This project was mentioned at the WorkTech North conference and is pretty cool!

"As the hot desert sun wanes across the plaza, horizontal shades along the roof of the museum, over the cafe, and at the bus stop suddenly rise in a graceful ballet. Pivoting upwards one at a time, they become a row of vertical screens. Gradually, they take on the subtle, complex patterns of a Moorish mosaic, a backdrop for the evening’s performance. On the lawn, as the last soccer players leave, people settle down on their chairs and blankets and turn to the stage. Two kids take a running leap at the curtain of water, but it parts before they can get wet. Landing in a puddle on the other side, the sound starts a wave down the curtain that ripples along and fades in the distance. Jump twice and you get a bigger wave; jump in syncopation and you get the biggest waves of all."

Digital Mile in Zaragoza, Spain

"60 per cent of the reasons that people gave for leaving were to do with their core workplace environment"

What an interesting article. However, it seems to be more common sense than anything - suggesting that a comfortable, happy, in touch employee will be more productive and hence more profitable.

Highlights of the article are:
- Configuration of technical infrastructure can lead to quantifiable improvements in productivity. Wireless and remote access technology is good to use to mobilise staff but down time in the system will reduce productivity.
- Happy employees have access to natural daylight.
- Adequate ventilation stops people from feeling fatigued. Natural ventilation is best!
- A hot office makes people sleepy and less productive. “The temperature needs to be kept between 18 and 22 degrees centigrade”.
- A notable increase in productivity occurred when lighting densities were increased from 5-250 lux to 450-500 lux.
- CRT monitors should be replaced with LCD monitors, which provide more working space on the desk, produce less heat, are more energy efficient and don’t flicker. Flickering monitors cause eye strain and fatigue.
- Adjustable desks and chairs enables employees to be more comfortable – a 5’ person shouldn’t have the same chair and desk height as a 6’ person.
- Open spaces and facilities need to be organized such that they are accessible to all employees but don’t cause acoustics problems within the shared space.

The article concludes with:

"Ultimately, ergonomists have to understand how people do their jobs before they can configure technology and furniture around them. Get it right and productivity may rise, and staff turnover fall."

However, i will extend it by saying that it is important for planners, engineers and architects to understand how people work before they try to configure spaces and systems for people to work in.