Business Info - issue 136

01732 759725 magazine 15 PRODUCTIVITY Why upgrade your lighting? The energy and cost-savings to be gained from today’s LED luminaires are certainly compelling. But these figures don’t tell the whole story. Poor quality lighting can have a negative impact on employee wellbeing and productivity. Our own internal body clocks are governed by circadian rhythms, and studies point to a significant link between lighting quality and the way these rhythms control sleep, stimulation and relaxation.  Working in a poorly lit environment can lead to lethargy and lack of concentration – not to mention potential health and safety risks. A recent study from the American Society of Interior Design found that 68% of employees are unhappy with the lighting provision in their offices. Our own neuro-scientific Lighting the path to productivity and wellbeing study, in partnership with the Gruppe Nymphenburg, reveals that working in an environment where the colour and intensity of lighting can be adapted results in lower heart rates, calmer brain activity and less physical tension. This is why leading businesses are partnering with lighting specialists to create environments that are safe, efficient and geared towards productivity and optimal employee performance. The original source Daylight is the original light source. It may not be visible or even noticeable, but light defines how we experience the world through its many delicate qualities, such as colour, shadow and contrasting intensity. Yet, today in industrialised countries people spend 80% per cent of the day inside, reducing their exposure to the essential dynamics of natural light, as office lighting still tends to deliver a largely static brightness. With nature as its template, lighting technology in recent years has made major strides in light generation, distribution and control. Traditional limitations are being rejected in favour of lighting that can be controlled and adapted in line with factors such as time of day, purpose of task and number of individuals present. Smart lighting is also serving as a conduit through which business intelligence is captured. Intelligent systems can sense when space is occupied, providing invaluable data on building usage, footfall and space occupation. Illuminated thinking is saving energy, cutting costs and providing employees and citizens with environments that drive productivity and promote wellbeing. Businesses across every sector are switching on to the possibilities of smarter lighting design. www.zgservices.com Darren Riva, Northern European Zumtobel Group Services Director, explains how modern lighting is transforming offices and even cities Be more productive with Olympus The device’s two noise-reducing, omni-directional microphones also improve productivity by optimising recording quality in noisy environments, which can reduce the time it takes to transcribe files. Other useful features include an easy-to-use slide switch for intuitive operation; a 2.4in colour display; integrated memory (expandable via the SD card slot); and a choice of security options to protect files, including PIN code and 256-bit encryption. The new version of Olympus’s bundled dictation management software, Olympus Dictation Management System ODMS R7, also boasts additional time-saving features, notably the ability quickly to turn speech into text. Key features include: n Automatic dictation import from DS-series devices; n File exchange via email, network folder or FTP; n Player control via footswitch; n Background and real-time speech recognition (in combination with Dragon speech recognition software by Nuance, which must be installed separately); n Support for multi speech recognition profiles; and n 256-bit AES encryption. There is also an optional System Configuration Programme (SCP) for ODMS that lets you manage dictation hardware and workflows centrally via a web browser. To speed up the manual transcription of voice files (rather than automatic transcription by Dragon), Olympus recommends an AS-9000 Transcription Kit, featuring a stereo headset and USB foot pedal with four configurable buttons. http://www.olympus-europa.com The new DS-9500 dictation device brings greater flexibility and freedom to professional users with the introduction of WiFi-enabled file transfer to a smartphone for instant emailing. Files can also be transferred via the docking/recharging station. Olympus has launched a new generation of dictation management software and portable dictation devices. Darren Riva OLYMPUS : DS-9500 ISSUE 136