The Bizzy-i™ is a simple lollipop-shaped plastic device which adheres to the top of your computer monitor. On the front of the device is printed a smiley green face, which signals that you are happy to be approached while you work. However, when you need to work without being distracted by interruptions, the green face can quickly be flipped over to display a red smiley face, sending out a clear signal that you need to concentrate.
Carol Green, designer and developer of the Bizzy-i™, is confident that organisations across the globe could benefit from this simple innovation. She says: “An increasing number of businesses and public authorities are bringing in open-plan premises, where staff share a large space instead of each working in individual offices.
“However, while the open-plan concept brings certain advantages and efficiencies to an organisation, the ability of each member of staff to have a private space in which to work without interruption has disappeared. Bizzy-i™ gives you a virtual office door which can be closed when you need to concentrate most.”
The idea has been tested by a selection of staff at Cheltenham’s GCHQ and it was found that over a test period, use of Bizzy-I was productive. Carol Green comments: “In terms of extra productivity, half an hour a day per employee really adds up, whatever size of organisation you’re running. In a firm with just ten office staff, using the Bizzy-i™ could actually give you an additional 17 days a year.
The Bizzy-i™ is currently being piloted at Coventry City Council. Head of Customer and Business Services, Allan French says “The advent of open plan offices does have many benefits; but also creates some issues with approachability. We at Coventry are committed to improving working conditions for our staff and see the Bizzy-i™, as fun but effective means of communicating our availability”.