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You may have heard us call our new office pod, Jetson, “innovative-driven,” “earth-friendly,” and “people-focused.” And you may be thinking, “Hey, that’s a lot of marketing mumbo-jumbo.” But rest assured, here are a few reasons why it’s just the truth! Regarding Jetson and designing our acoustic pods, we not only talk the talk, we also walk the walk. 

Pioneering assembly system 

Jetson is designed to be the first truly DIY office pod that could be built during a casual lunch break by two people. To make it happen, we needed to come up with completely new technology. 

The key element of Jetson’s revolutionary assembly system is our patent-pending system of connecting walls that require no tools. This now makes what has traditionally been the most difficult part of constructing an office pod similar to playing with Legos. All resources required are 2 people and some spare time (30 to 60 minutes, depending on the pod size). No drilling, no bolts, no complicated tools, or special technical skills are needed. 

We believe that listening to music makes most things easier. So for those who will decide to do the assembly themselves, our team has created two dedicated Spotify playlists. They both include songs that will boost your motivation and set the right mood. And it's not a coincidence that they take 30 and 60 minutes

Holistically environment-friendly 

 “Sustainable” may be one of the most overused adjective about any product. But at Mute, we really mean it. When we developed Jetson, we didn’t only want to include “energy-saving features” (though it has them) or several “sustainable solutions” (though it is equipped with many). We wanted Jetson to be genuinely and holistically environment-friendly from every point of view, starting from materials through maintenance, conservation to energy-saving.  

Unlike most acoustic pods, Jetson is built of aluminum, regarded as the world’s most sustainable building material. Sometimes it’s even called “green metal.” Why? Firstly, it’s easy-recyclable material—every batch of material is more or less 70 percent recycled and ready to be reused over and over again. Secondly, aluminum makes Jetson super-durable, meaning it will hold up for years or even decades. And, thanks to aluminum, Jetson is 30 percent lighter than similar office pods on the market, leading to lower CO2 emissions in both manufacturing and transport. 

“Sustainable” also means long-serving. And that concept doesn’t end with durable materials. That’s why Jetson is maintainable and suitable for quick and unproblematic repair. Every element of its construction—including its walls, doors, and ceiling—is easily replaceable. So, if needed, the service is quick and cheap. Basically, it comes down to ordering missing parts and replacing them. No more unrepairable malfunctions right after the warranty period!

Lastly, Jetson's power consumption is 25 percent lower than similar office pods. That’s because every electrical device inside is meticulously chosen to keep power usage to a minimum. We spent dozens of hours going through hundreds of devices and picked only those matching the highest power efficiency standards. 

Flexible accessories system

Yes, Jetson is an acoustic pod, but it was also designed to provide additional functions too. Dedicated accessories installed on the walls, like shelves and whiteboards, make it more useful, universal, and adjustable to fit every office’s needs and vision. 

There are two sets of add-ons that users can choose from. The “Library Set” includes deep and shallow shelves, bookends, and additional accessories to display books, photos, and catalogs. The “Note Set,” includes a whiteboard to note down your boldest ideas during brainstorms. 

What’s really game-changing about the accessory add-ons is that they can be placed virtually anywhere on Jetson’s walls both inside or outside the pod, thanks to the smart and innovative system of hidden wall notches installed every 4.5 centimeters. The system allows reconfiguring the set effortlessly. All you need to do is grab a shelf, lift it gently to remove it from notches, and then hang it at another place or height. 

These are only a few of Jeton’s fantastic and useful innovations. If you want to learn more about our Jetson’s novelties, check out our website or listen to the audio guide we created especially for Jetson. Or better yet, experience Jetson for yourself at a trade fair or one of our showrooms across Europe. You can find us next at Orgatec in Cologne, Germany, from October 24 to 29. See you there! 

Buying and placing an acoustic pod may seem like a no-brainer for some. You choose the product, look for an empty spot at your office, check if a pod fits, and… there you go!

Well, that’s the easy way. But from our experience, if you’re up to making the most of a pod’s capabilities, you should consider taking a more conscious approach to the process. So, let’s dive into some basic rules for choosing and implementing acoustic pods. 

This article is a part of the Acoustic Pods Consumers Guide, which we created to address the most crucial questions about acoustic pods. The guide walks you through how to choose the right pod, place it within your office and introduce it to your team. Download your guide here.

Acoustic Pods: Choosing the right number and types

Fact: Choosing the correct number and type of acoustic pods is crucial to making the most of each. So, what’s the secret? The trick is to find the right balance: you don’t want to see your employees fighting for pod time. On the other hand, putting too many pods in one area will clutter up your workplace. But believe us, the right choice helps you transform your office and enhance your employees' well-being. Here are two key tips to consider. 

→ In most cases, one pod is not enough:

Believe it or not, one of the classic mistakes our clients make is that they believe one pod will magically solve all their problems. But the truth is that an acoustic pod is not magic. It’s almost impossible to utilize one pod as a soundproof phone booth, a place for focused work, and a meeting room all at once. It just doesn’t work. If you choose too few pods, they will always be occupied (unless you are a super-small business). It can even lead to tension between those who want to use the acoustic office booth for a quick but crucial phone call and those who want to use it for several hours of focused work. Make sure you consider what needs your employees have, what pods can meet those needs, and make your purchasing decisions from there

→ Consider teams’ varying needs and expectations: 

When you’re deciding on how many of which types of pods your office needs, analyze your teams’ expectations and the nature of each team’s work. There are at least four different purposes pods can serve: quick calls, collaboration, meetings, and concentration. Each purpose requires a different approach. For example, a big sales team would likely require more one-person acoustic booths for making phone calls. On the other hand, a marketing or strategy team needs at least one larger pod to meet and debate over ideas, away from typical office hustle and bustle. If you’re unsure about teams’ needs, try preparing a questionnaire for team members and hear from them directly the kind of space they want and need most.

Place your acoustic pods wisely

In the property business the three most important factors to determine a property’s potential are “location, location & location.” You’ve probably heard that before—and the same goes for acoustic pods. In our guide, we cover the subject comprehensively by presenting tips for each function. But for now, let’s look at four basic rules.

→ Keep them close (but not too close):

Most acoustic pods should be located close to potential users to allow comfortable access. This is especially true for pods dedicated to quick phone calls. However, try to make sure you leave at least two meters of space between the pod and the closest workstations. This makes sure the fans’ light whir does not disturb any nearby employees.

→ Give it space: 

Let’s face it, while working on something intense or giving a client an important presentation on Zoom, the last thing you need is a stuffy room. That’s why excellent ventilation is the hidden gem of a quality office pod. It’s an underappreciated, yet often decisive, factor in making the pod interior a comfortable and enjoyable place to spend a few hours.

Here’s an important tip: to ensure that pod fans work optimally, leave at least 20 centimeters of free space above the ceiling and on both sides of the pod walls. Also, avoid putting the pod too close to a window because it can heat up the pod (especially if it’s turned east or south).

→ Use pods as partitions:

Soundproof pods generally provide impeccable acoustics inside. However, note that they also influence acoustics on the outside. Pods can also be perfect partitions to separate zones in your office space. While enabling team members easy access, pods are also very effective sound blockers and provide some privacy for groups in your office.

→ Move them if you want to: 

Of course, placing a pod is not a lifelong decision. In a dynamic business environment, you may be required to reconfigure your office. After all, change is a natural element of progress. Therefore, it’s probably good news that moving the pod doesn’t have to be an all-day job. There are plenty of pods on the market (including our Space) with additional casters built-in so moving them and rearranging them is super simple.

Make acoustic pods part of an office well-being policy

The hardest part is over after buying and placing pods, but… we are not through yet. Think of what you can do to introduce pods to your employees properly. It doesn’t have to be a huge and elaborate plan. A few smart and easy actions will let you make the pods an integral part of your employee satisfaction strategy. You can base it on our 3-step plan outlined below.

→ Welcome:

Not everyone is familiar with the concept of a pod and its functionalities. Acoustic pods might be a novelty for most people used to traditional office equipment.  At first, some team members might feel apprehensive about using pods. Try to do everything you can to encourage them. You can start by sending a memo around that introduces the pod to your team and spreads awareness about the benefits of excellent acoustics in the workspace. 

→ Educate: 

Put up posters that describe the function of the pod on its walls. For example, on the pod dedicated to quick phone calls, post a sign reminding everyone to keep their pod time short and sweet. On a pod dedicated to meetings, it would be helpful to remind people that the pod is included in the online booking system and that you should make sure it’s free to use before dropping in.

→ Check and analyze:

Monitor how every pod is used. After teams have used the pods for a few months, send out a survey that asks employees about their thoughts and feedback on pod functionality and placement.

→ Move them if you want to: 

Of course, placing a pod is not a lifelong decision. In a dynamic business environment, you may be required to reconfigure your office. After all, change is a natural element of progress. Therefore, it’s probably good news that moving the pod doesn’t have to be an all-day job. There are plenty of pods on the market (including our Space) with additional casters built-in so moving them and rearranging them is super simple.

Enjoyed these quick tips and want to learn more?

We believe acoustic pods are tools that, with smart use, can single-handedly transform your office into a better, more productive, and more joyful place. If you are eager to learn more, check out the complete Acoustic Pods Consumer Guide here.

Office distractions are the “elephant in the room” of the modern workplace. Nearly three out of four workers admit feeling distracted while on the job, but very few people bring up the problem to their managers. Let’s face it: if you are reading this article at your office, you will probably get distracted at least once in the process.

Is there a solution to office distractions? In the previous article, we proposed several ideas, and, unsurprisingly, one of those suggestions was to use acoustic pods as a place for focused and creative work. Today, we’ll dive a bit deeper into how to fully utilize acoustic pods, including where to place them for maximum efficiency and productivity. We’re sure these tips will help you create cozy shelters for employees who need a place to focus. Let’s start!

This article is a part of the Acoustic Pods Consumers Guide, which we created to address the most crucial questions about acoustic pods. The guide walks you through how to choose the right pod, place it within your office and introduce it to your team. Download your guide here.

Don't put pods too close to workstations 

While some soundproof pods can be placed close to workstations for easy access, pods purchased specifically to provide spaces for focused work need to be located further away. There are three main reasons for this: 

→  To escape distractions: When you want to finish an important task - like a presentation, data analysis, or a blog post -  it's best to sit down in a secluded place to focus. It’s simple: the further you go from your desk, the less likely your colleagues will drop by to ask about something or to show you the latest meme. Ideally, try to cut off all electronic distractors like emails and social media for a while to give your full attention to the task.

→  To boost creativity: It’s scientifically proven that walking boosts creative thinking. Researchers from Stanford University found that the creative thinking of people while walking was 60 percent higher compared to those same people while sitting (Steve Jobs, known for his “walking brainstorms” would probably agree). We all know that the idea of dragging your laptop through the whole office doesn't sound great to you. However, a brief walk across the office could help you come up with more innovative ideas. 

→  To use the Commitment Rule: Building on the suggestion to walk a bit further from your desk, the more time and effort you put into getting to another part of the office for focused work, the higher your chances of staying put and finishing the task. 

It's a trick based on the "effect of commitment", one of the six popular psychological rules coined by psychologist Robert Cialdini. The rule states that once we make a decision and take the first steps towards that decision, we feel internal pressure to behave consistently with that call. A few extra steps could work wonders and make the time spent inside more effective. 

Group pods together to create "Focus Valley" 

It’s invaluable when an employee is always sure that he has his own private workspace whenever he needs it. That’s why it’s better to have more than just one pod dedicated to focused work in the office, so more employees have a chance to use them. Consider creating a “Focus Valley” by grouping these pods together and away from the office’s main workstation areas. It could be some less-visited office alley or a part of a corridor. 

Remember to leave at least 20 centimeters of free space above the pod’s ceiling and on both sides of the pod walls to ensure that pod’s fans work properly. You can also display posters on the pods’ walls that reinforce their function as areas of focus. It can be helpful to assign your pods with a specific purpose so employees make the most of them.

Use the pods as "deep work" chambers

Deep work is a state of distraction-free concentration when your brain operates at its full potential. This level of focus allows you to work more efficiently, especially when it comes to learning challenging concepts more quickly or producing high-quality work.

How can you achieve a state of “deep work”? There are plenty of easy-to-implement guidelines, mainly regarding organizing your work, scheduling time, and training your brain to develop certain habits. Many of them point out that it's essential to prepare a set of rituals before you start deep work. Going to a specially prepared, sound-isolated place, like an acoustic pod, could be one such ritual. Consider encouraging employees to block out time for "deep work" once a week. It will give them a window to concentrate on the task and signal to colleagues that they are unavailable. Moreover, it will help them plan their work better.

Want to learn more? 

We believe acoustic pods are tools that, with smart use, can single-handedly transform your office into a better, more productive, and more joyful place. If you are eager to learn more, check out the complete Acoustic Pods Consumer Guide here.

Acoustic pods are becoming increasingly popular in workplaces around the world.  65 percent of office workers admit that noise significantly affects their efficiency, so it’s no surprise that many major companies treat acoustic pods as important elements of a modern and creative office. Soundproof pods provide solace for employees where privacy at work can be hard to come by.

There is a wide range of acoustic pods on the market, so we understand that it can be challenging to decide what products to choose. It's even more complicated if you are not familiar with acoustics nuances and jargon. So, how do you pick the right pod for the job? What features look into to make sure you’re buying a high-quality product and not just a cool-looking piece of office furniture? Let’s take a look at three essential pod features you’ll want to consider closely before making a purchase. 

This article is a part of the Acoustic Pods Consumers Guide, which we created to address the most crucial questions about acoustic pods. The guide walks you through how to choose the right pod, place it within your office and introduce it to your team. Download your guide here.

Soundproofing 

Understanding soundproofing is a critical first step to evaluating a pod. The acoustic efficiency of different pod models can vary a lot. Some pods offer almost total sound isolation, while others have acoustic properties…on the label only. It’s worth taking some time to hear the difference.

→ The best way to check sound isolation is to do an experiment yourself. If it’s possible, visit a showroom, ideally with a colleague. One of you should step inside and then try to communicate and speak to the other, changing voice level. You should hear significant difference while talking through the pod’s doors. If you are alone, take a Bluetooth speaker and test it by playing your favorite song loud. Perform the experiment in quiet surroundings to ensure the soundproofing level will be noticeable and not disturbed by background noise. 

→ Check the pod’s internal sound isolation as well as its external one. A high-quality pod should have slightly less effective external isolation so that when users are in the pod, they can hear a loud sound (like an alarm going off) outside of it. This is an important design feature for safety. At the same time, you want good internal sound isolation so that conversations are private and don't let too much sound escape into the ambient office space.

→ Don't look only at sound-insulation performance. Also, check the pod's internal reverberation time. A high-quality pod should limit reverberation time to 0.1 – 0.3 seconds. It will improve audibility during phone calls or video calls.

Good to ask: Checking the acoustics, ask producers to provide reliable information about the sound isolation parameters of the whole finished product, not only its particular elements (i.e. walls and doors separately).  

Ventilation 

Adequate ventilation is often overlooked. Why? It’s not well-known that ventilation is crucial to a properly functioning acoustic pod. To ensure a pod is comfortable and enjoyable, especially when working inside for a long time, it has to be equipped with first-class ventilation: silent but very effective. 

→ Pay attention to the noise caused by running fans, both inside and outside the pod. The outside noise is something clients often forget to check. But remember that fans that are too loud can easily disturb employees whose desks are close to the acoustic pod. The noise caused by fans should not be higher than 37 dB outside and 40db inside.

→ Check the airflow of pod ventilation, which tends to vary with the size of the pod and the number of people inside. In order to provide a comfortable atmosphere inside the pod minimal airflow should reach at least 40m3 per hour, per person.

→ Check the pod’s occupancy sensor and whether the ventilation continues to work for a while after users leave the pod. Continuing ventilation provides fresh air for the next user. That functionality may sound obvious, but it's not offered with every pod.

Good to know: The same ventilator can vary in performance depending on the place or mechanism where it’s installed. So, producers should measure these differences and inform you about the airflow level of the ventilator installed inside the pod, not only the level on the label of a ventilator.

Lighting 

Lighting is another significant acoustic pod feature. Adequate brightness inside the pod boosts visual comfort and protects users from eyestrain. This is of course crucial when choosing a pod for individual-focused work.

→ Make sure the light provides at least 300 lux for sitting positions. If you plan to use the pod as a place for extended and focused work, make sure it has an additional side lamp. Also, consider adding a control panel to allow a user to adjust the light's intensity to his individual needs. 

→ Ensure that the light color temperature is 4000 Kelvins which is the recommended level for office work, as it fosters creativity and allows you to focus more easily.

→ Ask if the pod has an occupancy sensor to limit energy consumption and to let you not to bother switching the lights on while entering the pod.

Good to ask: Remember to ask about the Lux level (not only the Kelvin, Watts, or Lumens). Lux is the most adequate scale because it measures the total amount of light that falls on a working surface. To learn more about different scales of light measurement, check our Jargon Buster: Lighting.

Want to learn more? Check out the complete Acoustic Pods Consumer Guide here.

Cover art by Beata Śliwińska @BARRAKUZ

At work, we’re surrounded by countless technological tools that we hardly give a second thought. We use them every day, so we take them for granted. 

Historically, men have overshadowed the many women who invented countless technologies and made important scientific discoveries. In fact, we use many of these important inventions in our everyday work life at the office (and at home). Here are just a few of those innovations developed by women, who pushed against social barriers and discrimination to bring their ideas to life. 

Wireless transmission technology

In the 1940s, Hedy Lamarr was a successful American actress. So it might come as surprise that after a long day on a glamorous set, she was also a technology nerd and inventor. While news German U-Boats threatened civilian ships hit newspapers during World War II, Lamarr had an idea. She had learned that radio-controlled torpedoes used by the U.S. military could be easily jammed, causing the torpedo to miss enemy submarines. So, she invented the concept of frequency-hop signals that could prevent jamming.

She patented a device to emit such a signal. Although never used during the war, "frequency hopping" was crucial to developing every wireless transmission technology we know today. So, the next time you log onto Wi-Fi or use Bluetooth, think of the Austrian-born Hollywood starlet from hits like Lady of the Tropics and the Oscar-nominated film Algiers. 

Computer Algorithm

Algorithm has been a hot word for a while—one that easily defines the business world today. Every app and computer program is based on a series of algorithms. What if we told you that the first algorithm was written almost a century before the first computer was even built? 

Ada Lovelace was the daughter of English poet Lord Byron. She was a talented mathematician. In 1843, while translating the transcript of the lecture about the Analytical Engine—the complex counting machine proposed by mathematics professor Charles Babbage—Ada added her own notes, expanding the original text. Her diagram for the Analytical Engine is widely considered to be the first published algorithm that could be implemented on a computer. Could you be more ahead of your time? 

Coffee Filter 

For some, only paper filters will do to make the best-brewed coffee. With a bit of luck, you've got them in your office's kitchen too. But who came up with this way of preparing coffee? 

Let's meet Melitta Bentz, a housewife from Dresden and a true coffee lover. She disliked that coffee grounds always ended up in her coffee cup. A piece in The New York Times notes that  “every morning she fantasized about better ways to brew.” After a few experiments with alternative ways of making her favorite drink, she finally tore a piece of paper from her son's school notebook and used it to filter the coffee. She accidentally discovered a great, clean and minimalistic way of brewing coffee. 

After receiving a patent for her invention, she started a company with her husband and sons, headquartered in their Dresden apartment. Today, the Melitta Group employs more than 4,000 people across the world. The company reported its revenue in 2017 as 1.5 billion Euros, or about 1.8 billion US

Foot-operated trash can (and more)

Speaking of the kitchen, here’s a slightly less savory—but equally as important—innovation: the foot-operated trash can. When you throw out that coffee filter, you probably step on the foot pedal to open your trash can. For sure, you have never asked yourself who invented that helpful feature. 

Lillian Gilbreth was an American psychologist and a genius inventor of almost countless patents for products that appear in both homes and workspaces. Among her other ingenious ideas were shelves in refrigerator doors, the electric can-opener, and even wall-light switches. And, on top of it all, she raised twelve children. Hats off! 

Caller ID

Before inventing the Caller ID technology, answering a call was a lottery of conversations. You never knew if your friend, boss, or a sales person was on the other side of the line. It might have been fun to guess, but on the other hand, every phone call was one you had to pick up. Fortunately, Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, the first African American woman to earn a doctorate at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology, solved the problem. 

Caller ID, a technology she invented during her work at Bell Labs in the 1970s, allowed us to know who is calling and, we admit, avoid some calls. And, thanks to her other invention, call waiting, we can receive incoming calls while on another call. No more missed business calls!