FUTURE OF WORK
Transdisciplinary Innovation Project 2021

Unprecedented disruption caused by the pandemic has propelled the topic of “Future of Work” to be more critical than ever. The accelerated shift towards remote work introduced new values such as wellbeing, trust, collaboration, flexibility and sustainability. These values have since become core tenets for work and work environments, particularly for Gen Y and Z employees. Looking into the future, we approached this topic by understanding how technological possibilities could influence the human experience, from a socio-technical perspective. In collaboration with Johnson Controls, the Department of Psychology and Faculty of Engineering; this platform features system-level solutions developed by transdisciplinary teams.

Platform leaders: Dr. Jung-Joo Lee & Ms. JiaYing Chew (DID), A/P Loh Ai Poh (ENG), Dr. Li Neng Lee (PSY)

AiDA

How might we create personalised, employee-centric experiences to improve productivity in the new normal of hybrid work?

AiDA is a third party SAAS solution that aims to improve the productivity of employees, empowering them to work anywhere. AiDA optimises current workspaces and informs future workplace infrastructures through non-invasive measures of focus level, with considerations of well-being and environmental factors through the use of smart AI and IoT, allowing employees to enjoy seamless experiences of hybrid work, and empowered with personalised optimisation of their productive state.

 

Project by Sarah Tan Wen Hwei, Lawrence Liang Yu De, Natalie Lee Hui Wen, Aye Phyu Thant (Cherryl)


Radical Flexibility

Collaboration and transdisciplinary teams have become pivotal in the future of work. With the rise in hybrid work, there is a greater demand for upskilling and re-establishment of work-life balance.

We reimagine the future of work to empower employee with choices by enabling radical flexibility through reconfigurable spaces, work-life integration in a digital office and internal employee mobility using a platform.

 

Project by Ko Na Yeon, Zhang Yue, Gwen Pang Ying Qi, Chan Ee Zheng Benjamin


iGLOO

In the post-pandemic workforce, there has been an increase in formation of temporary teams in a hybrid approach to enable organisations to reallocate resources quickly as they continuously adapt to new client demands and industry changes. How might we design for Gen Y and Z in agile temporary teams to collaborate seamlessly while safeguarding their wellbeing by leveraging on multi-modal space and information technology?

iGloo is an integrated multi-modal structure that can be installed in office spaces. With flexible phygital walls, spatial sound, in-built team visibility tools and sensory technology, iGloo aims to increase productivity for the future of the agile workforce.

 

Project by Yeo Jun Peng, Vennessa Stevens, Cherie Peh, Anvitha Rajaram


Future of Manufacturing

Communication in the manufacturing firm is often heavily fragmented. There is also an excessive focus on output, while compromising employee’s wellbeing and sustainability. How might we help office workers in manufacturing firms to reduce time lags and increase employee satisfaction?

The Future of Manufacturing is reimagined as an employee-centric work environment that accounts for real time info sharing through configurable workspaces and providing seamless communication. 

 

Project by Chan Si Jie, Beth Eng, Tan Shieh Chih, Syafiq Rahim


node

node intends to rebuild the social fabric of the workplace while providing flexible workspaces to cater to each employee's optimal work environment. This ecosystem is enabled through knowledge-sharing community boards that build trust and data-informed workspace booking recommendations based on previous preferences.  Thus, creating a workplace that supports the productivity and well-being of both the individual and community.

 

Project by Nysha Tan, Byun Hyun Bin, Choo Shu Hui, Claira Chiw


Co.Lab

Co.lab is an ecosystem of solutions that instils co-presence between hybrid office workers from home and in the office, fostering effective communications through a digital office platform with smart collaborative tools.

It features a visualisation of employees to connect within the digital office map, swift calls to facilitate quick communications between colleagues in busy settings, and an automatic active-noise cancelling device that reduces noise disruptions and promotes seamless collaborations between employees in hybrid work settings.

 

Project by Brandon Ong Wei Sheng, Chelsea Angelina, Huanzhang Yu, Sai Tejaswi Gudideni