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.

I must start off by saying that I am extremely proud to be a part of such an amazing community within the public safety industry. I was inspired to write this blog by those I feel who are making a difference within the 911 community. Specifically, those who are closest to me are my friends behind Operation 10-8, 911 Training Institute, Within the Trenches, and Kim Turner, LLC.

Did you know that most dispatch furniture desks you purchase should come with a collision detection system? This feature is integral to lengthening the life of your furniture while ensuring your dispatchers and equipment stay safe. Ask your furniture manufacturer, if your desks have collision detection. It shouldn't be a costly add-on. In most recent models, the collision detection is built into the lift columns that raise and lower the desks. This ensures greater detection and sensitivity toward collisions with objects.

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.

You’ve heard a lot lately about Xybix's new Eagle Line of Dispatch Consoles, but what exactly is the “Eagle Difference”? Let us explain...

What’s the Eagle Difference?

Can you picture that black edge that practically EVERY piece of industrial furniture you’ve seen since you were in grade school has? You know, the stuff that looks like it belongs on a bumper car?

Well, it’s gone. G-O-N-E! Gone with the wind! You get the picture.

Are you planning for a new dispatch center or is it time for a renovation? That’s fantastic! Do you have an architect? That’s also fantastic! Do you have a team of people with conflicting input and opinions? That’s not so fantastic. The good news is that I’m here to arm you with information that will get everyone on the same page and impress the pants off of your architect!

5,4,3,2,1…. Happy New Year!

What an exciting time of year this is. A brand new year signifies 365 blank pages to fill with memories and growth. I don’t know about you, but the new year brings a new sense of hope for me. I want to grow and expand my horizons, and I also want to be better than I was the year before. I want to start this year off with a bang, go full speed ahead, and be ready to take on the world! As a professional in the 911 industry, you have very busy, stressful days and there’s no time like the present to make yourself a priority.

Growing up in the ‘70s, “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas became one of my favorite songs of all time. Now that I have a house and teenagers, I don’t like actual dust at all. It seems to come from everywhere, and I know this is even more true in your 911 Comm Center. With 24/7 staffing and the constant action in the room, there is a ton of dust. So, how do you get rid of it?

The end of the year means budget submittals are upon us! Oh, and the HOLIDAYS...yes, I said it! Maybe you don't need new dispatch consoles, but you want to revamp your Comm Center and give it a refresh. Adding some small things to your center is a great way to boost morale.  So, with the upcoming holidays and unavoidable chaos here are 4 ways you can spruce up your center without breaking the bank:

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: