What Type of Command Center do you Need?

We can customize your command center to fit your specific needs.  We can design a medium or large configuration such as these:

Or a smaller, more compact solution such as these:

 We will design your command center to fit your needs.  These layouts are just an example of some of the ways your room can be laid out.  Please contact us for a full evaluation and custom design of your Command Center at 303-670-9691.

Designing a Command Center Part 4: 

 Ergonomics in the Control Room: 

One of the most important and yet most overlooked factors in designing a control room is ergonomics.  The Operator's long term comfort should be a top priority to the designer.  A comfortable and injury free Operator is more able to function at a higher level of attentiveness and focus than an Operator who is uncomfortable and prone to repetitive injury.  One of the simpleast ways to ensure your Opertaor can maintain focus and comfort during the sometimes long and demanding shifts is to add a simple ergonomic keyboard tray to their work space.  The old, sliding-drawer keyboard drawers should be avoided, as they serve no ergonomic function.  What should be offered is a keyboard tray that offers the following features:

Positive/negative tilt

Lever - free mechanism

Wrist rest

Swivel

Proper length of mechanism arm

 A positive/negative tilt is imperative to ensure the wrists are kept flat.  This will decrease injury and pain for the Operator.  The tilt should be simple and easy to determine by an easy to use gauge.

A lever-free mechanism is important to determine the height of the keyboard.  The Operator can adjust the height of the board by simply applying pressure to it to raise or lower it.  No knobs and levers are needed in these ergonomic, user friendly boards.  The ease of adjustment allows each Operator to adjust the board to their comfort at the start of each shift.

 A wrist rest attached to the keyboard tray is important as well to keep the wrists flat.  Look for a tray that includes a gel wrist rest as part of the board.

The board should swivel easily to allow for proper positioning of the board to the end user's seating position.  This also allows the board to be easily stowed under the worksurface out of the way of the end user's legs when not in use.

The arm length of the tray should be long enough to allow the keyboard tray to raise above the worksurface if needed.  If the arm is too short, specifically in a corner worksurface application, the tray may hit the corner worksurface edges and not be able to raise above the surface.  With the proper length of the keyboard arm, the end user can raise the tray to the height needed. 

By looking for these simple features in the keyboard trays used in your Control Room, you can easily increase the ergonomics of each user's position.

Designing a Command Center Part 3:

Ergonomics section 1:

Ergonomic considerations are extremely important when designing a Control Room.  The Operator must be able to work long, sometimes stressful hours, without concern for repetitive injuries or pain.

Some of the ways we can make the Operator's environment more accommodating and ergonomic are by adding some simple features to the Command Center, such as the following:

Adjustable height worksurfaces:

By adding adjustable height worksurfaces, individual Operators can adjust their worksurface throughout the day to accommodate either seated or standing height positions.  Additionally, if the Control Room functions as a 24/7 environment, each shift can adjust the worksurface height to exactly the height they need it to be.  The height adjustment is done by simply touching a button.  Adjusting the worksurface height can increase productivity and lengthen attention span, while increasing comfort and lessening fatigue.

What are Command Centers?

Command Centers fill critical needs in a wide variety of categories.  These state-of-the-art facilities are called upon to manage mission critical operations in virtually every arena, ranging from highly classified military operations to local government and law enforcement applications to running power plants and mining operations.  They are both large and small, and they may run 24/7 or just when called upon.  They are the behind-the-scenes operations for some of the most common and the most secure events occurring each and every day.

Command Centers by Different Names 

Command Centers also have many different names.  They are often referred to as Network Operation Centers or NOC's, Emergency Operation Centers or EOC's, 911 Centers, Public Safety Centers, Control Rooms, etc.  The name usually describes the mission, but all are comprised of state-of-the-art technology and design.

Designing a Command Center Part 1:

Ergonomic Considerations:

When designing a Command Center, the experienced professional must take into consideration both the overall mission of the room and the Operator's comfort.  Ergonomic considerations are extremely important as the Operator must be able to do his or her job well, and without unnessary strain or discomfort.  Most Command Centers require the Operator to react quickly and efficiently without distraction when the need arises.  Therefore, Command Centers must be designed with mission critical technology combined with good old fashioned ergonomics and comfort.  Common accessories include: ergonomic and articulating keyboard trays, environmental controls such as airflow monitors and heating units, footrests, ergonomic seating, personal articulating lighting, flat panel monitor arms, panel hung paper management and workflow accessories.  These are just a few of the many personal and ergonomic options available to make the Operator's working environment as safe and comfortable as it can possibly be. 

Designing a Command Center Part 2:

Audio-Visual Considerations: 

Additional considerations are taken to assure that proper technology is applied where needed.  For example, a video wall or audio visual structure may be needed to manage critical operations over a larger arena.  This may encompass a simple projection screen, cube wall or a flat screen monitor display.  Or it may require a video wall solution that includes multiple screens all tied together to form one large image that can be used by Operators in several different locations simultaneously.  Special care is taken to ensure lines of sight and pixel type and size are correctly maintained, to ensure both ergonomic care for the Operators as well as to make sure the maximum number of viewers are reached. 

Flat panel monitor arms may be used for individual workstations that may be out of reach of the video wall's pixel size.  Portraying the same image on the individual flat screens that is seen on the large video wall enables a personal view of the large screen, right at the desktop.