Now at CES: Humanscale and Tome’s OfficeIQ is Getting People Active at Work
OfficeIQ, a first of its kind connected workspace software solution, is now available to order at CES 2017 (booth 43110 in the Health & Wellness Marketplace, Tech West at the Sands Expo). Developed by Humanscale, the leading force in ergonomic workplace design, and Tome, a Detroit-based software company with a focus on connectivity and the Internet of Things, it is the next big step in turning traditional offices into active, intelligent workspaces. CES is the first opportunity to see the new prototypes and features Humanscale and Tome are introducing, including a feature that allows OfficeIQ users to integrate their data with that of a globally popular wearable device. They are also announcing the results of two University studies that demonstrate the software’s capacity to improve health and increase activity in the workplace and beyond.
Using sensor technology from a lightweight, retrofittable box positioned on or under the work surface, OfficeIQ gathers data on sit/stand use, calculates incremental caloric expenditure, and provides opt-in users with real-time feedback on their activity at workstations. Like a wearable, it gamifies the experience. Individuals can receive activity scores and alerts with smart sit/stand reminders, while companies can track occupancy and utilization rates. OfficeIQ was designed with a “Don’t be Creepy” policy to protect user privacy while providing employers with aggregated data.
The CES audience is the first to see new developments to OfficeIQ, including wearable integration, which allows users to combine the data collected at their workstation with that collected from other activities throughout the day, providing a more complete overview of daily health and activity. Visitors to the booth can also experience an updated interface with weight-loss challenge features. In addition to the OfficeIQ application for sit/stand desks, Humanscale and Tome have partnered on a sensor-based application for conference and task chair casters, designed to provide occupancy and utilization insights for conference rooms and shared spaces, transforming the way companies plan for and utilize space. New developments to OfficeIQ casters are on display at the show, including desktop notifications reminding sitters when it is time to get up and move. This new addition allows the OfficeIQ caster to serve a similar purpose as its sit/stand counterpart, but for people who do not have a height-adjustable workstation.
The launch of OfficeIQ dovetails with the release of two University-led research projects vital to demonstrating the true value of sit/stand and OfficeIQ implementation. According to a study led by Bethany Barone-Gibbs, Assistant Professor of Health and Physical Activity at the University of Pittsburgh, sit/stand solutions can provide incremental increases in caloric expenditure, even with short-term use. “Sit/stand desks are an easy way to get a boost in energy expenditure that fits into America’s current office culture. By combining the act of standing for part of the day with other casual activities — say, opting to walk to the printer farthest away from your work area or choosing to use the restroom that’s located a couple of flights of stairs away — you can achieve a meaningful amount of extra energy expenditure while at work that could aid in weight control,” says Barone-Gibbs. “Our findings add to a growing field of research that shows the benefits of sit/stand desks, including increases in productivity and energy, and decreases in lower back pain, blood sugar and potentially blood pressure.”
Humanscale and Tome also partnered with Levenfeld Pearlstein, a mid-size law firm providing legal and business counsel to sophisticated clients across a broad range of matters, in order to test OfficeIQ effectiveness with real users. Ohio University was engaged as a third party to support the pilot and run statistical analysis of the results. This second study concluded that software prompts such as those provided by OfficeIQ keep users significantly more active during their work hours than workers who do not receive software prompts. The analysis looked at two groups: a default group using sit/stand and prompting software and a control group with a sit/desk desk and no software. The results showed that those with the software stood over 5 times more than those without it. Additionally, the frequency of movement while at the workstation proved to be significantly higher as the team with software moved 10 times more than their counterparts.
According to Humanscale Founder and CEO, Robert King, “We have spent the better part of 2016 working with scientific experts at the University of Pittsburgh and Ohio University, and with real companies and organizations, conducting studies and beta tests to measure the efficacy of implementing sit/stand workstations and OfficeIQ in the workspace. The results are clear; OfficeIQ enhances sit/stand utilization, and using a sit/stand workstation for even a single hour has a measurable impact on incremental caloric expenditure. If used throughout the workday and over the course of weeks and months, it can have a clear and noticeable impact on a person’s health.”
For more information on OfficeIQ and about Humanscale’s other solutions for the active, connected office, visit humanscale.com/CES-PRESS.
About Humanscale
Humanscale is the leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance ergonomic products that improve the health and comfort of work life. Through leveraging new technology in functional yet minimal designs, Humanscale transforms traditional offices into active, intelligent workspaces. Committed to making a net positive impact on the earth as well as our customers, Humanscale offers award-winning products designed with a focus on function, simplicity and longevity. For more information, visit humanscale.com.
About Tome
A passion for connecting hardware products to software applications led Jake Sigal and Massimo Baldini to launch Tome, Inc. in April 2014. Founded in metro Detroit, the company develops connectivity products to keep people mobile and active, and creates value as a focused niche within the larger Internet of Things movement. Tome is a member of the StartUp Health accelerator, based in New York City. Sigal and Baldini sold their previous startup, Livio, to Ford Motor Co. in 2013. Learn more about Tome at http://www.tomesoftware.com.
About Levenfeld Pearlstein
Twice recognized by The National Law Journal as one of the nation’s most innovative mid-sized law firms, Chicago-based Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC provides legal and business counsel to sophisticated clients across a broad range of corporate, tax, real estate and litigation matters. LP works with clients to understand the full impact of the law on their businesses and proactively addresses their legal issues so that they can quickly return to doing what they do best. While the firm possesses the resources and depth necessary to manage the most complex matters in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible, it truly differentiates itself through its commitment to “The LP Way”. Unique among corporate law firms, the LP Way is the firm’s model for creating an unparalleled client experience at an exceptional value. Visit our website at www.lplegal.com.
