That may seem like a strange question, but it’s one that Herman Miller explores in a recent research paper on “New Technologies, New Behaviors”. Once auto manufacturers realized drivers were going to slurp on a coffee or soda while on the road, they added cup holders to their vehicle designs for greater safety and efficiency during mobile beverage consumption. Now, you won’t find a standard automobile that doesn’t have this feature. In the same way, office design needs to change to support what people actually do at work with technology.

The white paper specifically explores the way BYOD smart devices, unified communication channels, and touch/voice/gesture interfaces are changing how people work – and the stuff they need at work. For example, the tablet may replace the laptop in a few years as the #1 large screen mobile device supported by corporate IT.

Will we start seeing more adjustable tablet holders at work that support Skyping in the office? How about charging kiosks for mobile devices in every room? What do you think needs to change at the office to support the way you use technology on the job? Let us know in the comments.

CC license image courtesy of Flickr user AlishaV