After perfecting the design of 911 dispatch centers decades ago, our designers here at Xybix are increasingly applying the same principals to transportation control rooms. Whether you’re directing planes, trains or automobiles, the room you’re in and the desk you’re at make an impact on how you handle your mission-critical tasks throughout the day. We’ve worked closely with everyone from air traffic controls to railroad engineers to bus dispatchers to understand what you need and how you work. Here’s a summary of what we’ve learned.

Out in the field, in extreme temperatures, at risk every day, you dream of a cushy desk job. But you’ve seen Office Space, right? Are you just trading in your toolbelt for a TPS report?

It doesn’t have to be that way. When you make the transition from the field to a utility control center or dispatch center, your office and desk can be just as comfortable as your coveralls, turnout gear or climbing gear. Read on for 6 tips from people who’ve successfully made the switch!

Your top 3 pricing questions, answered

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?

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?

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.

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.

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:

One of the most important investments a casino owner can make is in the security of the establishment. With this in mind, many casino managers have installed high-tech surveillance systems, such as HD cameras and around-the-clock video monitoring, all of which provides exceptional oversight and security. But the casino industry’s next big surveillance investment should be a little closer to solid ground. We’re talking about height-adjustable furniture consoles for security operators, which can be incredibly beneficial for both the operations team and the management.

Height-adjustable furniture is commonly used in government agencies such as 911 dispatch and utilities departments. While you may think that 911 dispatchers have little in common with casino security, they actually share one major job function: long hours at a desk, scrutinizing multiple computer screens.