An award-winning world authority on smart building technology has praised a Derby IT firm after it brought companies together to discuss how innovation, design and data will revolutionise the workplace.
Matthew Marson, an international speaker at events relating to emerging technology and net-zero design in the built environment, said a conference hosted by city smart building firm Scenariio helped raise awareness of the work being done to solve UK business’s most pressing issues.
The event, which was called the Workplace Technology Conference and took place at the Chocolate Factory – home to the Bustler Market – in Siddals Road, attracted delegates from more than 100 firms and organisations keen to explore how innovations making the workplace safer and more people- and eco-friendly.
They included circadian lighting – which is designed to mirror the different shades and intensity of daylight as it changes through the day – movement sensors, cameras, air quality monitors and a host of data-gathering devices linked to the Internet of Things and powered via ethernet cables.
It also featured talks and round table discussions tackling issues such as bringing people back into the workplace, achieving sustainability targets and, in Matthew’s case, looking at how AI technology can create a human-focussed buildings with individual personalities of their own.
Matthew, who works with a host of blue-chip clients and was last year crowned the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Young Engineer of the Year, gave two keynote speeches during the day and welcomed the chance to share his thoughts and meet other delegates working in the smart building industry.
He said: “We are struggling to articulate the message when it comes to talking about the benefits of smart building technology so it’s good that Scenariio has brought the industry together to discuss the issues facing companies and what they might be able to do about them.
“Everybody knows about the 2050 net-zero target and there is certainly a will to make a difference, however COVID has badly affected people’s confidence in our ability to achieve it and there is a lot of confusion and uncertainty about whether or not to invest in the technology that can help us do so.
“Conferences like this can certainly help with that and it’s been refreshing to attend an event that’s been held outside London. I’ve really enjoyed being here and I really love the venue!”
Attendees included landlords, architects, fit-out experts and tech firms and among the firms represented at the event were Smartengine wtec, UKI CommScope, engineering consultants Cundall, Cisco Meraki, Nottingham Trent University, ISS and fit-out and refurbishment specialists Overbury.
Topics discussed on the stage, meanwhile, included how companies should now be looking providing a range of different working environments, including video call booths and smaller meeting rooms, how face recognition software will replace the plastic ID card and even how modern noise-cancelling speakers can omit the sound of a dog barking in the same room for people who are working at home.
Rob Pritchard, managing director of Scenariio, said: “We’re extremely pleased with how our first-ever Workplace Technology Conference has brought together such a diverse range of companies to showcase the very latest innovations and thinking in our industry.
“Although we specialise in installing smart building technology, this is a reminder that we operate in just one corner of a growing and multi-faceted industry which is already having a huge effect on changing the way our workplaces look and function.
“COVID has had a massive effect on employers and employees alike and it’s also been fascinating to learn about the changes it has brought about while showcasing the Chocolate Factory, which is a perfect example of a venue which has benefitted from smart tech.”
Established in 2013, Scenariio has installed smart building technology, including intelligent lighting, integrated and supplementary sensor networks and audio-visual systems, at premises across the UK.
Its clients include Gymshark, Severn Trent Water and Tarmac, as well as, closer to home, Derby College, LKAB and the popular Bustler Market street food venues in Derby and Nottingham.
For more information visit https://scenariio.com/.
