Upwork Newswire: How Technology Will Enable Smarter Offices

This biweekly column features the latest freelancing trends and Upwork’s role within them.

Betanews | The Smart Office Revolution

With apps to control your lights and digital assistants already streamlining things at home, the possibilities for a smart office are tantalizing.

“Consumers have grown accustomed to interacting with smart technology to make their lives easier at home and soon will expect that experience to continue when they arrive at the office.”
— Leo Tucker, SVP Global Marketing, PGi

In an article for Betanews, PGI’s Leo Tucker looks at some of the trends that are most likely to revolutionize the way we work:

• Smarter meetings: With improved virtual tools to close the distance with remote workers, Tucker feels automatized technology will soon pick up tedious administrative tasks before, during, and after meetings.
• Smarter systems and tools that use Ambient Intelligence technology (AmI): Citing the Nest thermostat as an example, Tucker describes AmI as “contextually aware, adaptive, anticipatory, personalized, and embedded.” These systems can learn how people use office spaces and adjust accordingly—ideally increasing comfort and productivity while reducing costs.
• Virtual reality (VR): While consumers may be focused on games and entertainment, there’s significant potential for VR to deliver more impactful engagements, such as training, product testing, presentations, and focus groups.

Tucker says the smart office revolution is also creating new challenges for corporate IT professionals.

Security and privacy are both growing areas of concern for the Internet of Things, and Tucker notes that IT has the task of balancing solutions that help make work a better place without leaving systems exposed. Another challenge? Cutting through the hype to identify investments workers will actually incorporate into their day-to-day routines.

Read Tucker’s full overview >>

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