Technology Creating Human-Centric Work Environments
The work office ecosystem has kept pace as technology and societal needs have evolved. Technology has infiltrated every aspect of the office, whether it be the traditional office setting (large offices, large computer stations, cubicles, open seating), or the corner of the living room that has been repurposed as a home office. We are interacting […]
Water- Five Senses and the Work Environment
In the work environment, water plays various important roles when it comes to our well-being and productivity, much more than we realize. This is because we not only drink water, but also see, listen to, and touch it. In this article, we are going to look at how our body and five senses respond to […]
Light – Part 2: Five Senses and the Work Environment
How do we use light for maximum benefit in our workplaces? How can the risks associated with bad lighting be mitigated? We will address these questions from the perspective of the three categories of light (Light as objective matter for vision, Light as matter that influences our entire body, and Light as agency catering moods) […]
Light – Part 1: Five Senses and the Work Environment
In this article, we will define what light is in relation to our mind and body, the five senses and beyond, to better understand its impact and effect on our work environment. (Yoko’s snapshot) Early Spring. Outside my window, the sunlight is bright enough to not need the ceiling lights on. It feels warm near […]
Air: Five Senses and the Work Environment
We continue our discussion on human body systems and the work environment with a focus on Air. We will pay special attention to the air as sensed and felt by human beings, and to how building occupants’ actions influence the quality of the air they breathe. Let us start again with a snapshot of my […]
Hearing – Part 2: Five Senses and the Work Environment
Let us continue the discussion on hearing and the work environment by focusing on soundscape and sound control. Nature of Sound- Soundscape Let us start with the positive aspects of the sounds we hear. What we hear can contribute to our well being and productivity. Sounds from nature (running water, softly chirping birds, breezes) have […]
Hearing – Part 1: Five Senses and the Work Environment
We continue with our discussion on human body systems and work environment with a focus on hearing. In addition to the level of sound/noise we hear, how we hear the sound also affects the stress and comfort of hearing. Let us start again with a snapshot of my (Yoko’s) sound environment at my home office. […]
Vision – Five Senses and the Work Environment
In our last two articles, we discussed kinesthesis and the corresponding desirable environmental elements in work spaces. We continue with our discussion on human body systems and work environment today with a focus on vision. Visual strain is commonplace for anyone working with computers. It is one of the negative consequences that comes with excessive computer […]
Kinesthesis – Part 2: Five Senses and the Work Environment
In our previous article, we introduced Kinesthesis and its relation to the work environment. Today, we continue the discussion by focusing on screens/monitors and how they relate to Kinesthesis. Monitors or screens should be centered in relation to the body, not angled left or right1 and should be about arm’s length from one’s body. This […]
Kinesthesis – Part 1: Five Senses and the Work Environment
In this and several of the upcoming articles, we will be focusing on the desirable quality of different environmental elements (air, light, water, walls, furniture etc.) in work spaces. We will try to evaluate these elements by looking at them from the inside out based on how our five senses and body systems (respiratory, cardiovascular, […]