What if we could move spaces instead of people? This question posed by IDEO, an award-winning global design firm whose job is to create and spark innovation, challenged their team of dreamers to think differently about the world around us. Their stunning “Automobility Project” takes the current trending concept of truly autonomous cars, and restructures the very definition of what commuting to work means.
Autonomous cars, or driverless cars free of human control, have been the buzz of both the technology and the automotive industry, and the possibility of the technology is what captured and excited the President and CEO of IDEO, Tim Brown. For Brown and his team, however, the autonomous vehicle is much more than its simplistic definition; it’s an opportunity to turn unproductive time into something worthwhile.
“Instead of thinking about just the car, let’s think about how the car, the people, and the transportation move through the world.” –Tim Brown, President & CEO of IDEO
Their concept for reimagined commute time and autonomous vehicles turned into this: Work on Wheels. Work on Wheels is a literal workspace on wheels that is neatly tucked into a visually interesting autonomous vehicle. In IDEO’s imagined future, your workplace could directly commute to you.
The idea was to turn wasted commute time into something far more productive. By imagining an entire space that could move autonomously, along with stable and effective technology and connectivity, IDEO has created a concept that could potentially change, yet again, the culture of business.
“Commuters will be far more productive en route since they’ll no longer be actively driving vehicles during significant portions of their journeys.” –IDEO
These clean energy vehicles, powered by electricity, have the potential to go wherever your business wants to go. Known as Wow Pads, these workspaces have unrestricted potential:
- Workspaces can be set directly in the middle of two different offices to make meetings easy
- Workspaces can be used on project sites for construction/architectural/etc. purposes
- Put a Wow Pad in an inspiring place, like on a Pier, in the countryside, etc. to inspire employees
This one factor of having the ability to work in extraordinary places makes this concept so intriguing, along with the capability of being able to experience the world around you instead of just passing it.
“[We could] Focus on living in our cities instead of moving through them. I think it would be pretty special.”—Tim Brown
Work on Wheels poses many potential benefits:
- Increased mobility
- Greater inspiration
- Flexibility
- Safer travel
- The chance to experience the world around us
- Increased free time
But, it also poses some potential negative impacts. Commuting time will now be an extension of work. Will business expectation change? Will our days start earlier and end later? Does this idea encroach upon the separation of work and play?
While there are always two sides to every story, from a standpoint of sheer creativity and imagination, we have to admit, this is pretty cool. And, hey, I wouldn’t mind working on the beach sipping lemonade while working on my next piece. To check out IDEO’s full concept and get hands on with it, be sure to visit their page here.
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