Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
2. Background
The basic proposition in the background of this research follows the idea of Vischer's
modified and tested model (Hyrkkänen & Nenonen 2011). The factors of fit and misfit are in
the upcoming chapters examined from the physical, functional and psychosocial
perspectives.
2.1 The elements of physical comfort and fit in the virtual workplace of a mobile
employee
The elements of physical spaces and places impact on the possibilities for effective virtual
work. Constraints of physical places hamper the mobile worker's way to virtual work
places. It could be claimed that the access to the virtual reality is restricted in many ways by
poor and out of date working environments, their lay outs, electrical designs and furniture.
The reviewed articles demonstrated and confirmed this by describing many situations
where the mobile employees met physical hindrances.
Despite the increase of “hot desking”, many odd places are still offered for building up a
work station, especially if the mobile employee is an occasional visitor (Hislop & Axtell,
2009; Mark & Su, 2010) at his own company's or customer's premises. At public places,
mobile employees have even reported the need to compete for electrical power due to a
limited amount of power outlets (Axtell et al., 2008; Brown & O'Hara, 2003; Forlano b, 2008;
Mark & Su, 2010).
When executing the anywhere working style, the employee will undoubtedly encounter
many physical places that are not in the first hand designed primarily for working
purposes. This is likely to happen at airports, in different means of transportation, in
cafeterias or in hotel rooms (Axtell et al., 2008; Breure & van Meel, 2003; Brown & O'Hara,
2003; Laurier, 2004; Laurier & Philo, 2003). Their furniture is primarily designed for
travelling or for leisure time activities. They are hardly convertible for working. For
example, in trains there are no flat surfaces large enough for laying down portable mobile
devices (Perry & Brodie, 2006).
In the physical fit of virtual reality lies also the question of its appropriateness to the human
sensory system. For example visual and auditory problems may arise. For ensuring the
success of work, mobile employees carry many tools with them - including redundant tools
to be on the safe side. To avoid letting the burden grow beyond measure, increasingly
smaller-sized devices are selected. With small size you inevitably choose small displays -
and visual difficulties. (Axtell et al., 2008; Brown & O'Hara, 2003; Felstead et al., 2005;
Hislop & Axtell, 2009; Mark & Su, 2010; Perry et al., 2001; Perry & Brodie, 2006; Vartiainen &
Hyrkkänen, 2010; Venezia & Allee, 2007.)
Noisy physical environments may disturb and interrupt concentrated working in virtual
reality. Especially in public places, in trains and airplanes, tourists and neighbors near the
mobile worker may disturb the work (Axtell et al., 2008; Breure & van Meel, 2003). On the
other hand, a smooth level of discussing voices e.g. in a cafeteria may help the worker to
relax and lose him/herself in virtual reality (Forlano, 2008a; Rasila et al. 2011).
The contradictory relation between the physical and virtual worlds might cause the misfit
which may also lead to safety risks, e.g. when driving a car (Laurier & Philo, 2003; Perry &
