Smart Office
The Internet of Things (IoT) has exploded when it comes to devices we use in the home. But IoT can have an even bigger impact in the workplace — if it’s used properly.
There’s a simple concept behind IoT — give objects the ability to gather and communicate data. This data can then be used to enable people and organizations to make better decisions.
Many of these technologies can already be found in the home. From automation equipment like the Nest thermostat and Philips Hue light bulbs to general-purpose AI assistants like Alexa or Google Home, consumer-grade IoT devices are becoming increasingly commonplace. As part of the Clarity Innovation below are the design concepts I put together after leading an elaboration session in effort to optimize the workplace.
Room schedules, meeting owners, where people sit, and managing seating charts are all built into the Smart Office prototype
Make it easy
Skype for Business is Microsoft’s enterprise communication platform that has found a home in hundreds of thousands of offices, and it’s remarkably well-suited to enable communication for objects in addition to co-workers. It offers real-time presence information to indicate current activity states such as available or busy, enhanced text-based activity details, as well as methods of interaction like instant messaging. Sounds like a great foundation for an IoT-enabled office, doesn’t it?
After hashing out the infrastructure possibility of leveraging Skype to achieve a smarter office space I kicked off a design elaboration with a few stakeholders at my company in effort to create a simple, intuitive, and light interface to allow staff to know where each other sit, see who is in meeting rooms, see meeting room schedules for the day, and even reserve a room if need be.
Features Overview
Find an available room in a snap
reserve an Available time slot
Easily Manage personnel and seating chart
