Prior to the invention of the printing press, literature had to be copied and written by hand. This was often carried out by Monks, seated at office furniture. It is not a far stretch for the imagination to see these as early offices and clerical staff. Back then the emphasis was on practicality, and not the comfort of the worker. Unlike the comfortable, environment that an employee would find them self in today.
For the modern work area, probably the most important innovations have come about with the development of desks and chairs. Even before the start of the 20th Century changes in furniture have proved to be popular exhibits at Expositions and trade fairs. In the Centennial Exposition of 1876, fancy roll top desks were exhibited.
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.
This led to the growing field of Ergonomics. This is defined as the optimization of the interface between the person and the environment, or the equipment they use on a regular basis. Ergonomics has played a huge role in the design of space and furniture in recent years.
You might be surprised to learn the identity of an early innovator of the chair, it was Charles Darwin. To enable him to view his specimens more easily, he attached wheels to the legs of his chair in his study. The chair has continued to evolve, with the main criterion being the comfort of the occupant. An early model included a swivel seat on castors.
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.
For the modern work area, probably the most important innovations have come about with the development of desks and chairs. Even before the start of the 20th Century changes in furniture have proved to be popular exhibits at Expositions and trade fairs. In the Centennial Exposition of 1876, fancy roll top desks were exhibited.
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.
This led to the growing field of Ergonomics. This is defined as the optimization of the interface between the person and the environment, or the equipment they use on a regular basis. Ergonomics has played a huge role in the design of space and furniture in recent years.
You might be surprised to learn the identity of an early innovator of the chair, it was Charles Darwin. To enable him to view his specimens more easily, he attached wheels to the legs of his chair in his study. The chair has continued to evolve, with the main criterion being the comfort of the occupant. An early model included a swivel seat on castors.
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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Whether you require only one, or office desks for an entire space 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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