desk : Computer Hardware Buyers’ Glossary

Introduction

The Surfaces

another possibility is pattern 1425:

or pattern P936:

or solid S414:

The coarser grain would not show flaws as readily.

The Tables

I am not too particular how the table is supported. It might have four legs or two side panels and a back panel, so long as the front surface allows free leg motion and the table does not wobble.

There are two holes — one in the back left and one in the back right corner of the tables to allow electrical cords to get from underneath to the desk surface. Ideally the holes are about 3 by 1.5 with plastic liners and cord guides to make them look neat and to reduce binding when you pull a cord through.

The Hutch

The horizontal lines represent shelves. The brown boxes represent cupboards. Inside each cupboard is a horizontal shelf. The entire unit is four feet high, 6 feet wide and, 1 foot deep. One unit is 2 feet wide and the other five feet. The cupboards clear the desk surface by 1 foot. The middle shelf gives 20" clearance from the desk surface. The cupboards are 55.88 cm (1.83 ft) tall. The hutch should be sturdy, no particle board. It could be surfaced in wood or arborite.

The Table Book Cases

They are 4 feet tall and 1 feet deep. One is 2 feet wide and the other 5 feet wide. The cases should be sturdy, no particle board. They could be surfaced in wood or arborite. They are freestanding and hence could also sit on the floor away from the desk.

The Floor Book Cases

Improving The Design

The desk’s dimensions may seem overly large. I am a very tall person and so would have much less trouble reaching the upper portions of the desk.

Another possibility would be to make the large desk bookcase rest on the floor. That way it would not subtract from the surface area of the right most table. It would be somewhat awkward to get at the lower shelves since you would have to crawl under the desk.

By cutting off the sharp right angle corners or slightly rounding them, the pieces would be less susceptible to damage should they be banged into a wall during a move.

Stages

1. floor standing book case 1
2. floor standing book case 2
3. table 1
4. large table book case
5. small table book case
6. table 2
7. table 3
8. hutch

Future Desk

A desk a device to store objects and make it easy to find them. It also holds things in position for you to read them or write on them. Imagine an intelligent desk, that holds the objects you need exactly at the right place, not necessarily on a common level surface. Imagine a small team of people who held books in the air at the correct page for you. Another would hold you monitor at the correct height and distance, perhaps moving it about a bit to exercise your eyes. You could call out like a surgeon pen, blank DVD (Digital Video Disc) dictionary and it would appear at the usual place for that object. Stuff you were not using would be automatically filed away clearing your workspace. Think how many desks there are in the world and how much some of the people are paid each hour who use them. Surely even a small improvement in efficiency would have a very short payback time.