by Brianna Crandall — June 26, 2017 — Last week at NeoCon 2017, ergonomic product designer and manufacturer Humanscale showcased its most recent developments in lighting along with other ergonomic and sustainable furniture and technology solutions, a few of which are highlighted below. The company’s new Infinity lighting solution, a recent winner of the acclaimed Red Dot award, took home Silver in the Lighting: Desktop/Task, Furniture-Integrated category of the Best of NeoCon Competition (see the FMLink article).
Infinity task light
Designed for the modern, active workstation, Infinity is a new LED task light from Humanscale designed to respond to evolving tasks and needs. This 2017 Red Dot Product Design winner offers exceptional flexibility and high-quality, energy-efficient light, says the company. Its constant-torque “Forever Hinge” allows for seamless adjustment, so the user can easily re-position the light to accommodate varying needs and comfort levels throughout the day. These innovative new hinges promise to withstand frequent use and maintain their secure positioning over time. Infinity uses large-array, multi-chip light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to achieve 1500 lux illumination that casts just a single shadow.
Infinity’s constant-torque “Forever Hinge” allows for seamless adjustment throughout the day and promises to withstand frequent use and maintain its secure positioning over time.
Infinity is composed of 90% highly recyclable aluminum, and because the light’s exterior color is created by color films (rather than paint), the manufacturing process to create unique colors remains streamlined, and therefore more energy efficient, notes Humanscale. Rated for 50,000 hours and featuring cool chip performance, Infinity provides the ideal task light output that’s powerful yet eco-friendly. Additional user-friendly features include a nightlight mode and a PIR sensor to conserve energy. User control indicator lights fade after adjustment to reduce visual clutter. Offering an infinite number of adjustments and the latest LED technology, Infinity is designed for long-term performance.
Introduction of biological lighting
Humanscale is also working with Lighting Science to produce biological lighting technology that will offer benefits both for mental and physical well-being. Together, the two companies will develop leading-edge lighting systems that impact human circadian rhythms. At NeoCon, a prototype light was outfitted with this new biological lighting technology.
Focus on performance lighting
In addition, Humanscale is fusing the benefits of both the architectural lighting and performance lighting categories, once considered mutually exclusive, into a new lighting category it coined as “performance lighting.” Drawing upon the most advanced science and engineering and utilizing the highest quality materials, performance lighting offers ideal solutions for a variety of settings, including hospitality, commercial and residential. The anchor of this new category is Vessel, designed by Todd Bracher, which is said to offer glare-free, perfectly diffused light and have a high color rendering.
M/Power all-in-one monitor arm base and charging station
M/Power was launched at NeoCon as the newest addition to Humanscale’s Connectivity series, a range of technology-integrated tools to address the changing needs of computer users. Similar in function to Humanscale’s M/Connect, which combines power and ergonomics, M/Power is a USB Type-A and Type-C charging station with audio pass-through that enhances the computing experience for users by providing a universal device accommodation and easy access to high-speed charging — all while eliminating desktop cable clutter.
M/Power is a USB Type-A and Type-C charging station with audio pass-through that provides a universal device accommodation and easy access to high-speed charging — all while eliminating desktop cable clutter.
Designed for high-security work environments that use PCs, M/Power charges personal devices without enabling the transfer of data, thereby protecting both user privacy and classified company information. M/Power is compatible with any Humanscale monitor arm and provides an easily accessible audio headphone/microphone jack. M/Power allows easy access to ports and conceals IT connections.
OfficeIQ connected workspace software
OfficeIQ, said to be a first-of-its-kind connected workspace software solution, was available to order at NeoCon. Developed by Humanscale, and Tome, a Detroit-based software company with a focus on connectivity and the Internet of Things, it is designed to help turn traditional offices into active, intelligent workspaces. It was recently named the Health and Wellness Innovation of the Year by the inaugural IoT Breakthrough Awards, and Health Finalist for Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas.
OfficeIQ gathers useful data on sit/stand desk use using sensor technology from a lightweight, retrofittable box positioned on or under the work surface.
OfficeIQ gathers useful data on sit/stand desk use using sensor technology from a lightweight, retrofittable box positioned on or under the work surface. OfficeIQ can calculate incremental caloric expenditure and provides opt-in users with real-time feedback on their activity at workstations; individuals can receive activity scores and alerts with smart sit/stand reminders, while companies can track occupancy and utilization rates with anonymous, aggregated data.
QuickStand Under Desk sit/stand mechanism
Humanscale’s newest sit/stand offering, QuickStand Under Desk repositions the original QuickStand’s patented counterbalance mechanism from above to beneath the desk surface, within the framework of a central column. The solution is designed to create a smooth, seamless transition between sitting and standing.
QuickStand Under Desk repositions the original QuickStand’s patented counterbalance mechanism from above to beneath the desk surface, within the framework of a central column, to create a smooth transition between sitting and standing.
When at a seated height, the keyboard tray lies flat against the desk surface, and the central column remains hidden beneath the desk for unobstructed views. With its minimal footprint and built-in cable management, QuickStand Under Desk allows for a clean, clutter-free work surface at any height.
Partnership with Bureo
Among Humanscale’s recent initiatives is a partnership with Bureo. Bureo and Humanscale were both awarded full certification for the Living Future Institute’s Living Product Challenge in 2016. Bureo supports wildlife and fishing communities with its recycling program Net Positiva, which provides fishing net collection points off the coast of Chile to keep plastic fishing nets out of our oceans. A prototype demonstrating the new partnership, a Diffrient World Chair made from 13 pounds of plastic netting, was on display at NeoCon.
For an overview of the products Humanscale introduced and showcased at NeoCon 2017, visit the company’s Exploring Wellness and Sustainability in the Workplace and Beyond Web page.
