Last weekend, I traveled to California for a wedding and drove a rental car. The whole time I was there, I couldn’t quite get the seat and headrest adjusted comfortably—at least not while still seeing out the window to drive. I ended up sitting through the wedding with a crick in my neck, pining for the memory seats in my car.

Monitor arms may seem like a good idea at first, but generally they require the user(s) to make a viewing adjustment for each individual monitor. This is a significant problem that compromises the potential for proper ergonomic benefits.

When you're shopping for a new dispatch or command center console, you want to get something that will hold up to the abuse of a 911 dispatch center. Let’s face it; 24/7 use is tough on any equipment. The actual furniture itself takes even more abuse with the constant physical contact.

If I said, “Your employees need an ergonomically correct workplace," you may bristle. But if I said, "Your employees will be more comfortable and more productive, and they’ll likely complain less,” I’ll bet your ears just perked up.

Ergonomics is the critical component here. Not only is does it provide a workplace standard, but it also sends a message to your team that you care.

How much and how long should I sit or stand at my desk? There is no perfect combo for this because everyone is different. Here is what we do know; static standing all the time is harmful for you, and too much sedentary activty, such as sitting, is harmful too. It begs the question, what is the perfect combo? What combination works for you, might not work for the next person. Experts recommend, breaking it up or alternating between positions. This is actually what is best for the body – in its simplest form, we are talking about movement.

DistribuTech is the largest power grid technology conference in the U.S.

Transformation is the name of the game in the electric power industry, and that fueled the energy, so to speak, at DistribuTech 2020 last week in San Antonio.

New solutions and a flood of blow-your-mind innovations in AI (artificial intelligence) are powering the heightened needs in the utilities industry. But one thing is clear: it is and always will be the people who are making it happen. They are the gatekeepers who keep us safe and keep the machine running in the command and control centers of today.

I was reminded of this a few days ago when I received a text notification from my utility provider that the power was out in my neighborhood and would be back on in one hour. This minute-to-minute monitoring typically occurs in the NOC (network operations center), and this is the part of the process I love.  

TOC and NOC centers are among the many names for a operations command center which manages information from outside of the room. As new technology comes into this industry and new room design ideas are created, your command center design will change. For 2020, how can your room layout/design be more responsive and adapt to the fast pace technology and communications changes that are headed your way? 

Casino floors are like no other place on earth. The flashing lights and winning rings of slot machines. Cocktail servers
all around with smiling faces. The cheers of excitement as someone shouts “red!”
or “black!” Your casino has an energy that can’t be found anywhere else. Because
of all this constant action, you need exceptional security operations.

The recent advancements in technology are astonishing. Cameras can cover every inch of the floor and use facial recognition. Real time text alerts are used to notify staff instantly of a possible threat. It is no secret that constantly upgrading and investing in new technology is a key strategy to keeping your guests and casinos secure and safe.

But what investment is your casino missing?

Healthcare professionals are the ones everyone turns to for life’s ailments, but this doesn’t make them immune to their own health risks. 

With the advancements in technology and reading, radiologists have found themselves confined to long hours behind a desk and in front of computer screens. With this shift comes various visual and musculoskeletal problems that are related to excessive computer use.

It’s time to upgrade the consoles/desks in your command and control room. You’ve got the buy in from all the higher-ups and everyone understands the importance of ergonomic height-adjustable consoles. Now what?