The IoT and coworking spaces have a lot in common. Both need to strike a careful balance between forging accessible yet secure connections to engage with and protect their growing communities.

It’s a tough call. Lucas Seyhun, co-founder at The Farm Coworking, said: “While we work with some of New York’s leading technical startups, we are always careful to make sure the technology we use does not replace the human connections that we are so careful to foster.”

“The IoT is one way to achieve this – and we’re just starting to see some really interesting developments that will help coworking communities to connect, grow and stay secure,” he added.

Three technologies, in particular, are helping coworking spaces to achieve a delicate balance of keeping coworking communities both connected and safe.

The first is the Kisi cloud-based platform for physical access control, which uses mobile devices or cards to give coworking members access to spaces.

The Austin-based coworking space atx FACTORY uses this technology and its founder, Vijay Mehra, said: “With this technology, our members can use the application to access the facility via their smartphone 24/7. We did not want to hand out clunky access cards and really wanted to embrace mobile technology in our space, especially with many of our members being mobile and virtual themselves.”

“It is really easy for us to restrict access as we have certain discount memberships that are limited to the time of day they have access to the facility. It is also really easy for us to deactivate the cards if a member cancels. There is no need to collect or have an inventory of access cards,” Mehra added.

Bernhard Mehl, co-founder at Kisi, explained: “Kisi’s vision is to bring open access to the world of things – and we started with real estate. Typically buildings have been locked up and we believe IoT can change that.”

Critical to manage workspace

Second, WUN Systems is a workspace management system for coworking and shared spaces. Its sales director, Warren Hersowitz, said: “WUN offers a platform that will manage the technology of the space including data/WiFi, phones and door access. Even more, the services can be specified around a specific membership plan or member’s needs – for example, a member who needs 24/7 access, ability to access conference rooms when booked, data plan with certain bandwidth and a voice line.”

It also lets coworking spaces integrate all of their systems to provide greater automation and efficiency. This has a knock on effect for coworking members, as Hersowitz explains: “The platform also allows for automation, which can increase the revenue for coworking spaces by allowing them to offer services like 24/7 meeting room access (as opposed to only when staff are present), create a better customer experience (through the portal or phone app that allows instant sign-ups and access to information) and increase efficiency of the staff.”

Third, XANDEM is a full coverage motion detection and tracking technology that monitors spaces without a camera. People wandering around a coworking space appear as a small “X” on the screen.

The company’s CEO and founder, Joey Wilson, said: “There are many XANDEM features that might appeal to a coworking space. Maybe users of the space want to check to see how busy it is before deciding to come in. XANDEM can show them how much action is happening. If the building owner wants to save energy by automating the lighting system – XANDEM can do that.”

But, and this is a pertinent point for coworking spaces, XANDEM lessens privacy concerns, according to Wilson, who added: “In many locations, video surveillance is not appropriate due to privacy or confidentiality issues. XANDEM provides real-time monitoring without going overboard. All that one sees on the interface is a little “X” moving around on the floor plan.”

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The IoT is infiltrating every aspect of day-to-day life — and the office is no exception. From meeting owls to smart forks to virtual bartenders, our workplaces are getting smarter — and a bit quirkier — thanks to IoT-based tech. Here are the 10 of the weirdest and most wonderful IoT devices that you need for your workplace.

#1: Smart vending machines

Indianapolis-based smart vending machine supply company IVM wants to eliminate administrative hassles. IVM has equipped several tech companies, including Facebook, Intel, Dropbox, Logitech, and HP, with vending machines that dispense common tech peripherals, like keyboards, computer mice and cables, as well as other job-specific equipment, like repair tools and safety equipment, to reduce the delay and headaches associated with ordering them. It also helps companies keep track of what supplies go where to keep costs predictable.

#2: Niq, your office bartender

Niq is an intelligent bartender who lives inside a motorized bartending station in the Y Media Labs offices. Niq’s brain resides inside an iPad app, and his body is an IoT-enabled set of motors and pumps powered by an Arduino board. Niq will recognize you when you step in front of his eyes, the front-facing iPad camera, just like a normal bartender. After recognition, Niq will speak to you in a British accent using a voice interface, and then can chat or recommend a drink, or follow your drink preferences.

Unfortunately, Niq was specifically made by Y Media Labs during a hackathon — so he’s only available in their offices.

#3: Next-gen office blinds

View Glass manufactures dynamic windows that tint electronically in response to the weather and position of the Sun; they are essentially transition lenses for buildings, and the windows’ tint levels can be changed through a connected smartphone app. The glass also connects with the building management system to adjust the heating and cooling as the conditions change.

#4: Smart eating

The Bluetooth-enabled HAPIfork is a smart fork, and pairs wirelessly with your smartphone or tablet to track, analyze and help suggest ways to improve your regular eating habits. It’s actually pretty useful; the implement will tell you if you’re eating too quickly and will encourage you to slow down before hitting work again, which is a definite win for most office workers.  

#5: Fixing your posture

Are you hunched over your keyboard right now? Upright can fix that!

Upright is a smart “posture trainer,” a wearable device you stick to your back that reminds you to sit up straight throughout the day. It also incorporates short training sessions and provides feedback on how your posture is improving.

#6: Automated writing

Livescribe is a pen/dictaphone hybrid for the IoT age that allows you to accurately digitize your notes on the go. Livescribe connects to your tablet or smartphone using Bluetooth, syncing everything you write on real paper into the app on your paired device.

#7: The Meeting Owl

The Meeting Owl is an intelligent 360° video conferencing device that — you guessed it— looks like an owl.

But don’t be fooled by its cute exterior — this device can pack a punch. The Owl learns where people are sitting in the room and automatically focuses the camera on the person who is speaking. It’s wifi-enabled, both so that Owl Labs can improve the intelligent software over time and so that the user can access the Meeting Owl app to manually control the focus of the camera.

#8: People monitoring

XANDEM is a smart sensor that monitors your office — without cameras. It’s a bit like Harry Potter’s magical Marauder’s map, showing your staff’s movements as they walk around your office.

#9: Stopping back injuries

“Remember to bend at the knee!” Finally, those health and safety demos telling us how to lift a box are getting an upgrade.

Motus Global is on the verge of launching wearable smart tech that’ll change workplace injuries forever. The motusONE system analyzes a person’s physical condition and wellness using four sensors inserted strategically in a shirt. For example, if an employee is doing some heavy lifting, you can look at data from different muscles and joints in the body to assess if the person is putting themselves at risk of an injury while doing the activity.

#10: Wynd air quality system

Sick of your colleagues sneezing on you? The Wynd intelligent personal air quality system envelops you in a bubble of clean air to stop you catching the office cold. It monitors your environment and cleans it as needed to remove dust, germs and other particulate pollution from your personal space.

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