Design + tech: what happens inside Dancoo’s smart pods?

Soundproofed pods have solved many problems for open-plan office spaces, adapting to hybrid work culture. They provide a cocoon of quiet and privacy for the dramatic increase in video and audio calls, and space for focus after employees adjusted to the comfortable conditions of home working during the pandemic. By facilitating both the flexibility of remote work and the creative collaboration of on-site work, pods play a key role in enhancing employee productivity within hybrid work models. The question now is, what further problems can the next generation of office pods solve? Today, designers should look out for the smart and intelligent functions that blend design and technology – on-demand customisation, user-friendly interfaces and data protection measures, all necessary for progressive workplaces.

A leader in the office partition sector since 2005, Dancoo has been developing soundproof office pods and phone booths from 2016 with a disciplined focus on outstanding acoustic performance (stringently tested by third parties) and simple, sleek design for easy integration into existing workplaces. Now, it is at the forefront of ‘smart pod’ development, with the release of 10 new models that offer a suite of smart personalised functionalities, internal data processing and scales to choose from, varying from larger pods with the same high-quality acoustic levels (Dancoo 2D) or more private pods that cleverly shield the user from view (Dancoo P).

If hybrid working has brought more flexibility to styles and hours, better catering to the diversified needs and wellbeing of individual employees, why shouldn’t meeting pods offer the same adaptive flexibility? It’s a question that drove Dancoo’s new generation of pods, and it wasn’t easily answered. Working closely with many different collaborators, the design and manufacturing teams built a whole new custom system from the ground up, tailored to the inclusive ideals of modern work. Functionalities include calendar and bookings, occupancy indicator, ventilation controls, table height adjustment and a bespoke approach to all-important lighting where ultra-thin ceiling and video lights with high colour rendering evoke natural light.

They’ve considered everything that might help someone inside the pod to feel their most productive, comfortable and look their best. And unlike many other pods on the market, all of these functions are embedded in one system, smoothly controlled from an intuitive high-definition touch screen interface – simple to use, enabling preset and instant adjustments. This aspect was driven by user survey respondents who claimed pods such be personalised in a mere ‘few seconds’, another challenge Dancoo didn’t shy from: ‘The entire smart control system doesn't even have a complicated manual; only simple explanations are provided, and users can become proficient after a few uses, making all these needs easily accessible,’ says Zhu Weiwei, CEO of Dancoo.

Market research showed that other pod manufacturers were using external data processing to achieve pod intelligence and digitisation, making it possible to commodify work patterns. This sparked debate during the pods’ development, resulting in Dancoo embedding internal, on-site data storage into the design. This ‘digital fortress’ means data remains encrypted within corporate firewalls, ensuring no third-party data brokers or algorithmic surveillance can compromise privacy. ‘In this era, privacy is a non-negotiable right,’ explains Zhu Weiwei. ‘Dancoo believes that customers’ pod usage data is sensitive internal data, therefore, we returned to the essence of smart pod functionality: providing customers with the most advanced privacy protection, not only for sound but also for internal sensitive data.’

Although many workplaces have already adapted to hybrid rules, it’s still an ongoing necessity to keep employees returning to the office, where so many benefits from collaboration to resource sharing remain. One way to support this is through interior design that is just as comfortable as home-working scenarios, which is why Dancoo offers a more natural and comfortable interior within its next generation of pods. This ranges from the simulation of natural lighting to material options such as birch plywood (available with Dancoo Dawn), as well as ergonomic furniture, including footrests and high-level desktop lighting.

This thinking extends to the external design, with its minimalist aesthetic of clean lines that blend seamlessly into open-plan office environments without visual distraction. Each element of the pod ties into Dancoo’s ‘less is more’ philosophy, even when it comes into the straightforward internal components often pre-assembled for easy installation and relocation within the office, ideal for growing companies seeking to futureproof. Zhu Weiwei summarises: ‘Our vision is to create a professional soundproof space that is quiet, safe, convenient and comfortable, rivalling the ambience of a home office, with every component aligning with this vision to seamlessly integrate into more offices worldwide and foster a better working environment.’

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