The impact of the ‘open’ workspace on human collaboration

Re:The impact of the ‘open’ workspace on human collaboration by mr_tristan on Wednesday October 24, 2018 @08:49PM (#18297760)

I wonder if any of these studies of workspaces take sound into consideration. These studies seem visual in nature, where sound tends to be as significant for many of us.

I've worked remotely, from cubes, open offices, and have spent plenty a working hour in cafes. And amazingly, I've noticed I focus best either isolated (at home), or at a cafe, where I'm effectively surrounded by white noise.

Edit: I'm not just interested in "is person talking" or not, but what is the nature of the sound environment.

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Re:The impact of the ‘open’ workspace on human collaboration by bradknowles on Thursday October 25, 2018 @12:11AM (#18298501)

For me, people talking is not "white noise". People banging on things is not "white noise". Machines dinging and donging and bleeping and blarping is not "white noise".

For me, only actual white noise would qualify as "white noise".

And even true white noise can be pretty distracting if it is too loud.

YMMV.

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Re:The impact of the ‘open’ workspace on human collaboration by mr_tristan on Thursday October 25, 2018 @02:54PM (#18303520)

Enough people talking, such that you can not follow any one conversation, functions like white noise.

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