Have you ever wondered how a typical office would look like in a decade or so?<\/p>\n
The first things to come to your mind is likely to be some pseudo hi-tech stuff based on some cheap sci-fi mumbo-jumbo. Retina scanner on entrance, a conscious Robocop to assist, a 3D avatar of a boss in a luxury boardroom, etc. \u2014 all of these fantasies try to copy today\u2019s reality and enhance it with geeky digital tomfooleries.<\/p>\n
The reality, though, is likely to be more down-to-Earth and less packed with gizmos, but, in some respect, even more shocking. Here we present a number of controversial trends which are to shape the office in the years to come.<\/p>\n
Judging by assertive ads and wow-inspiring publications, remote working from a home office is our imminent future. This opinion is partially affirmed by stats: the number of such office tends to grow.<\/p>\n
However, the whole remote home office boom dates back to the previous decade when the proliferation of Internet peaked. Throughout the years, the Internet growth somehow stabilised<\/a>. The total amount of permanently remote workers (including self-employed) even in the US does not exceed as little as 5% of employed population \u2014 honestly, it is not the figure to boast about.<\/p>\n At the same time, occasional remote working is a far more widespread phenomenon which becomes mainstream. Today, you are sitting in the office, and tomorrow, you are preparing a power-point presentation on an aeroplane, then you answer emails while sitting in a coffee shop in a different city, etc. Here, figures are much more outspoken: this scheme is employed by about a half<\/a> of all Americans.<\/p>\n Anyone who ever worked remotely, learned to appreciate the charm of office visits, at least, during the first hour.<\/p>\n Numerous studies have proven that physical proximity of co-workers (not what you might have thought!) significantly contributes to higher productivity. Considering that peak office space utilization rate, according to the Strategy Plus consultancy, is, in average, 42%, flexible reconfigurable open spaces represent an abundant resource of chances that employees will become closer.<\/p>\n What does your workspace look like? @sbeloussov @richardbranson<\/a> Let\u2019s share! Here\u2019s mine: #WS_Challenge<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/jVcZmEYlHR<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Eugene Kaspersky (@e_kaspersky) November 13, 2014<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nOffice forever!<\/h3>\n
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