Details Brings New Focus to Monitor Support with Eyesite Debut

Research uncovers need for new flat panel support system.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Showroom #3-107 -- Details, a Steelcase company, will debut Eyesite(TM), an innovative monitor arm that supports multiple flat panel displays, during NeoCon 2009 in Chicago, June 15-17.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090615/DE31953 )

"The Eyesite monitor arm provides one solution for all needs with up to three monitors from one arm, also known as a single architecture," says Ken Suttorp, a product manager with Details. "Publicly available research reports indicate that office workers can increase their efficiency by up to 50 percent through the use of multiple flat panel displays. In addition, the Eyesite monitor arm features address one of the most significant repetitive stress injuries among knowledge workers -- eyestrain."

Over the past two years Details, in conjunction with IDEO, conducted both user interviews and observational research to study the visual display needs of active and passive computer users. Active users frequently need to manipulate on-screen data and are found in work environments such as data entry, computer coding, and graphic design. Passive users simply monitor data and are found in environments like control rooms, production studios, and healthcare settings. The key findings related to how users expected a multiple flat panel display to articulate and which articulations were most important in both the active and passive applications.

Research reports indicate increased active user efficiency relative to the ability to segregate work on multiple flat panel monitors that enabled them to view multiple projects simultaneously, rather than toggling back and forth between windows on a single monitor. Details found that users prefer to align both displays on a single plane, directly adjacent to each other in a cockpit-type orientation and articulate them vertically and focally as one unit. The Eyesite monitor arm's "Move as one" key design feature provides the vertical position and focal adjustment of both monitors occurs as if they were a single display.

In passive environments, multiple Eyesite supports can be arranged to create a wraparound cockpit effect that makes it easy to monitor data at a glance.

All of these features - multiple monitors, the simultaneous adjustment of adjacent monitors, and the cockpit effect - work together to minimize eyestrain.

The Eyesite monitor arm offers substantial flexibility to adapt to changing technology and, as a result, it gives the product significant longevity. The product allows users to add monitors as their needs grow simply by adding additional support components.

"Research concluded that respondents wanted the flexibility to add additional displays off a single flat panel architecture," Suttorp says. "This is one of Eyesite's primary features. The ability of Eyesite to flex and support our customer's changing technology without having to dispose of the initial asset is just smart design - for our customers and the environment."

The Eyesite architecture supports displays up to 24 inches in either 16:9 or 4:3 formats and provides a unique "feather-touch" tilt-adjustment feature for effortless, incremental monitor positioning. In addition, the product folds nearly flat, allowing users to push it out of the way to reclaim worksurface when desired. "We feel the clean, crisp lines and lack of any visible fasteners will make the Eyesite architecture a perfect solution for both private and open office environments," Suttorp continued. The Eyesite monitor arm is expected to meet Cradle to Cradle Silver certification, maintaining Details commitment to environmentally sustainable products.

The price of the Eyesite monitor arm is based on the configuration and ranges from $340-$1,100. The product will be available in fall 2009.

About Details

Details, a Steelcase company based in Grand Rapids, Mich., provides innovative worktool solutions compatible with most furniture systems. Details worktools are sold through a network of 450 dealers and are featured in 20 Steelcase showrooms throughout North America. For more information about Details, visit www.details-worktools.com.