[11994] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: (long) Nova desks, Electronic Resources Center
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Julie Castelluzzo)
Fri Feb 6 20:03:14 1998
Date: Fri, 06 Feb 1998 15:07:44 -0600
From: Julie Castelluzzo <juliec@cooper.edu>
In-Reply-To: <199802052138.OAA01264@mailmx.micron.net>
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Just a few more thoughts on the Nova desks. I appreciate Dan's well
thought out comments. (See below.)
I'm curious to know how similar the desks he has tried are. I would be
interested to know the manufacturer of those. I know that Nova holds the
patent on their particular design. At one point, I believe Nova sued
another company putting out something similar, and Nova won.
There are some other advantages, in our particular situation, of having
this type one desk:
--It leaves a lot of workspace free on top of the desk. The room can still
be used as a study/reading area, as well as for the computers.
--It gives the user privacy.
--It's aesthetically pleasing to look at. This is no small factor in our
institution, which is very design-oriented. (We have schools of
architecture, art, and engineering.) Also, one side of the room is a glass
wall, overlooking an atrium area in the library with a high ceiling. The
room is visible from departments outside of the library, including a
gallery space.
I realize that everyone would not prefer these desks if given a choice,
especially if you had to use one day in and day out for work. But in an
electronic resources center, where people probably stay from 15 minutes to
an hour at a stretch, it doesn't seem to be a problem.
I would also like to reiterate that we are duplicating the software setup
on three computers on our ground level, so that the same resources will be
accessible to those who cannot climb stairs, or do not want to, or do not
find the desks comfortable. Related to this, we briefly contemplated using
the former carrel space to store parts of our open stacks, and converting
part of our stack space for the new purpose. However, if that was done,
the open stacks would not be accessible, and those cannot be duplicated
anywhere.
There is some glare on the glass, especially because we have the worst
possible type of lighting in that room. Unfortunately, we were not able
to change the lighting fixtures. (We have recessed flourescents in
circular spaces.) Depending on which desk you sit at, it can be better or
worse. Each desk does come with a plastic hood which you can easily place
on top to cut the glare. There is also better glass we could have chosen,
but it was much more expensive. For the most part, this is not a big
problem, and most people don't use the hoods.
Regarding getting into the correct position for viewing the monitor, our
adjustable height chairs help tremendously.
Julie
Julie Castelluzzo juliec@cooper.edu
Electronic Services Librarian
The Cooper Union Library www.cooper.edu/facilities/library/library.html
On Thu, 5 Feb 1998, Dan Lester wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> At 12:29 PM 2/3/98 -0600, Julie Castelluzzo wrote:
> >FYI: The Nova desks have the computer monitor mounted below the work
> >surface, and the user views the screen through a glass viewport. There is
> >an adjustable sliding drawer to hold the keyboard and mouse.
>
> We don't have the Nova brand, but do have the same type of workstations in
> some labs and some staff work areas in our library.
>
> >The main reason I recommended this type of furniture was that we needed to
> >use the room as both an electronic resources center, and as a facility for
> >library instruction. Instruction is much easier when you don't have a big
> >computer screen in between you and the people you're talking to.
>
> Having taught BI and computer skills in both types of classroom, I'll
> disagree, particularly if the instructor goes around the room and helps
> students at their monitor. Even if the student can see the monitor under
> the glass, it is almost impossible for the instructor to do so without
> getting into an "uncomfortable" or "compromising" position with the
> student. This can be further exacerbated due to glare on the glass or
> similar issues.
>
> >The overwhelming response to the facilities is very positive. The students
> >love the new desks, which give them room to spread out their papers while
> >doing a computer search. Those who remember the room as it used to be
> >(study carrels with partitions between each person) think this is a
> >major improvement. When the room had just study carrels, it was very
> >underutilized.
>
> It does sound like an improvement on what you have, but note caveats below.
>
> >keyboards. This will also solve any accessibility problems for people who
> >may not want to climb the stairs to the new center. (The new room is on
> >our mezzanine level, which can only be reached by climbing about 20
> >stairs.)
>
> Interesting. Our campus access people wouldn't have let us put such a
> major facility in ANY location that wasn't completely handicapped
> accessible. No matter what.
>
> >I know this is long-winded, but I wanted to get out a report on our
> >progress, since I know some of you are interested. If you have more
> >questions, please feel free to contact me directly. Thanks to everyone on
> >this list for all the valuable tips and advice!
>
> I appreciate your excellent summary of what you've done. Thanks.
>
> Now, to the issue of the "under the glass in the desk monitor type of
> workstations".
>
> First, as one with some visual impairment, I find them almost impossible to
> use. Glare is the most frequent problem, even with some in a room
> expressly designed as a conference room with two U shaped groups of them,
> with moderator/teacher at the top of the two nested U's.
>
> Second, they are an acquired taste at best. When we completed a complete
> renovation and expansion of our building recently, all staff had an
> opportunity to choose whether they wanted their monitors under the desk
> glass, or in a more "traditional" location on the desktop. All had a lot
> of time to try both versions, as a couple of people already had this
> arrangement. Less than ten percent chose to have the monitors under the
> desktop. And this isn't because we're staffed with traditional people,
> either. We have people using EVERY known type of pointing device, so
> they're not afraid to try things. But on this one most decided it wasn't
> as easy to read or work. I will admit that those who have them love them.
> I'll also admit that I'd expected at least a third of the staff would
> choose the under desktop monitors. But.....didn't happen.
>
> Third, they are also a problem for those who are obese, who have problems
> with their backs, or many with similar problems that in some way impair
> their ability to get into the ONE RIGHT POSITION to see the monitor. That
> is my personal biggest complaint. As I'm in front of a monitor twelve or
> more hours a day, I like to be able to move to different angles, tip the
> monitor in different ways, sit at an angle, move keyboard from tray to lap,
> etc, etc, depending on how I feel and what I'm doing.
>
> Just food for thought before everybody runs out and buys these Nova
> stations or similar.
>
> cheers
>
> dan
>
> --
> Dan Lester, 3577 East Pecan, Boise, Idaho 83716-7115 USA 208-383-0165
> dan@84.com http://www.84.com/ (check out our 1997 holiday letter)
> http://library.idbsu.edu/ http://cyclops.idbsu.edu/ http://www.lili.org/
> Sent me a postcard of a library yet? You'll get something nice in return.
>
