Workers Want Flexibility, Safety, and Security and CES Tech Delivers

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) returned to Las Vegas this January, in person for the first time since the pandemic.

While the emphasis of the show might be on the word “consumer,” this year’s event presented technology applicable to the workplace, smart systems that building contractors could implement in multi-dwelling units and modern office spaces, and innovations in the fields of IoT, security, personal computing, and more.

As employees become more demanding about their workplace environment, including health and wellness, they are also looking for technology experiences that are the same or better than what they have access to at home. “We’re seeing a convergence of consumer-type interfaces adopted within enterprises in the IoT space,” wrote IOTForAll.com in a CES wrap-up.

Security – from the standpoint of IoT devices as well as personal and building security – was also a stand-out theme at CES 2023.

Smart company leaders are looking for ways to satisfy employees’ needs for autonomy, freedom, and flexibility. Property developers are seeking to improve lease-ups by delivering what business owners need for their office space. The new technologies showcased at CES can provide a diverse array of solutions to meet those needs, along with safety, security, and workplace wellness.

Lenovo ThinkBook Wireless Dock Provides a Hot-desking Solution

The Lenovo ThinkBook Wireless Dock gives employees the flexibility to work from anywhere with the dual or triple monitor set up they might be accustomed to at home. Connect a laptop to the docking device and wirelessly connect dual 4K monitors through the HDMI ports on the docking station. The device will also charge a ThinkBook 13 X Gen 2, plus smartphones and IoT devices with Qi wireless charging capabilities.

The dock can help hot-desking workers save time by enabling them to get up and running quickly without fumbling with wires or plugs. The dual monitor set-up can vastly improve productivity. And the streamlined design matches any office space.

Why the Matter Standard Mattered at CES 2023

Office spaces that aren’t standardized on automation systems like Crestron or AMX often struggle the same way owners of smart homes do. Facilities managers and IT teams often try to incorporate multiple devices that all use different protocols into one integrated system.

The lack of interoperability between HomeKit, Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings and other ecosystems can be frustrating for homeowners and exceptionally costly for business owners. The Matter standard seeks to change that. As the home automation standard of the Connectivity Standards Alliance, an organization founded by Amazon, Apple, Google, Comcast, and the Zigbee Alliance, Matter means that all smart home devices will act in the same way when given the same commands.

For business owners and property managers seeking affordable IoT solutions without commercial quality building automation systems, the Matter logo on a device will help indicate a plug-and-play solution designed to work with other devices bearing the logo. The Matter logo isn’t everywhere yet, but CES pundits are suggesting it will become more prevalent in 2023 and, perhaps, ubiquitous within the next few years.

Displace TV Puts a TV Anywhere

When it comes to devices, business owners and property managers didn’t realize they needed smart video technology in the workplace. The Displace TV tops the list.

The wall-mountable, battery-powered television set received mixed reviews from tech writers, but the concept fits perfectly into the flexible office place of the future. The Displace TV is a 4K LG OLED TV with four hot-swappable batteries. It sticks to most walls using a vacuum suction system that is also powered by the batteries. This is cause for some concern, according to writers at TheVerge.com. Theoretically, the screen could fall if the battery dies, but you’ll receive plenty of warnings before that happens.

The company indicates you can mount four TVs next to each other link the images for an eye-catching display, albeit with black bevels breaking up the picture. If you want to create an impromptu video conference room, review a marketing video concept with colleagues on a large format screen, or even add a screen to a break room temporarily, Displace TV offers a creative solution.

Immersive Television for Business Lobbies Turns Heads

A building lobby can be used to convey the corporate culture of the company inside. Property managers and developers can create open, enticing, tech-friendly spaces in new construction and retrofits. The addition of immersive lighting and display screens can provide wayfinding capabilities, branding or promotions. Business owners can then adapt the screens, using them for company branding, greeting visitors, or adaptable ambiance.

The Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit may sound like something you’d find in a man cave, family media room or a teen boy’s bedroom. The artificial intelligence device connects to a TV and sends a signal to connected lights, changing the lighting colors in sync with the image on the screen. Although it’s a consumer device, it can have many fun applications in corporate offices, for company podcasts, or to attract attention in your lobby.

The Twinkly Entertainment Hub, also showcased at CES, reflects images on a computer screen and displays them on proprietary Twinkly LED lighting panels. Picture a reception desk with a company logo on Twinkly LEDs, or a video conferencing room with a fun background for meetings. This is the type of technology that can make employees feel like their space is customized while creating a high-tech feel in the office.

Acer eKinekt BD3 Lets Employees Pedal While They Work

Want to combine sustainability and workplace wellness in one package? Acer may have a solution.

The Acer eKinect BD3 combines the concept of a smart desk and a spin cycle in one. The stationary bike desk actually powers your laptop or mobile device as you pedal. The included smartphone app and LCD display share information about distance, speed, and estimated calories burned. The bike is made of post-consumer recycled plastic, making this a green solution to workplace wellness for many.

It’s important to mention that companies or developers looking to implement this solution should be aware of inclusiveness in the workplace. It should be available as an option, not a mandate, for workers seeking to get fit while maintaining their productivity.

But solutions like this point to a growing awareness of workplace wellness and sustainability and the varying needs of different employees. A workplace fitness center designed for productivity – that also helps reduce energy costs – could be a welcome addition in many companies. The bike will be available in June, according to the Acer press release.

SoSecure PRO Keeps Employees Safe

Employees working flex time introduces unique security concerns for organizations. Many times, employees are alone in an empty, or almost empty, building. ADT’s SoSecure PRO, the enterprise version of the security company’s mobile safety app, helps employees stay in touch with emergency contacts within the organization, ADT’s monitoring agents or even 911 in the event of an emergency.

SOS Call or Chat, SOS Video, and Voice Activation through a secret phrase lets people call for help without further endangering themselves. The device can be used 24/7, so it can be offered as an employee perk to provide an added level of safety and security for remote or on-site workers.

ADT Commercial Protects Workplaces

A trusted name in home security, ADT also has a commercial division that offers affordable solutions for corporate security. The new EvoGuard by ADT Commercial provides intelligent autonomous guarding solutions for offices, retail space, multi-dwelling units, and any commercial area requiring enhanced security and surveillance, including autonomous drones.

The new system is under development, but ADT Commercial says the first products will be available this year. EvoGuard combines artificial intelligence and augmented reality, along with humanoid robots and autonomous drones to patrol commercial buildings 24/7. With applications in construction and in-use commercial spaces, this technology promises to be something for builders, property managers, and company leaders to watch.

Orbecc Updates Security Cams

If updated security camera systems are part of your new building or retrofit installation, you may be interested in Orbbec’s Astra 2 and Gemini 2 released at CES 2023. The Astra 2 offers a 3D image of the environment in full color in real time, with low motion blur. The Gemini 2 provides a 100-degree field of view, indoors or out, with motion, position and navigational sensing.

CES 2023 Tech May Drive Workplace Building Trends

This is just a glimpse at some of the breakthrough technologies on exhibit at the world’s largest technology showcase this January. Consumer electronics often precede commercial applications. But as the hybrid workplace grows in popularity, the line between home technology and workplace tools continues to blur.

Giving workers what they want may require new levels of creative thinking and innovative technology to match. Likewise, property managers can set their buildings apart with innovative solutions to workplace wellness, safety, and flexibility within an office. Find contractors in Everything CRE categories to provide the technology and solutions you need to retrofit existing buildings or erect new construction that meets the needs of today’s employees and business owners.