Physical Workspace Research Articles

Design guidelines for sustainable utilization of agricultural appropriate technology: Enhancing human factors and user experience

Abstract The utilization of appropriate technology (AT) has become the Indonesian government strategy to increase productivity of agricultural commodities due to its simplicity and cost-effectiveness. However, the current utilization of AT remains suboptimal mostly due to design deficiencies that insufficiently account for human factors and user experience. In response, the aim of this study is to establish comprehensive AT design guidelines for sustainable AT utilization, focused on agricultural processing machines. An intensive observation was initially conducted in a rural community in Indonesia, to summarize difficulties faced by AT users. Supported by an exhaustive review of literature, a total of 44 human factors related design criteria were defined. Subsequently, these criteria underwent rigorous validation through a questionnaire administered to 197 respondents, consisting of AT designers, experts, and users. Employing the framework of principal component analysis (PCA), novel dimensions of AT design criteria were suggested, encompassing safety and error prevention, functionality and economics, user-friendly, low physical effort, physical workspace compatibility, and perceptible information. To augment the insights gleaned from the PCA, a matrix of importance-performance analysis was created, affording a map of the relative significance and concurrent performance of the defined criteria. The implications of this study are further discussed.

Physician practice migration and changes in practice style: An empirical analysis of inappropriate diagnostic imaging in primary care

Much interest exists in physicians’ ability and willingness to adapt their practice styles, as research demonstrates that many physicians practice in ways that are not aligned with the best available scientific evidence. We exploit migration patterns of primary care physicians in Massachusetts over a span of 8 years by tracking physician migrations to practice sites comprised of new peers who shared actual physical working space. We examined whether a patient's likelihood of receiving an inappropriate referral for diagnostic imaging, specifically a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), was associated with a change in the work environment of the referring physician. Study results indicate that migrating physicians changed their practice style for imaging relatively soon after migration in conformance with the average practice style of their new peer group regardless of whether or not the practice style was aligned with evidence‐based standards for diagnostic imaging. To place our results in context, a 1 percentage point difference in average inappropriate MRI referral rates between a migrating physician's new and previous work environment was associated with approximately a 14% change in the probability that a patient received an inappropriate MRI referral. The effect diminished with greater variability in inappropriate MRI referral rates within the new peer group. The results show that physician practice style may deviate from evidence‐based standards and vary markedly among physicians within a work environment. At the same time, physician practice style is also malleable in either direction—more or less likely to deviate from evidence‐based standards in conformance with the average practice style of their new peer group. These results imply that healthcare managers can employ various institutional‐level interventions to influence physician behavior in the direction of evidence‐based practice by including strategies directed towards developing strong peer influence in physicians’ work environments.

Impact of compensation and working environment on employee performance at PT PLN (Persero) Bukit Asam Power Plant, implementing unit South Sumatra Power Unit

This research investigated the impact of compensation and the work environment on employee performance at PT PLN (Persero) Bukit Asam Power Generation Implementation Unit, South Sumatra Power Plant Main Unit. The entire population of 120 employees was included in the study, and the census method was employed to determine the sample size. The multiple linear regression analysis findings revealed a positive and significant influence of both compensation and the work environment on employee performance. Particularly noteworthy was the effectiveness of compensation in facilitating urgent leave situations. Furthermore, it was emphasized that the physical work environment, encompassing facilities, workspace layout, and air circulation, necessitates thorough evaluation. To enhance employee performance, a recommended strategy involves implementing training and competency improvement initiatives.

UbiSurface: A Robotic Touch Surface for Supporting Mid-air Planar Interactions in Room-Scale VR

Room-scale VR has been considered an alternative to physical office workspaces. For office activities, users frequently require planar input methods, such as typing or handwriting, to quickly record annotations to virtual content. However, current off-the-shelf VR HMD setups rely on mid-air interactions, which can cause arm fatigue and decrease input accuracy. To address this issue, we propose UbiSurface, a robotic touch surface that can automatically reposition itself to physically present a virtual planar input surface (VR whiteboard, VR canvas, etc.) to users and to permit them to achieve accurate and fatigue-less input while walking around a virtual room. We design and implement a prototype of UbiSurface that can dynamically change a canvas-sized touch surface's position, height, and pitch and yaw angles to adapt to virtual surfaces spatially arranged at various locations and angles around a virtual room. We then conduct studies to validate its technical performance and examine how UbiSurface facilitates the user's primary mid-air planar interactions, such as painting and writing in a room-scale VR setup. Our results indicate that this system reduces arm fatigue and increases input accuracy, especially for writing tasks. We then discuss the potential benefits and challenges of robotic touch devices for future room-scale VR setups.

Cyber-Physical Multi-Robot Formation: Virtual Agents Approach and Low-Cost Experiments

A cyber-physical formation includes all the strategies to coordinate mobile robots moving in different physical workspaces sharing information through internet and the cloud. This work addresses a formation scheme of robots moving in two different workspaces. The control strategy is based on virtual agents used like ”avatars” which must converge to the position of the robots in the opposite workspace. The control approach is designed for robots modeled as single integrators and extended to the case of unicycle-type robots. Results of numerical simulations and real experiments are shown using a low-cost cyber-physical micro-robot platform based on a camera as position and orientation sensor.

A Study on Work Management Practices and its impact on Productivity: Moderating role of Sustainable Work Environment

The concept of a Sustainable Work Environment (SWE) has garnered significant attention in recent times, as organizations strive to achieve higher levels of employee well-being and productivity. This paper aims to investigate the influence of SWE on work management and productivity, focusing on three primary objectives: a) understanding the factors contributing to a challenging SWE, b) identifying gaps in existing work environments that hinder performance, and c) comprehending employee perceptions of SWE and its impact on work management practices. To accomplish the research objectives, a mixed-methods approach was employed, combining qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques. Firstly, an extensive review of the relevant literature was conducted, exploring the diverse factors influencing the creation of a challenging SWE (Objective a). This investigation revealed critical aspects such as work-life balance, organizational culture, leadership support, employee involvement, and physical workspace conditions as key determinants of SWE. Subsequently, surveys will be employed to identify specific gaps in the current work environments that impede employee performance (Objective b). The research will highlight the crucial hindrances like inadequate resources, communication barriers, unclear job roles, and lack of employee recognition. The study will also delve into understanding the employee perception of SWE and its effect on work management practices (Objective c). Through employee surveys and feedback, the research will explore more on how employees’ view their work environment impacting their motivation, job satisfaction, and overall work performance. The outcomes of this research may have significant implications for organizations aiming to create a more sustainable and productive work environment. By addressing the identified factors contributing to a challenging SWE and recognizing existing gaps in work management, organizations can proactively design targeted interventions to foster a more supportive and conducive workplace. Cultivating a positive SWE and understanding employee perceptions will lead to greater job satisfaction, reduced turnover rates, and heightened productivity, ultimately driving organizational success.

A STUDY ON IMPACT OF WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT TOWARDS EMPLOYEES PERFORMANCE AT TOYAMA CONTROLS AND SYSTEMS PRIVATE LIMITED IN HOSKOTE

This study investigates the multifaceted relationship between workplace environments and employee performance. Through a thorough analysis of various workplace factors such as physical design, organizational culture, and social dynamics, we aim to discern the significant influence of these elements on employee productivity, job satisfaction, and overall well-being. Our findings offer valuable insights for employers and managers seeking to enhance workplace conditions to optimize employee performance and promote a healthier, more productive workforce. By comprehensively analyzing factors such as office design, workplace culture, ergonomic considerations, and work-life balance initiatives, this research seeks to provide valuable insights for employers and policymakers aiming to enhance workplace environments, foster employee engagement, and ultimately optimize organizational performance in an ever-evolving professional landscape. Keywords: Workplace environment, Employees performance, Employee well-being, Well- life balance, Ergonomics, Physical workspace.

A Study on Analyzing the Challenges of Working from Home Facility and Its Benefits to it Employees in Bangalore

The global crisis has altered how employees view their actual working environment. Without a physical workspace, it is also very difficult for an organization to keep its staff. An organization needs to create a high work-life balance in order to recruit and keep people. The idea of "Work from Home" represents a revolution in how work has traditionally been done. Almost every industry, including teaching and IT, uses this idea. Freshmen, seasoned professionals, and people with extensive experience can all be found among an organization's employees. The research methodology involves a survey of 200 IT industry professionals in Bangalore, who have experience with work-from-home arrangements, Statistical analysis Anova, chi-square, correlation using SPSS software. This article aims to ascertain how various groups of IT personnel feel about working from home and challenges faced while working from home. The study also focuses on the effects on IT staff members' desire to work virtually.

A cyber-physical system to design 3D models using mixed reality technologies and deep learning for additive manufacturing.

I-nteract is a cyber-physical system that enables real-time interaction with both virtual and real artifacts to design 3D models for additive manufacturing by leveraging mixed-reality technologies. This paper presents novel advances in the development of the interaction platform to generate 3D models using both constructive solid geometry and artificial intelligence. In specific, by taking advantage of the generative capabilities of deep neural networks, the system has been automated to generate 3D models inferred from a single 2D image captured by the user. Furthermore, a novel generative neural architecture, SliceGen, has been proposed and integrated with the system to overcome the limitation of single-type genus 3D model generation imposed by differentiable-rendering-based deep neural architectures. The system also enables the user to adjust the dimensions of the 3D models with respect to their physical workspace. The effectiveness of the system is demonstrated by generating 3D models of furniture (e.g., chairs and tables) and fitting them into the physical space in a mixed reality environment. The presented developmental advances provide a novel and immersive form of interaction to facilitate the inclusion of a consumer into the design process for personal fabrication.

PENGARUH LINGKUNGAN KERJA FISIK, KEPUASAAN KERJA DAN HUMAN RELATION TERHADAP KINERJA KARYAWAN PADAPT CITRA PUTERA UTAMA PRINGSEWU

This study aims to examine how employee performance at PT Citra Putera Utama Pringsewu is impacted by the physical work environment, job satisfaction, and interpersonal relationships. The study was carried out at PT Citra Putera Utama Pringsewu, where a decline in employee performance had an effect on business performance. The Partial Least square Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM 3.0) is the analysis method used in the quantitative research method. With a total of 70 respondents, 20 women and 50 men. This sampling method uses non-probability sampling and saturated sampling techniques. “The analysis's findings indicate a significant positive relationship between the physical workspace, employee satisfaction, and interpersonal relationships and performance. Employee performance is influenced by the physical work environment, which also has an impac to job satisfaction, human relation, and employee performance. Employee performance at PT Citra Putera Utama Pringsewu is indirectly impacted by the physical work place.

Evaluating the Experience of Visiting International Providers on Local Neurology Trainees in a Resource-Limited Setting (P4-8.007)

<h3>Objective:</h3> Assess the impact of visiting international neurology attendings and trainees on local neurology trainees in Zambia. <h3>Background:</h3> Interest in global neurology is increasing among U.S. neurology residents. Global health electives improve clinical skills, commitment to underserved populations, and cost-effective decision-making practices among neurology trainees from high-income settings. However, existing literature focuses primarily on the experiences of Canadian and U.S. trainees, with formal research on the perspective of local neurology trainees lacking. <h3>Design/Methods:</h3> The Zambian neurology training program, which graduated its first class in 2018, frequently hosts visiting neurology attendings and residents from high-income settings. Current trainees and graduates of the program completed surveys and participated in focus groups to assess their experiences with visitors and the impact on their training. <h3>Results:</h3> 100% of current trainees (n=5) and program graduates (n=4) participated. All participants rated the experience of working with international visitors positively (56% rated 5/5 (most positive), 44% rated 4/5). Specific positive aspects included exposure to different teaching styles and clinical approaches, awareness of neurologic practice in different parts of the world, expertise in subspecialties less available locally, and expanded academic networking opportunities. Local trainees appreciated the clinical contribution to busy inpatient and outpatient services, the ability to compare themselves to an “international standard”, and the cultural exchange with visitors. Challenges of working with visitors included occasional discrepancies in expectations, prolonged patient encounters due to language barriers, incomplete understanding by visitors of cultural differences and resource limitations, and physical workspace constraints. <h3>Conclusions:</h3> Local trainees in Zambia reported an overall positive experience with visiting providers from high-income countries. Our results provide support for expanding global health electives and faculty opportunities in Zambia and, potentially, similar settings. Orientation sessions for visiting clinicians to review cultural differences, resource limitations, and training expectations may improve the experience for visitors and hosts alike. <b>Disclosure:</b> Dr. Salasky has nothing to disclose. Dr. DiBiase has nothing to disclose. The institution of Dr. Saylor has received research support from National Institutes of Health. The institution of Dr. Saylor has received research support from National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The institution of Dr. Saylor has received research support from American Academy of Neurology. The institution of Dr. Saylor has received research support from United States Department of State. Dr. Saylor has a non-compensated relationship as a Member of multiple committees and task forces focused on improving access to MS medications to people across the world with Multiple Sclerosis International Federation that is relevant to AAN interests or activities. Dr. Saylor has a non-compensated relationship as a Member of the Neurology and COVID19 committee with World Health Organization that is relevant to AAN interests or activities. Dr. Saylor has a non-compensated relationship as a Member of the International Outreach Committee, Junior and Early Career Membership Committee, and Educational Innovation Commitees with American Neurological Association that is relevant to AAN interests or activities.

Enhance pick-and-place performance using multimodal interaction in operation environment

PurposeCurrently, the vision and depth information obtained from the eye-to-hand RGB-D camera can apply to the reconstruction of the three-dimensional (3D) environment for a robotic operation workspace. The reconstructed 3D space contributes to a symmetrical and equal observation view for robots and humans, which can be considered a digital twin (DT) environment. The purpose of this study is to enhance the robot skill in the physical workspace, although the artificial intelligence (AI) technique has high performance of the robotic operation in the known environments.Design/methodology/approachA multimodal interaction framework is proposed in DT operation environments.FindingsA fast image-based target segmentation technique is combined in the 3D reconstruction of the robotic operation environment from the eye-to-hand camera, thus expediting the 3D DT environment generation without accuracy loss. A multimodal interaction interface is integrated into the DT environment.Originality/valueThe users are supported to operate the virtual objects in the DT environment using speech, mouse and keyboard simultaneously. The humans’ operations in 3D DT virtual space are recorded, and cues are provided for the robot’s operations in practice.

Self-rated health implications of noise for open-plan office workers: An overview of the literature

In open-plan offices (OPO), workspaces without ground-to-ceiling dividers, noise is one of the most complained about aspects, causing physical and psychological impacts. With the increasing interest for a human-centric design, notably after the publication of ISO 22955, this review aims to identify the main noise sources in this office layout and the employees’ perception of related health effects, evaluating the interventions proposed to overcome their impacts. Following the PRISMA guidelines, a review was conducted using the Scopus and PubMed databases, considering subjective questionnaires distributed in offices, which could include physical workspace assessment. It excluded studies limited to: (a) laboratory experiments; (b) isolated cognitive tests; (c) office layouts other than OPO; (d) systematic reviews; and (e) mathematical models. Sixty studies were identified and the screening process resulted in 11 selected for inclusion, which indicated irrelevant speech, chatting, and telephone ringing as the main noise sources causing productivity loss, stress, and low comfort rates due to distraction and lack of privacy. To overcome these impacts, researchers suggested the use of sound-absorbing surfaces, separated zones for different tasks and headphones, although their effectiveness relies on human behaviour and economic feasibility. Thus, the evidence indicates that noise is a recurrent issue in OPOs, it demonstrates the importance of appropriate acoustic performance of the workspace and the necessity of new studies regarding OPO workers’ perception of noise and their health, particularly after the COVID-19 new safety guidelines.

An approach to virtual clinical trial site visits: Lessons from the MeTeOR trial

ObjectiveTo provide a framework for conducting clinical trial site visits virtually over videoconference, and to report on our experience doing so during the twelve-year follow-up of the Meniscal Tear in Osteoarthritis Research (MeTeOR) trial. DesignUsing published FDA guidance and prior literature, we created a structure for virtual site visits that prioritized monitoring for protocol compliance, safety, and data integrity. We conducted site visits in three stages: preparation for the visit, the virtual meeting itself, and follow-up. The preparation phase involved a review of relevant site-specific documents and a written report on the findings prior to the visit. The virtual visit itself was focused on any questions the site staff had about the pre-visit report, observing a mock study visit, touring physical spaces, and understanding the site staff's work environment. In the follow-up phase, we wrote a post-visit report summarizing the discussion during the visit and feedback given by the coordinating site. ResultsWe found that the virtual site visits conducted as part of the MeTeOR trial follow-up ran smoothly. Although we could not directly compare in-person and virtual site visits, site staff unanimously appreciated the efficiency and effectiveness of the virtual site visits. We noted that displaying physical workspaces over videoconferencing was difficult, and a notable drawback to this method. ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first published framework for conducting virtual clinical trial site visits. Conducting these visits virtually confer several advantages in terms of time, money, and efficiency.

Adaptive Motion Cueing Algorithm Using Optimized Fuzzy Control System for Motion Simulators

The Motion Cueing Algorithm (MCA) is the main unit of motion simulators responsible for transforming the vehicle motions to generate driving motion sensation for the simulator users within the motion simulator's physical workspace through washout filters. In this study, we design and provide a new framework by developing a set of novel washout filters using optimized fuzzy control systems to solve the drawbacks associated with the existing optimal MCAs of the motion simulators. These drawbacks include constant washout filter parameters, inefficient simulator movement in the workspace, lack of considering the simulator's physical constraints and driver sensation-related factors, and sub-optimal settings which causes false motion cues and subsequently simulator sickness. As a pioneering framework, the fuzzy logic controllers generate restitution signals for the optimal washout filters based on the motion sensation error between the real vehicle and simulator divers as well as the platform's position in the workspace aiming to correct the filtered signals, reduce error, generate realistic motions, and increase motion fidelity online. The GA is applied to optimize the fuzzy logic membership functions and control rules. The optimization procedure takes into account a number of important factors that are normally ignored in the current MCAs including the sensed motion error between the drivers of simulator and real car; the platform physical constraints; the motion threshold limiter effects; and signal shape following. The new adaptive MCA is designed, implemented and tested using the MATLAB/Simulink. The simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the developed MCA in maximizing motion fidelity and the reference sensation shape following, and enhancing the workspace usage of the simulator.

Employee Engagement in the Era of Remote Work: Strategies for Innovation and Productivity

Objective: The objective of this study is to explore the dynamics of employee engagement in remote work settings and to identify strategies that enhance both productivity and well-being outside the conventional office environment. Methodology: This qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews to gather data from 25 participants representing various industries, job roles, and geographical locations. Participants were selected using purposive sampling to ensure a broad spectrum of insights. The study aimed for theoretical saturation and utilized NVivo software for the transcription, coding, and thematic analysis of interview data. Findings: Three main themes were identified as critical to enhancing engagement and productivity in remote work settings: Communication Practices, Work-Life Balance, and Employee Support. Each theme comprised several categories: Communication Practices included Team Interaction, Managerial Communication, Tools and Technologies, Information Accessibility, and Feedback Loops; Work-Life Balance included Time Management, Physical Workspace, Mental Well-being, and Boundaries Setting; Employee Support included Technical Support, Professional Development, Emotional Support, Leadership Roles, Autonomy and Trust, and Organizational Culture. Conclusion: The study concludes that effective remote work strategies require robust communication practices, a strong support system, and a dedicated focus on maintaining work-life balance. Organizations should prioritize these areas to foster a productive and engaged remote workforce. Implementing structured communication strategies, supporting professional and personal development, and ensuring physical and psychological well-being are paramount for sustaining high levels of engagement in remote work settings.

Trading Spaces: Space as Metaphor for Contingency in Writing Centers

This article offers a critical reading of writing center workplace space. Weaving together counterstorying with semiotic, geographic, and rhetorical analysis of space, the author provides an alternative way of understanding the connections between our physical and metaphorical workspaces. Precarity and contingency, the article posits, are made more palpable through connection to physical space because writing center labor (and workers) are often identified mostly through their space and availability. Ultimately, this article argues for a new way forward that decouples writing center workers and labor from inhabited workplace space. Arguing that these spaces are gendered, classes, and raced (among other things), we need to reimagine our workplace identities as separate from the spaces in which labor takes place.

Maximizing student potential: Lessons for pharmacy programs from the patient safety movement

Higher education institutions (HEIs), including pharmacy programs, are experiencing growing pressure from the public and policy makers to develop student-centered learning experiences that meet societal needs. While HEIs may have in-house initiatives to meet such challenges, there are also opportunities for cross-domain learning and application of useful concepts from other sectors. One such sector that lends itself to cross-domain learning is the healthcare industry. Like HEIs, the healthcare industry has been experiencing pressure from its stakeholders, in this case, to address patient safety gaps. These forces intensified at the turn of the century leading to the emergence of what is now known as the patient safety movement, which enabled increased advocacy, education, and research to reduce healthcare-related harm. Despite persistent challenges, a key achievement of the patient safety movement has been application of a systems framework to understand and solve patient safety gaps. That is, patient safety gaps are often a result of system defects rather than isolated acts of individual workers operating in a complex social and technical work setting (often referred to as sociotechnical system). Commonly used systems frameworks describe a sociotechnical system through its components: 1) structure (e.g., people, tools/technology, physical workspaces); 2) processes (e.g., medication administration); and 3) outcomes (e.g., medication safety, patient satisfaction). At their core, both HEIs and healthcare organizations are complex sociotechnical systems that organize their structures to support specific processes - learning in HEIs and patient safety in healthcare - to ultimately improve outcomes for students and patients, respectively. This paper describes parallels between HEIs and the healthcare domain to illustrate how patient safety concepts and practices from healthcare can be adapted to HEIs in order to enhance educational structures, processes, and learning outcomes.

Impact of Real Estate Environment on Knowledge Worker Performance in IT Companies: Evidence from Sri Lanka

Knowledge worker performance is becoming an increasingly important requirement in information technology (IT) firms for its competitiveness. Although employee performance is an extensively researched area, the impact of the real estate environment of office on the performance of employees is still unexploited. The impact of the physical and social workplace on cognition and knowledge sharing by the knowledge worker and its impact on the knowledge worker's performance are hardly discussed in the literature. In this context, this study aims to investigate the relationship between the physical and social workspace setting on the knowledge worker performances in the Information Technology (IT) industry in Sri Lanka. The outcome of the study provides insight to top management of IT companies to confirm how attributes of office real estate environment contributes to knowledge worker performance. The study applied a quantitative approach to explore the impact of the physical and social workspace on the performance of knowledge workers. The study employed a convenience sampling method for collecting data from 185 respondents who worked in IT industry using a self-administered questionnaire. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Model (PLS –SEM) was used to analyze the data. The findings of the study confirmed that physical workspace support cognitive work and knowledge sharing of a knowledge worker. Physical workspace characteristics have the strongest impact on knowledge sharing than the cognitive work of the knowledge employee. In addition, the analysis confirmed that cognitive work also supports knowledge worker performance. Thus, findings suggest that a review of the physical workspace of the IT organization is an important strategic decision to ensure higher order performance of the IT employees. In summary, the study argued that the physical workspace of the organization seems to play a pivotal role in ensuring the higher performance of the employee via cognition. Thus, this paper contributes to IT company management to think out of the box to ensure an improved physical workspace for better employee performance.

Handoff and Deposit: Designing Temporal Coordination in Cross-Device Transfer Techniques for Mixed-Focus Collaboration

When working together, people frequently share information with each other to enable division of labour, assistance, and delegation of responsibility. The literature has explored both synchronous and asynchronous transfer techniques, known as Handoff and Deposit, respectively. However, current cross-device environments tend to only provide a single mechanism. Moreover, we have little understanding of the impact of different techniques on collaborative process. To understand how Handoff and Deposit may be designed to support complex sensemaking tasks, we followed a Research through Design process to iteratively design Handoff and Deposit techniques using paper and digital sketches and high-fidelity prototypes. We consulted the HCI literature to corroborate our findings with studies and descriptions of existing cross-device transfer designs and to understand the potential impact of those designs on mixed-focus collaboration. We learned that as we move away from a restricted physical workspace and leverage the flexibility of digital personal devices, there is a large design space for realizing cross-device transfer. To inform these designs, we provide five design considerations for cross-device transfer techniques: Transfer Acceptance, Action Dependencies, Immediate Usability, Interruption Potential, and Connection Actions.