Vision shapes workstation choice: examining the relationship between visual distractions and employee desk preferences.

IF 2.8 3区工程技术 Q3 ENGINEERING, INDUSTRIAL

Ergonomics Pub Date : 2026-09-18 DOI:10.1080/00140139.2026.2727005

Gizem Yenel Güler, Daniel Koch, Christina Bodin Danielsson

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Activity-based flex-offices (AFOs) allow employees to choose their desks according to task requirements. While previous studies have examined desk choice in AFOs, the role of visual distractions in shaping these preferences remains underexplored. This study investigates how visual distractions influence employees' desk preferences and identifies spatial characteristics associated with preferred desks. Conducted in an AFO in Stockholm, Sweden, the study is based on 10 observation sessions, 14 semi-structured interviews, and spatial analyses using the Isovist_App, a visual analysis tool based on the volume of space visible from a point. The findings show that employees consistently prefer desks with lower visual distraction: corner desks were associated with broader visual access, desks away from aisles with reduced exposure to surrounding activity, and desks positioned with their backs to a wall with greater visual control. Overall, this study indicates that employees' desk preferences in AFOs are associated with their need to minimise distractions.

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视觉塑造工作站选择：检查视觉干扰和员工办公桌偏好之间的关系。

基于活动的弹性办公室（afo）允许员工根据任务需求选择办公桌。虽然之前的研究已经调查了afo的办公桌选择，但视觉干扰在形成这些偏好中的作用仍未得到充分探讨。本研究探讨了视觉干扰如何影响员工的办公桌偏好，并确定了与偏好办公桌相关的空间特征。该研究在瑞典斯德哥尔摩的AFO进行，基于10次观察，14次半结构化访谈，以及使用Isovist_App（一种基于从一个点可见的空间体积的可视化分析工具）进行的空间分析。研究结果显示，员工一直喜欢那些视觉干扰较小的办公桌：角落的办公桌与更广阔的视觉通道有关，远离过道的办公桌与周围活动的接触较少，背靠墙的办公桌与视觉控制更强有关。总的来说，这项研究表明，afo员工对办公桌的偏好与他们减少干扰的需求有关。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Ergonomics 工程技术-工程：工业

CiteScore

4.60

自引率

12.50%

发文量

147

审稿时长

6 months

期刊介绍： Ergonomics, also known as human factors, is the scientific discipline that seeks to understand and improve human interactions with products, equipment, environments and systems. Drawing upon human biology, psychology, engineering and design, Ergonomics aims to develop and apply knowledge and techniques to optimise system performance, whilst protecting the health, safety and well-being of individuals involved. The attention of ergonomics extends across work, leisure and other aspects of our daily lives. The journal Ergonomics is an international refereed publication, with a 60 year tradition of disseminating high quality research. Original submissions, both theoretical and applied, are invited from across the subject, including physical, cognitive, organisational and environmental ergonomics. Papers reporting the findings of research from cognate disciplines are also welcome, where these contribute to understanding equipment, tasks, jobs, systems and environments and the corresponding needs, abilities and limitations of people. All published research articles in this journal have undergone rigorous peer review, based on initial editor screening and anonymous refereeing by independent expert referees.