Before the invention of the printing press, early books and manuscripts all had to be copied by hand. These tasks would have been carried out at the fore-runners of what we would call office furniture today. Maybe these could have formed the basis for the early office, and worker. They would have been functional, but uncomfortable environments to spend long periods of time in. Nothing would have been adjustable, unlike today's modern workspace.
Two items of furniture are, without doubt, the most important features in any work space. These are the desk and the chair. As such they are the items that have probably undergone most development. Office furniture exhibits have always been popular exhibits at trade fairs.
Desk design drastically changed with the invention of the typewriter. Roll top desks were all well and good for hand written ledgers and dockets, but proved impractical for the placement of a typewriter. By the start of the 20th Century, over 90,000 people were working in the United States as clerical workers and typists.
In the early 20th Century the average working week was up to 60 hours long, over a 6 day working cycle. With the increased need for workers there was also an increase in establishments offering this specialized training. As the number of offices and staff grew, individuals were spending longer and longer at their desks doing a wider variety of tasks.
A major force that has had an impact on the working environment, has been the study of Ergonomics. Briefly Ergonomics is the study that allows a task to be performed more comfortably, by making the best use of the interaction between the individual and the equipment used on a routine basis. This will ease the daily strain placed on an individual.
One person who helped with the redesign of the office chair was Charles Darwin. He came up with the idea of putting wheels onto the legs of his chair, and so enabling him to travel around his study with ease. Chairs continued their evolution, but with the comfort of the individual in mind. With a swivel seat and on castors a clerical worker could gain access to all areas of their allotted work area while remaining seated. This led to an increase in productivity and efficiency.
These basic chairs were similar to those we now see every day. Although modern office furniture is even more adjustable. The thought being that although the worker is seated for longer, they are working more efficiently, and are therefore more productive. Working in this fashion also reduces the chance of a Repetitive Strain Injury.
Two items of furniture are, without doubt, the most important features in any work space. These are the desk and the chair. As such they are the items that have probably undergone most development. Office furniture exhibits have always been popular exhibits at trade fairs.
Desk design drastically changed with the invention of the typewriter. Roll top desks were all well and good for hand written ledgers and dockets, but proved impractical for the placement of a typewriter. By the start of the 20th Century, over 90,000 people were working in the United States as clerical workers and typists.
In the early 20th Century the average working week was up to 60 hours long, over a 6 day working cycle. With the increased need for workers there was also an increase in establishments offering this specialized training. As the number of offices and staff grew, individuals were spending longer and longer at their desks doing a wider variety of tasks.
A major force that has had an impact on the working environment, has been the study of Ergonomics. Briefly Ergonomics is the study that allows a task to be performed more comfortably, by making the best use of the interaction between the individual and the equipment used on a routine basis. This will ease the daily strain placed on an individual.
One person who helped with the redesign of the office chair was Charles Darwin. He came up with the idea of putting wheels onto the legs of his chair, and so enabling him to travel around his study with ease. Chairs continued their evolution, but with the comfort of the individual in mind. With a swivel seat and on castors a clerical worker could gain access to all areas of their allotted work area while remaining seated. This led to an increase in productivity and efficiency.
These basic chairs were similar to those we now see every day. Although modern office furniture is even more adjustable. The thought being that although the worker is seated for longer, they are working more efficiently, and are therefore more productive. Working in this fashion also reduces the chance of a Repetitive Strain Injury.
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No matter if you need just one, or office desks for an entire room filled with workers, you can browse and buy online. Office desks are available on the World Wide Web or in local showrooms.
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