It's official: The average worker has the attention span of a sparrow. Roughly once every three minutes, typical cubicle dwellers set aside whatever they're doing and start something else—anything else. It could be answering the phone, checking e-mail, responding to an instant message, clicking over to YouTube or posting something amusing on Facebook. Constant interruptions are the Achilles' heel of the information economy in the U.S. These distractions consume as much as 28 percent of the average U.S. worker's day, including recovery time, and sap productivity to the tune of US$650 billion a year, according to Basex, a business research company in New York City. More
Fans of L.E.D.’s Say This Bulb’s Time Has Come
from The New York Times
When the Sentry Equipment Corporation in Oconomowoc, Wis., was considering how to light its new factory last year, the company’s president decided to try something new: light emitting diodes (LEDs). More
Why Shape Matters in Conference Rooms
from The Christian Science Monitor
A key factor in a company's success may be as simple as the shape and size of its conference table. According to an informal study by Ruth Haag, a management consultant in Sandusky, Ohio, there is an apparent relationship between a firm's conference tables and productivity. More
NYC Going High-Tech with Wireless Water Meters
from NewsDay
New York City says a US$68 million effort to modernize its water meters will help save money and water by quickly flagging leaks. The Department of Environmental Protection announced plans to install a wireless, automatic meter-reading system citywide.
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Product Showcase: LogiSon Acoustic Network
 More than 70% of employees say they would be more productive if their workplace was quieter. The LogiSon Acoustic Network increases speech privacy and reduces disruptions by introducing a masking sound that makes conversations and noises more difficult, or impossible, to hear. It’s a cost-effective method of improving overall acoustic comfort. More info
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Tarmac Material is First in USA to Go Green
from USA Today
Boston Logan says it will be the first U.S. airport to use environmentally friendly asphalt for repaving a runway. The so-called warm mix asphalt is heated to between 250 and 275 degrees, up to 75 degrees fahrenheit less than is required for traditional "hot mix" asphalt.
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China Becomes Biggest Net Nation
from BBC
More than 253 million people in the country are now online, according to statistics from the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC). The figure is higher than the 223 million that the U.S. mustered in June, according to Nielsen Online. Internet usage in the U.S. stands at 71 percent compared to 19 percent in China suggesting it will eventually vastly outstrip the U.S. More
Just What the Doctor Ordered: Coffee Breaks are Good for Us
from Response Source
Whether we’re catching up on the latest office gossip, sitting in a business meeting, chatting with our friends or taking a quick shopping break, moderate coffee drinking during our coffee breaks may be more beneficial for our health than we think. More
Australian Workers Willing to Trade Pay for Time
from The Sydney Morning Herald
Too many Australians are over-worked and feel rushed "often or almost all the time," a new study funded by three state governments reveals. Based on interviews with 2,831 working men and women, the results show people on average want to work 35 hours a week—almost four hours less than the norm. More
 When managing flying insects in public areas, compromise is not an option, yet finding a professional insect light trap that combines an attractive innovative design that's discreet and effective can be as elusive as the search for the Holy Grail. More info (paid advertisement)
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Report: Building-Integrated Photovolatics Market to Top US$4 Billion by 2013
from Greener Buildings
The market for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) will exceed US$4 billion in revenues by 2013 and surpass US$8 billion in 2015, according to a new report from a leading industry analyst firm.
NanoMarkets’ report, "Building Integrated Photovoltaics Markets: 2008," says that by 2013 there will be an installed capacity of 10.8 gigawatts peak of BIPV of which 4.6 gigawatts peak will come from Europe and 3.7 gigawatts peak will come from the U.S. More
Samson Carts/CrateXpress Creates Two Environmental Impact Calculators; Will Help Reduce a Building’s Carbon Footprint
from Reuters
Samson Carts/CrateXpress developed two environmental impact calculators to show property and asset managers the environmental and financial benefits of using plastic and sustainable products in an office move. More
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Sguig Syncro by Keilhauer
 Sguig is the first task chair designed with Keilhauer's groundbreaking ergonomic research on gender differences related to the biomechanics of sitting. Sguig ergonomically supports BOTH men and women. More |
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It's official: The average worker has the attention span of a sparrow. Roughly once every three minutes, typical cubicle dwellers set aside whatever they're doing and start something else—anything else. It could be answering the phone, checking e-mail, responding to an instant message, clicking over to YouTube or posting something amusing on Facebook. Constant interruptions are the Achilles' heel of the information economy in the U.S. These distractions consume as much as 28 percent of the average U.S. worker's day, including recovery time, and sap productivity to the tune of US$650 billion a year, according to Basex, a business research company in New York City. More
