It's HALLOWEEN and probably one of my favorite holidays!! So, that got me thinking what would be spooky or maybe a bit scary for a 911 dispatch manager or supervision….? The type of scary I'm talking about is a huge decision, that will have an impact on the Comm Center, or a legacy that will be left and how this type of a decision would effect the Center for years to come (maybe even after you retire). That sounds pretty scary and intimidating to me. So what type of decision am I talking about? Just like the in those scary movies, (I only like them one time a year), the ever-elusive masked killer is running through the house with a butcher knife, it finally came to me… the decision to purchase Comm Center dispatch furniture…. dun…dun…dun!
One of the Spookiest Decisions for a 911 Dispatch Manager - New Comm Center Furniture!
Posted by Kathleen Utley on Oct 31, 2018 1:02:35 PM
Topics: Employee Health, Design, Pricing, Command Centers, Pre-Planning
How & When Do you Start Planning for Control Room Furniture?
Posted by Gail Gerlesits on Oct 16, 2018 2:16:51 PM
If your control room is finally being renovated or you have a brand new control room on the horizon, there are a TON of items to get in order. It can be difficult knowing what to tackle first. The furniture of the control room is clearly a huge element of the project, but with all of the moving parts you need to address, when should you start planning for the furniture?
The answer is NOW!
Topics: Design, Command Centers, Pre-Planning
9 Computer Storage Options for 24/7 Communication Centers (PICTURES!)
Posted by Kathleen Utley on Aug 23, 2018 3:22:44 PM
Let's face it...housing a computer or computers in a 24/7 communication center is a fickle beast! Oftentimes, you can feel forced into using unsightly, under-surface metal containers, which conduct and trap heat. And let’s just say, there is a reason why they are shoved under your feet at your workstation… Can you say “UGLY?!”
I’m here to tell you that there are other options to housing your computers, probably more than you know. A reputable custom furniture manufacturer of 24/7 furniture will listen to your ideas, concerns and spatial constraints and help you come up with a communication center design solution to best fit your needs and the needs of your people.
Topics: Design, Features, Dispatch, Command Centers, Pre-Planning
When to Consider Updating Your Control Room Consoles (Don't Let Them Go To The Dinosaurs)
Posted by Megan Yartz on Jun 29, 2018 2:42:34 PM
Ever feel like you are stuck in a scene from The Twilight Zone or Jurassic Park while working a 12-hour shift? Everything is evolving and changing around you, yet somehow you are still stuck behind this massive, uncomfortable, and archaic platform called a control room console.
Topics: Employee Health, Ergonomics, Features, Command Centers
Who Do I Involve in the Process of Planning a New Control Room?
Posted by Gail Gerlesits on Jun 7, 2018 9:48:40 AM
Whether you’re planning a new control room or revamping your current one, you understandably want the end result to work well for your people. In fact, you probably want them to love it. The goal is obvious, but how do you make sure you get there?
Topics: Employee Health, Command Centers
Console Furniture: Should You Upgrade Now, or Should You Wait?
Posted by Megan Yartz on May 15, 2018 4:48:29 PM
Time and time again, we hear people say, “Well, we may be looking to upgrade our console furniture, but we might be moving into a new building. We will just hold off for now.” Does this sound familiar to you?
Topics: Design, Utilities, Transportation, & Casinos, Command Centers, Pre-Planning
How Many Monitors Can Fit on a Command Center Console?
Posted by Megan Yartz on Apr 12, 2018 10:27:41 AM
With the continuous trend of increasing monitor sizes, a question we are frequently asked is "how many monitors can fit on a row of a command center console?" In command centers, control rooms, and surveillance areas, monitor wall visibility is often critical for an operator’s performance, so you want to try to find the most ideal setup for viewing performance. So, what is the right amount of monitors? It depends on several things.
Topics: Employee Health, Ergonomics, Utilities, Transportation, & Casinos, Command Centers, Pre-Planning
Healthy Furniture for Command Centers | Neophilia & Neophobia
Posted by Ken Carson on Feb 9, 2018 2:59:35 PM
Raymond Loewy was a French born industrial designer who made it to America during the 1930s and put his stamp on American culture with iconic designs that are still around today, including the paint scheme on Air Force One and the logo on Shell gas stations. Companies hired him to create successful designs for their businesses, something that would create a lasting symbol of their individual brands.
Topics: Ergonomics, Utilities, Transportation, & Casinos, Command Centers
How Do You Justify Purchasing New Consoles for Your People?
Posted by Gail Gerlesits on Nov 1, 2017 3:20:00 PM
Maybe you just started in your new role, or maybe you have been with the same company for a long time. Either way, when it’s time to update the command and control center, it’s time. You know it, and your operators also know it. Providing a comfortable, ergonomic environment for your people is the right thing to do.
It’s important to start with your mindset. Is the purchase of new consoles a cost or an investment? If it is a cost, that will be tricky to justify. I can just hear management say that they already have desks that work, so why would they spend money on that? Instead, try to think of it of as an investment for your people. A more comfortable environment improves the health and performance of your team, which can surely lead to a ROI.
If you’re advocating that new consoles or workstations are an investment for your people, here are some important factors that will help make your case:
Topics: Features, Pricing, Utilities, Transportation, & Casinos, Command Centers
Command Centers: Keeping Your People Happy & Motivated
Posted by Gail Gerlesits on Aug 29, 2017 4:07:48 PM
Whether you are managing the buses
the flow of traffic in Naples, FL – the
water system at Denver International
Airport – or, the electric grid in Baton
Rouge, LA – it all comes down to
keeping people safe and things
working.
The people doing all the manning of our transportation and utilities, your operators and dispatchers, with the onslaught of more smart technology, have more monitors with more information to look at than ever. As the demands of the job increase, how do you ensure your people are healthy and happy at work?
Topics: Employee Health, Command Centers