Introduction

The work concept that is predominant today, i.e. leaving home every morning for the office building to spend most of the day working from behind a personal desk in a never-changing environment, has to most of us become an unquestionable pattern, one that always has been and always will be.

The 20th century however, witnessed tremendous developments, from typewriters and carbon copies to faxes and computers up to the latest evolutions in wireless communication such as mobile phones, laptops and PDA’s. Combined with the internet, this caused a considerable acceleration in the flow and availability of information and also increased individual mobility. People and information could be reached anywhere in the world, at any time, from any place.

These innovations do not only have an impact on the nature and technical aspects of our work but also on the way we have to organize the whole working environment in order to achieve an efficient and socially acceptable economic activity.

Problems caused by the traditional working environment

•

Differences based on status & hierarchy: in most cases the quality of the office surroundings is related to the employee’s position within the company.