Let’s get this straight from the top – we’re not able to give advice about making financial investments in properties, off shore savings funds or a yacht for your weekend break. Sorry about that.
What we can recommend though, is how to maximise your little bit of real estate at work – your desk. And don’t worry if your desk is at home, as there are solutions for there too.
The single lifestyle
Working with a single monitor at your computer is not in itself a problem. For instance, at limited application or reduced use machines, a single monitor is perhaps all that is required.
Some examples might include a till at a retail outlet, a reference computer at a car workshop, or a computer at a hotel reception desk.
However, with the major drawback being you can only have one application open at once (in full screen), productivity will benefit from more monitors in many industries and workloads.
Doubling up
When you have a dual monitor, no longer are you limited to a single application at once, having two applications open side by side in full.
Think about how many seconds it takes to change between the tasks of reading your emails, then to a web browser, then to a spreadsheet. Then think about how often you repeat that process over a working day. Research has shown that with employees no longer having to switch between applications, employees are able to maintain focus with an increased productivity rate.
The research
In 2017, Jon Peddie Research conducted their third survey with end users about productivity at work or in entertainment
In 2002, the average expectation of productivity improvement due to the use of multiple monitors was 46%. Productivity expectation in 2012 dropped a bit to 42%, and in our recent 2017 survey it stayed the same at 42% average expected productivity.
Particularly with the rise in Teams meetings, many users worldwide also report that dual screen working is both more pleasant and enjoyable than with a single, especially when taking notes or referring to other documents.
Full details can be found on the JPR website at: https://www.jonpeddie.com/reports/multi-monitor-study-usage-and-trends/
What do I need for dual screen working?
The overwhelming majority of modern laptops and desktops do not need any further hardware to support dual screen outputs. This said, you will need to ensure your monitors have available ports and the correct connectors, so it’s best to give us a call to talk you through your options and ensure everything works out of the box.
You also need to consider how much physical space you have, and what is therefore possible in that space. Do not rule yourself out entirely though, as:
- Dual monitor clamps or wall mounts can free up desk space
- Two screens of different sizes is still more productive than one
- Super ultrawide monitors can give the real estate of two monitors, in a single physical screen
On the move
What about users that don’t have a fixed desk though, perhaps sales reps or hot desking?
One option is from a company called Portabl, who have created a system that mounts two additional monitors to either side of an existing laptop. With only 1 USB lead to your laptop required, this is a great solution for those on the move.
You can read more on this solution by clicking this link: https://www.portabl.com/
Another option is an external monitor from the likes from ASUS, which again plugs in via USB to give another 15” display.
Please sir, can I have some more?
What about if you want more screens? Is this possible? The short answer is yes, but you will need additional hardware (and space!)
At the VMit office we all use 3 screens, further pushing the ability to keep applications open and switch without distracting our workflow.
On top of an additional monitor (and associated power & cabling), in desktops this often requires a separate graphics card, and with laptops requires a docking station. Again, give our office a call on 01603 867103, and one of our technicians will guide you through what is required.