How will tomorrow be different from today? We’ll live longer and move faster. Our resources will dwindle while our technological capacity grows. But our basic needs to sleep, eat, work, and get from place to place will stay the same. That last part is what we’re interested in here. How will we move people, things, and spaces together in the next decade? The case study of IDEO about the future of automobility tries to find out this.
The Future of Moving Spaces
As confidence grows in autonomous forms of mobility, a new stage of automobility will come into existence. It will bring with it inverse commutes, where working spaces come closer to where people live.
A NEW MORNING ROUTINE
Good morning! You caught me on the way to meet my team for work. Traffic looks heavy by the bay this morning. Taking a shortcut.
WORK on WHEELS STATUS REPORT, 7:45 am
Smart City Overlay
There are about 600 million parking spaces in American cities today, occupying about 10 percent of urban land. As driverless cars take hold, there will be less demand for traditional parking. Flexible “working nexuses” can infill some of that space, providing more accessible working environments.
LEVERAGING INFRASTRUCTURE
The team booked the Fort Mason location for the next couple of weeks. It’s their first experience on Work on Wheels, so they asked for the basic package – no wet bar this time!
WORK on WHEELS STATUS REPORT, 8:30 am
Work on Wheels (WOW) Pods
Work on Wheels pods make use of underutilized city infrastructure. Pods are designed to be modular and re-arranged to meet a variety of team needs. A booking system handles pods’ customization requests, allowing teams to reconfigure their spaces on a daily basis.
ROOM with a VIEW
The lot was great yesterday, but today they had me perch on the pier for a better view. They’re really getting attached to the flexibility I offer!
WORK on WHEELS STATUS REPORT, 10:00 am
Retractable Hatches
In the future, the best offices will provide greater access to daylight and natural ventilation, as well as views, green space, public transit, and proximity to residences. Retractable hatches create an open workplace, making the Work on Wheel Pods feel spacious and inviting.
COMFORTABLE and CONNECTED
Good morning, team! Let me set up your space so we can get to work.
WORK on WHEELS STATUS REPORT, 10:15 am
Triple-sealed Smart Glass
Sliding smart glass panels bring the outdoors in on-demand while protecting teams from harmful UV rays and exterior distractions when closed. Privacy screens allow teams to adapt the space to minimize distractions.
NATURALLY COLLABORATIVE
Looks like we have a visitor today. I guess that’s why we’re using the big screen.
WORK on WHEELS STATUS REPORT, 11:00 am
Flexible Spaces
As more work moves to the digital realm, boardrooms and other traditional office infrastructure will be necessary. For those times when face-to-face interaction is important, a WOW pod can provide a flexible space for workers together.
AD HOC INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT
We always let the team’s favourite food trucks know exactly where to find us.
WORK on WHEELS STATUS REPORT, 12:00 am
Support Infrastructure
Automobility work nexuses most often form in underutilized areas in the urban landscape. Support services like food trucks or mobile dry cleaners may emerge to provide on-demand support around work nexus point.
OPTIMIZED for TEAMWORK
I have all kinds of interactive work surfaces, perfect for collaboration and for keeping everything in view.
WORK on WHEELS STATUS REPORT, 3:00 pm
Privacy with a Touch
Windows can be made opaque to allow for privacy or to provide a dark room for presentations. A variety of displays and work surfaces create a highly collaborative environment.
RECONFIGURABLE upon REQUEST
Sounds like we have a bigger team coming in tomorrow. A quick refit will give everyone the space they need. Good work everyone! Let’s call it a day, and I’ll see you bright and early in the morning.
WORK on WHEELS STATUS REPORT, 5:30 pm
Battery Base
Flooring houses an array of flat-packed batteries that empower teams to stay comfortable, productive and connected for days on end.
READY for REFITTING
Ahh, back at the hub. Time to pair up with another unit so that we have plenty of room for tomorrow’s bigger team.
WORK on WHEELS STATUS REPORT, 6:00 pm
Home Sweet Hub
WOW Pods don’t always return to their service hubs each day, but when they do, they are not frazzled by a commute. This allows hubs to be placed in lower cost areas of cities and opens up prime real estate for other uses.
A HUB of ACTIVITY
There’s Bob; he makes sure we’re in top shape. He’ll have me refit and ready in no time.
WORK on WHEELS STATUS REPORT, 6:05 pm
How are Workplaces Maintained?
A fleet of Work on Wheels autonomous workspaces can be maintained both day and night shifts. Electrically powered pods are largely maintenance-free, if required, mobility portals allow for manually driving vehicles
