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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
posted Nov 2nd 2007 2:58PM
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...
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.
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!
The cone of silence has finally been realized.
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.
I want one, price will be cost prohibitive but eventually, things like this will happen...
M
want privacy, wear a mask, problem solved
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.
Maybe when they tighten up the graphics inside well enough to play a flight sim in total immersion, then I'd get this.
But does it blend?
yawn
I wont pull any punches here... It looks like crap.
Looks like just the trick to sneek a few winks on the company dime.
apeture science: We do what we must, because we can.
I think I prefer to stay inside.
I've experiments to run.....on the people who are still alive.
Are they Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device - proof ?
I'm making a note here: "HUGE SUCCESS!!"
@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.
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.
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!
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.
1/2 the people I work with would just bitch 'cause they couldn't fit in it. Cool CONCEPT, but lets see the product.
kool kandy
yawn
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.
For god sakes the wheels make it too easy for fun! I can hear my supervisor now..
"where's my spherical!?"
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.
fair sun shade
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.
Oops, sorry for the typos...in too much of a rush...
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.