that same technology will be available on everyone’s desk.
Your team members can use an artificial intelligence (A.I.) assistant to streamline their workflow and remove the “busy work” that acts as a speed bump to real progress.
Instead of wasting precious time searching for a report or formatting a new document, individuals will be able to command their A.I. assistant to do it for them (“Hey, Siri, search the internet for a report on the beef industry in Iceland.”).
6) One Monitor To Control Them All
A new trend in the office flips the tradition of controlling two monitors with one computer to controlling two computers with one monitor (and one keyboard and mouse).
No more KVM switches, forgetting which computer you’re interacting with, or moving from your desktop’s keyboard and mouse to your laptop controls.
New curved-monitor technology allows for an expansive 43-inch experience (that takes the place of two or more monitors) in which you can drag and drop files between two computers without networking them or resorting to a thumb drive or other external storage solution.
That’s a significant time savings and productivity enhancement for your team and your business.
7) Self-Sterilizing Surfaces
Futuristic office designers are even now incorporating self-sterilizing door handles into the modern workplace. Soon, that same technology will be built into other surfaces including tabletops, windows, refrigerator handles, and bathroom fixtures.
Current self-sterilizing door handles use ultraviolet (UV) light to maintain a germ-free surface environment when the handle is not in use.
These types of self-sterilizing surfaces will never completely replace hand washing, but they will provide another layer of protection against the transmission of germs in the modern office.
8) Smart Dumb Things
In the futuristic office, smart dumb things will become more and more common.
This concept uses the interconnectivity of the Internet of Things (IoT) and allows appliances, tools, and furniture to do things they’ve never been able to do before.
Historically isolated technology such as refrigerators, lights, stoves, and cutting boards (yes, this is technology too) are now coming online and working together.
Refrigerators that notify you when the milk is low and cutting boards that display recipe instructions are already a reality. But imagine office lights that you can program with your computer, tablet, or smartphone to dim and change color just as sunlight does.
Or think how much time you’ll save doing inventory if your supply-room shelves notify you when you’re low on toner and printer paper.
That’s how the Internet of Things and smart dumb things are working together to transform the offices of the 20th century into a futuristic office for the 21st and 22nd century.
The Futuristic Office Is Now
If you want to experience the futuristic office now without the time and expense of building your own from scratch, Bond Collective is the place for you, your team, or your entire business.
First and foremost, the futuristic office revolves around inspiration and engagement even before you add the advanced technology.
At Bond Collective, we incorporate design elements such as natural light, open floor plans, tasteful and professional decor, and multipurpose workspaces in each and every one of our shared work environments.
It’s these variables that are the foundation on which you can build your futuristic office — and it’s all been done for you by the experts at Bond Collective.
But the benefits don’t stop there.
In addition to our modern workspaces, members also enjoy amenities such as:
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Daily on-site cleaning
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Guest reception and greeting
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Private-label mail service
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Lightning-fast Wi-Fi
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Concession food market
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Conference Rooms
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Black-and-white printing
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Networking and curated events
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24-hour access
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Bike storage
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And much more…
If you’re looking for a futuristic office that is sure to increase your team’s engagement and productivity, become a member of Bond Collective.
Visit any one of Bond Collective’s many locations in the United States, including offices in California, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., Illinois, Tennessee, and Texas.
Tour our gorgeous facilities and experience how Bond Collective’s coworking spaces, dedicated desks, and private offices are the futuristic office made real.
To get started or to learn more about the advantages of coworking spaces for digital nomads, remote workers, and businesses of all types and sizes, visit BondCollective.com today.