I'd like to ask for your help in identifying the feasibility of the Smart Office project that I proposed to our team. The devices involved are 1. computer (desktop/laptop) 2. standing table electric switch
Problem to be solved: Lessen the amount of time spent by employees sitting in front of the computer.
Solution: Create a device that receives the computer's uptime duration as an input.If it reaches a certain amount of time/duration, the standing table 's switch shall automatically be triggered to bring the table in standing mode.
We are curious if there's any device similar to the electric switch which can bring the table in stand/sit mode, and receive information via the internet.
The computer may be on but nobody might actually be using it. You might be better to have a pressure sensor in the seat, or perhaps an IR swith to detect a person's legs under the desk. Once a certain amount of uninterrupted sitting time has ocurred a relay could be operated that would cause the table to rise. Your would just have the Arduino operate a relay wired in parallel to whatever manual switch is normally used to raise the table.
I am interested that the intention seems be not just to get the person to stand up but also to take a break from normal work.
I can see several problems with your proposal though. Firstly there is the physical safety issue of having any equipment operating automatically without warning. The table might trap fingers, cables or other equipment. There are also mental health issues. You can bet your last dollar that the table is going to operate right in the middle of an important demonstration, or just when the employee is about to crack a particularly difficult problem or when the employee is in a desperate hurry to get away for other personal commitments but is diligently trying to complete some task before leaving. If I was in any of those situations and the table started moving and cut me off from what I was doing I would go nuts.
If you really must do something like this, have a red light that is switched on after your detection period and leave the choice of moving with the user.
If the latter than perhaps the reason behind it is not the electronics side, but to be sure you identify all the very obvious safety problems with desks remotely going up and down due to a wizard wheeze bit of programming and electronics, not simple at all.
If the intention is simply to 'avoid' people spending too long in front of terminals then do it via a PC application that gives people staged warnings to log off ...................
