Eclipse Office Partitioning System concept adds privacy to the workspace

Let's face it, not everyone can get relocated to the corner office, but if designer Marcus Ward Curran has anything to do with it, even the newbies can look forward to a certain level of privacy in the office. The Eclipse Office Partitioning System enables desk dwellers to cover up their space with panels in varying degrees, and it even touts the ability to change colors throughout the day to liven up the mood. Furthermore, the unit includes an RFID sensor (hey, The Man has to hold you down somehow, right?), a wireless charging mat, pillar-based speakers, an internal projection system and a built-in lighting system to boot. Throw in a teleportation feature to get us home on the double and we'd be sold. Check out the video after the break.

[Via YankoDesign]

[paragraph @ Nov 2nd 2007 3:06PM]

Well, one:
i want to see a real product before i jump to any conclusions

two:
it looks silly, and totally non-corporate

three:
the price will probably end up bieng on the order of Thousands upon Thousands.

all leading up to a product that is doomed to fail, even before it is made :\

Cool idea though, might want to start with something thats... you know a cube... with three sides...

[John @ Nov 2nd 2007 3:22PM]

to address your third point, my standard teknion cubicle workspace is worth about $5500 CAD (that's about $5800 USD). I think the average in our office is about $5000 per workstation. I doubt this would cost too much more than that.

[Mike @ Nov 2nd 2007 3:11PM]

The site's down.... but as a cube dweller, I think htis is fricking awesome, and will look like some kind of alien hatchery in my office!

[alan s @ Nov 2nd 2007 3:15PM]

The cone of silence has finally been realized.

[paul.davis @ Nov 2nd 2007 3:16PM]

That's an awesome concept.. if the overhead screen could cover more and change colors "ie: darker and lighter" It'd make the perfect replacement home for me. Probably would be very expensive and cost me my third unborn child.

[m @ Nov 2nd 2007 3:22PM]

I want one, price will be cost prohibitive but eventually, things like this will happen...
M

[Goemon4 @ Nov 2nd 2007 3:42PM]

want privacy, wear a mask, problem solved

[John @ Nov 2nd 2007 3:45PM]

Personally as cubicle dweller, I think it's rather useless. Arguably it provides some added privacy but provides less desk space and no drawers nor cabinets. I said arguably namely because my cubicle walls are totally opaque as oppose to the semi see through panels of the Eclipse system.

[filpaul @ Nov 2nd 2007 4:10PM]

Maybe when they tighten up the graphics inside well enough to play a flight sim in total immersion, then I'd get this.

[Joe S @ Nov 2nd 2007 4:21PM]

But does it blend?

[neale @ Nov 2nd 2007 6:08PM]

yawn

[ssuk @ Nov 2nd 2007 4:24PM]

I wont pull any punches here... It looks like crap.

[Bb @ Nov 2nd 2007 4:27PM]

Looks like just the trick to sneek a few winks on the company dime.

[Boynamedsue @ Nov 2nd 2007 4:33PM]

apeture science: We do what we must, because we can.

[BigD145 @ Nov 2nd 2007 5:35PM]

I think I prefer to stay inside.

I've experiments to run.....on the people who are still alive.

[g3n3tiX @ Nov 3rd 2007 7:28AM]

Are they Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device - proof ?

I'm making a note here: "HUGE SUCCESS!!"

[Robert Johnston @ Nov 3rd 2007 10:43AM]

@g3n3tiX:

Of course it's portal-gun-proof. Didn't you notice throughout the entire game that the portal gun only worked on flat surfaces. The curved surfaces of this behemoth are obviously meant to impede portal progress.

Don't forget garnishes such as:
Fiberglass surface resins.
Fish shaped candies.
Fish shaped crackers.
Fish shaped dirt.
Fish shaped ethyl benzene.
Fish shaped organic compounds and sediment shaped sediment.
Fish shaped solid waste.
chips.
Injector needle driver.
Injector needle gun.

[Spi Waterwing @ Nov 2nd 2007 5:03PM]

I really don't see how this is any better than a standard cubicle system. I mean, yeah, it looks nice and all, but all those curves wind up taking up more space than right angles. Specifically, that long table that they hooked up in the video was not really efficient.

Similarly, the individual cubicle seems even less efficient and less private than a standard cubicle.

It looks cool, but not really practical.

[M @ Nov 2nd 2007 5:32PM]

How do you get power to these things? Do they bolt down? With cubes you can hide a lot of wires, cabling, etc. in the conduits under and between the cube walls...how do you do this with round units.

They might be good for disaster recovery places where time is of the essence and building cube systems would take too long..that's a good place for these but I can't see them in a normal office setting.

Peace!

[Jon @ Nov 2nd 2007 5:35PM]

1/2 the people I work with would just bitch 'cause they couldn't fit in it. Cool CONCEPT, but lets see the product.

[BigD145 @ Nov 2nd 2007 5:35PM]

Cool concept. Very expensive (ie you might need a second office job to pay for this). But really, stop encouraging the cubicle mentality. Exert yourself in a more meaningful, and inexpensive, fashion by using your Second Amendment rights.

[mushrooshi @ Nov 2nd 2007 6:04PM]

kool kandy

[adium @ Nov 2nd 2007 6:07PM]

yawn

[siriusfox @ Nov 2nd 2007 6:13PM]

This is awful.

It offers reduced working area, very limited computing options, and no easy way to fill a room with these things.

We use Cubes because they're cheap, and versatile. You put up three or four walls, and put whatever computer, books, or resources you need in there with a desk. For this ball, you get a laptop, or a desktop ON your desk, no putting it on the floor. Your environment is subject to lots of unneeded changes, and you no longer can have a book shelf for you and the other guys in your cubical.

It's a fun idea, just not a practical one.

[Matthew Hilario @ Nov 2nd 2007 6:48PM]

For god sakes the wheels make it too easy for fun! I can hear my supervisor now..
"where's my spherical!?"

[Lemmiwinks @ Nov 2nd 2007 7:19PM]

Great. So now, instead of spending hours slaving away in my "cube," I can spend hours slaving away in my "pod."

It has a pretty slick look to it, though.

[sarchi @ Nov 2nd 2007 10:51PM]

fair sun shade

[Mike @ Nov 3rd 2007 2:01PM]

I think it is very cool. It isn't a replacement for an office cubicle, it is something different. I've had countless times when I've wanted to close myself off from the havoc around me and have piece and quiet inside a cone of silence with my computer and a comfortable chair. This could be perfect.

I could also see it being perfect in a library where you have a bunch of them scattered around, and people could have privacy while being in semi a public place.

Very creative.

[Mike @ Nov 3rd 2007 2:04PM]

Oops, sorry for the typos...in too much of a rush...

[Patrick @ Nov 3rd 2007 7:22PM]

Yes, I would like it more if it was totally opaque, sound proof, had a pillow, some blankets, could recline your chair, had a built in alarm clock..."work" doesn't get much better than that! Oh yes, it would also have to have a "robot servant"(not overlord) built in to do all your projects...you know, because you certainly won't be doing them.