Whether they are located at a data center or at the heart of an industrial, transportation or broadcast operation, control rooms are often high-pressured environments to work in. It is therefore vital that they remain efficient and productive so that critical decisions can be made quickly, accurately and data can be efficiently received and analyzed.
How businesses employ technology to aid and enable human operations is often what sets them apart from their competitors. The productivity of a control room depends on many factors, one of which is ergonomics. This includes the arrangement of furniture and the placement of computer screens and displays.
Supporting equipment and technologies also allow improved ergonomics and workflow which can often have the greatest impact on the overall efficiency and productivity of a control room environment. IP-based, high performance KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) is one example of a supporting technology which has grown to become a fundamental part of many control rooms.
Specifically, IP-based, high performance KVM optimizes workflows and increases efficiency across the entire control room environment by meeting operational requirements and improving the ergonomics of the workspace.
IP-based, high performance KVM also helps to increase security, something which is particularly important in an age where cyber security is a high priority’ through controlled USB access. This means that businesses can limit the USB privileges of certain users which reduces the likelihood of intellectual property being compromised, or systems being exploited by malicious third-party software.
Streamlined desk ergonomics
By employing KVM switches at the desks of each end-user, the ergonomics of the workspace is dramatically improved and users are instantly able to control multiple computers with a single keyboard and a single mouse. This gives users the ability to switch between applications, without the need to physically move from one computer to another.
For users reliant on more than one monitor at their workstation, more recent IP-based, high performance, based KVM solutions give them the ability to seamlessly scroll across screen boundaries as though they are operating a single computer. This removes the switching process and further improves the user experience that is delivered through KVM technology.
Enjoying collaborative workflow
As well as not having to physically move from station to station, IP-based KVM also means users can access and switch between different computers from a single location, which gives businesses individual and working team workflow benefits. Individual users can access the nominated computers they have been granted access to from a single workstation, working groups can be positioned and take advantage of hot desking within control rooms.
One of the major user concerns when hot desking is a lack of familiarity with the machines and technology they’re using when sat in different places every day, but they can feel much more at home when using KVM technology.
Secure computing
One of the biggest benefits of IP-based, high performance KVM is that it allows the removal of physical computers from the control room into a separate external location such as an access-controlled server room. This increases security by preventing unauthorized access and usage. In addition, the computers can be carefully monitored and controlled which helps to prolong the life of each machine.
Conclusion
These are just three of the main ways that IP-based, high performance KVM can help businesses to streamline and optimize their control room environment, and its total influence reaches all four corners of the working area. When implemented in the right way it is an incredibly powerful tool, and has the potential to revolutionize traditional workflows.
John Halksworth is senior product manager of Adder Technology