Achieving the Promise of Programmable Environments

Note: This is the fourth in a series about Herman Miller’s Programmable Environments (PE) initiative. To read the first post, see “Getting Buildings and People In Sync.” Second post: “Cut Electrical Use, Get ‘Stimulused,’ and Earn LEED Credits.” Third post: “Energy Manager Saves Energy, Optimizes Real Estate, Cuts Costs.”

According to Always Building, Herman Miller’s book about PE, “To achieve programmable environments, we think about a digital as well as physical dimension of space.” Integrating the digital dimension can make a building smarter, more efficient, and responsive to the people who use it.

With digital technology, you can easily manipulate the physical features of a space. And that changes the rules of the game because design is no longer about delivering a perfect finished product. It’s about marrying the digital and physical so that users can change in seconds what used to take weeks of planning and construction.

Instead of walls, there can be intelligent space division that is movable and adjusts acoustic performance as needed. Digital wallpaper morphs to suit your taste. Light sensors communicate with blinds and lights so they can automatically adjust according to users and conditions. A workspace adapts to the user’s preferences in music, air flow, temperature, and even chair adjustment.

So many possibilities. And the story is just beginning. Herman Miller knows it doesn’t have all the answers, so as they go forward with PE, they are consulting with the design profession, users, facility managers, and engineers. Together, they are transforming how buildings are designed, built, managed, and used.

Be part of the discussion. Let Herman Miller know your thoughts on PE. They love the input.

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