In the past, for companies, the signals to manage and monitor as well as the electrical and electronic equipment were a few, and normal desks were suitable.
With the advent of increasingly advanced technology, the need arose to incorporate all electronic equipment into a desk equipped to contain them: the console! The computers have become many and switchings, modems, and other devices have been added. In this scenario, the classic desk is no longer suitable.
A Control Console is an intelligent furniture engineered to house and organize computers, switching devices, power sockets, modems, cables and other equipment. For a console to be efficient and of quality, it must be similar to an electrical panel.
In particular, a good console shall:
be made of pressed sheet metal or aluminum to accommodate electrical and electronic equipment;
have a series of DIN pitch holes (Ø 25 mm) in the support legs and in the cabinets located under the work surface. The DIN pitch (Ø 25 mm) allows to house most of the electrical equipment and electrical bands;
be equipable with several 19" rack units, a standard component installation system that allows to house and fix the most widely used electronic and IT equipment (multi-sockets, switching, computers, etc.);
have multiple levels of cable passages:
An excellent Control Console not only manages electronic equipment, but shall meet the specific needs and requirements of every control and command centre.
For the companies of some sectors - such as defence, aviation, energy plants, chemical and oil & gas industry, utilities etc. - it is necessary to provide a continuous service with staff always present in the room. Therefore, the need arises for a workstation that promotes the comfort and physical well-being of the operator.
What features do Bosco consoles have to support the continuous work of a control room?
Why 1000 mm?
In modern control rooms, it is of fundamental importance to be able to monitor, control, manage and supervise an ever-increasing flow of information. This need often makes it essential to have multiple displays on the workstation that allow the operator to view more information in a clear and comfortable manner.
A work surface of at least 1000 mm allows you to accommodate up to 4 monitors per operator, as well as any other equipment (radio, touch screen, video controller, etc...).
Furthermore, a larger work surface guarantees ergonomic vision, leaves more room for the movement of the operator and makes the working environment simpler and tidier;
To ensure correct vision and posture, the center of the main monitors must be at an angle of approximately 15° below the normal line of sight, which depends on the operator's eye height and the task performed. The adjustable supports guarantee an ergonomic vision that takes into account all variables.
How does a sit-stand console improve work ergonomics?
Usually, workstations with fixed height are designed for an average staff, putting the taller or shorter operators at a disadvantage.The sit-stand system allows you to adjust the work surface according to the height of the individual operator, as recommended by ergonomic standards.
Furthermore, the work in a control center is often continuous, 24/7, and differentiated. A fixed or partiallly adjustable desk is not suitable for this type of environment as the operator must be able to change position while carrying out his task. A height-adjustable work surface allows the operator to alternate between sitting and standing positions.
Alternating between sitting and standing positions not only improves the operator's well-being, but allows different tasks to be carried out on the same workstation.
To find out more about the ergonomics of control room desks read CONTROL CONSOLE ERGONOMIC DESIGN: DIMENSIONS.
A good console is designed to encourage teamwork and collaboration between members of the same team, as well as to facilitate work efficiency and decision-making.
In many modern control rooms - for example in surveillance or security rooms, traffic or crisis management centers, etc. - there is a differentiated staff working within the same room, often in situations that require making mission-critical decisions in real time .
What features do Bosco control room consoles have to promote teamwork and crisis management?
Control Center Leonardo Helicopters - Consoles e Videowall System Bosco
In the case of operators who carry out independent tasks and need their own workstation to manage growing flows of information - as happens for example in call centers or in many control rooms for remote assistance and maintenance - the old desk is no longer suitable. To respond to new needs, Bosco has designed real work "islands": stand-alone consoles.
Stand alone consoles are a work centre, a single workstation with all the features listed previously in this article. In particular, the stand alone smart desk has:
1) a very large work surface, at least 1000 mm deep and 1800 mm to 2400 mm wide. As previously discussed, a large top guarantees ergonomics and the accommodation of monitors and any other equipment;
2) up to 4 monitors per workstation, with the possibility of housing displays up to 55 inches. In many sectors, for example in the field of remote assistance, large monitors that allow you to view a lot of information at the same time are preferable
3) a wall controller to manage data flows coming from multiple sources, from multiple computers, and project them for example on an LCD video wall or on multiple displays.
To conclude, the classic desk is no longer suitable for managing the evolution and technological complexity of modern control centers. An efficient control room is designed with control consoles with an improved ergonomics, a large work surface, accessories, modularity, robustness and extreme customization.