Solution

Listen. Outloud.

Our final design spoke to our users. Isolation was one aspect we wanted to avoid in the workplace. We wanted to promote teamwork. In other words, we wanted to increase community.

We addressed each user need with a solution:

• Directed sound technology supports a need of not bothering others so that only the user could hear the music.
• The chair auto-mutes or lowers in volume when sensing the approach of others or a phone call. This supports the natural integration into the flow of work. Rather than including a tone that signaled such an event, we opted for a solution that allowed the user to naturally sense an impromptu event. We wanted to avoid a machine that dictated user's work. Most of all, we wanted a design that fit in as a natural peripheral interface.
• The ability to turn off directed sound technology allowed for community music sharing when users want to share their music.
• Users carried their music with them simply by a swipe of an id card supported the need of mobility because workers in cube farms often moved from spot to spot.
• The ability to secure a mp3 player in the armrests and synchronize their music supported the need of integrating personal music into the workday.

The chair is powered by a number of ways through spinning, or shuffling of the chair. Also maintenance personnel can plug in the chair at night to power up. Thus this addresses the earlier need of a music player that does not run out of electrical power.

Lastly, our design is for companies that would purchase such chairs for all employees. This is a company wants to boost employee morale by providing each individual something they could each own. Through music, employees can not only work better, but make their lives better.