Driven by employees’ expectations, globally distributed teams, modern technologies and increasingly complex tasks, work and work environments are changing rapidly in the UK.
The way we work is changing
Employees might be in one office space on one and in another on the next day – or even during a single day. But for them to be efficient it is essential that no matter where they are they will always find a working environment they are accustomed to and that does not require them to continuously adjust.
It’s all in the display
Nowadays computer monitors do a lot more than just display images sent to them from a computer. When they are equipped with a USB 3.1 USB-C dock, such as a number of Philips monitors, they provide all the flexibility modern work environments require. Most laptops currently on the market are equipped with a USB-C socket. This can be used for much more than charging the device. It can also be connected to one of the Philips monitors with USB-C docking to send the high resolution video output to the monitor and thus greatly extend the viewing area compared to the small laptop screen. As the monitor charges the connected device at the same time with up to 100 W 5 A, batteries are recharged in a very short time.
Another requirement for modern workplaces is to make sure that documents and data are easily accessible to everyone involved. Thanks to the Philips displays with USB-C docking this is as easy as it gets as they are equipped with Ethernet ports so connection to the local area network (and the Internet) is practically built into the monitor. This makes Wi-Fi access superfluous, provides a much higher bandwidth for each user and prevents outsiders from “sniffing” in on the network and illegally gaining access to data. Also, USB 3.1 enables data transfer speeds of 1.25 GB/s so data can be transferred in no time at all.
All necessary peripherals readily available
As all the Philips USB-C docking monitors are also equipped with a USB hub, peripherals such as mouse and keyboard can be plugged into the display and are readily available to the user as soon as they have connected their laptop to the monitor’s USB-C port.
One great advantage of USB-C cables over cables from previous USB standards: you cannot plug it in the wrong way round as the connector has an all-round symmetrical design always ensuring a snug fit. Moreover, the connectors are the same on both ends of the cable, so it doesn’t matter which end you plug into which device.
USB has come a long way
USB has been part of the computer world for over 20 years. Just about all computers and mobile devices as well as peripherals found on desks or even in pockets or bags have some sort of USB connector. Mice, keyboards, external hard drives, printers, scanners, etc. are generally all connected to PCs using USB. Most mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets and many laptops are also charged via a USB cable. From its first incarnation in 1996, USB has come a long way to what it is now. Just imagine the transfer rate of USB 1.0: in the so-called Low Speed mode it was a mere 187.5 KILOBYTE per second, the Full Speed mode managed at least 1.5 MB/s. Compare this to the whopping 1.25 GB (10 Gbit)/s transfer speed USB 3.1 now provides.
Great choice of screen sizes plus user-friendly features
Philips displays with USB-C docking are available in a range of screen sizes. The 241B7QUPBEB, for instance, has a 23.8” screen with Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) resolution, while the 272B7QUPBEB and the 328P6AUBREB feature Quad HD (2560 x 1440 pixels) resolution with screen sizes of 27” and 31.5” respectively. All of them come with glare-free IPS panels, which offer great colours and wide viewing angles, so an exchange of views in front of a single monitor is comfortable for all participants. The fully ergonomic monitor stand can easily be adjusted to the needs of the individual in front of the monitor, while Low Blue mode and Flicker-free technology minimise eye fatigue.
Please note that your connected hardware must fully support the USB 3.1 standard to benefit from its high technical specifications. A hard disk with a USB 2.0 interface, for example, can only transfer data with the maximum USB 2.0 transfer rate of 60 MB (480 Mbit)/s, even when connected to a USB 3.1 port.