When putting together an environment for the 21st century, the equipment that enables us to work efficiently is as important as the people who use it. The individual computers designed into a collaborative environment are essential to efficient and effective work. It is important to have reliable and versatile equipment that can be used for all functions and tasks in an ever-changing and demanding work environment. When choosing the types of computers and accessories for your environment, first narrow the scope on specifications by asking yourself some critical questions. 

• Do we need 128MB of RAM or is there a need for more for tasks such as high resolution out put that requires more RAM and a very fast CPU?  Most collaborative environments need powerful computers so graphics as well as text documents
• In the tasks that I do, what additional items will I need with my computer? A scanner? Video? A CD burner? Removeable media?
• What about my network connection? Most computers have a network card (more commonly known as a NIC, network interface card). It is very important to have a fast network to speed the transfer time sensitive files.  The 100mb network is industry standard at this time for new installations. 

What kind of monitor should I use? The monitor this the only visual interface we have with the interworkings of our new, fast, powerful, efficiently running, and finally tuned piece of office equipment. It pays to have this interface be the best it can beto get full benefit from the computer. There are so many options on the market for monitors. There are huge monitors for group viewing. There are small monitors to squint at and there is everything in the middle including the newest to the computing industry, the sought after crystal clear, low volume, flat screen. The flat screen is perfect for every kind of use form high rez graphics to word processing. The flat screen takes up much less space, uses less power, and is more comfortable for long periods of use.

The computing package we recommend includes desktop computers as well as laptops, and all the peripherals an efficient environment needs to get work done. 

Dell Desktop Computers. Dell like all the other hardware companies can provide industry best hardware but also provides the best service available on the market today. Service is very important to the work that needs to be done. An excellent service plan is a great way to ensure as little computer down time a possible. 

Apple Computers. When putting together a comprehensive computing, all sides of the equation need to be considered. Having a cross-platform environment is improtant to the users. One user or one program might be more efficient on one type of platform than on another. Having multipule forums available will ensure that the work gets done efficiently and effectively. The specifications for the Macís are similar to those of the Dellís. Most of the same functionality is available and necessary for smooth use between platforms. 

Laptop Computers. Mobile computing or laptops are an essential part of a dynamic work environment. There are many reasons a creative, collaborative, active environment needs laptops. Foremost it makes for speedy space reconfiguration. If there is an event going on in a part of the space and desktop is not readily available, a staff member or participant can quickly obtain a laptop and proceed to the that area with out missing any of that activity. Though laptops are convenient they are not fool proof. Laptops need to be maintained regularly. Extra batteries and power cords need to be kept on hand to ensure continuous operation. Our recommendation includes a multi-platform work environment. With Mac I-Book and Dell Inspiron laptops. 

Wireless Network. A very important part of mobile computing, is wireless connectivity. To make portable computing efficient with in a work environment, it is necessary for the user to be able to move freely about the environment, but also stay connected to the server where files or data bases my be stored and to be able to access the internet which we have all come to rely on for all types of information. Our design includes provisions for a wireless network which may be expanded past the initial setup as your organization or environment grows, or your needs become more sophisticated. There are many different products available, but we have narrowed in down to one company that provides impeccable product for the PC environment, Range LAN. The product allows for more than 2Mb per second to be transferred remotely with in 300 feet of the base unit. Some may not think 2Mb is very impressive compared to its hard wire counterpart at 100mb per second. You have to keep in mind that this information is being transferred digitally through the air. No wires. For Internet accesses and transferring text documents, 2Mb is sufficient. If there is a need for faster transfer, you can always find a LAN outlet and plug in to the hard wire network. For the Macís, we recommend the Apple wireless technology, AirPort. This works with the new Mac I-Book. It transfer rate is about 11Mb per second. This is brand new technology in the world of wireless networking. 
 

Copiers and Printers. Output quality of paper-based documents are very important. The capability to create full color documents is very important for presentations, products, and advertising and motivational materials. We recommend integrating a high-end color copier/printer, a very fast black and white digital copier/printer/scanner, a good quality fast black and white laser printer and a color laser printer into your environmentís technology system. These four pieces of equipment together can handle just about any copying or printing you can throw at them in a creative environment. A design-focused environment should include a plotter for the large format drawings and products. All of these devices help people get precious information onto paper to share with their team or people outside of the environment. 

Scanners and digital Notepads. In the 21st Century environment, more and more information will move from being presented in paper documents to being published in digital form. For large format documents, the environment should have an 11X17 tabloid-size scanner. This is used to its fullest capacity with an optional document feeder. In addition to the large scanner, it is beneficial to have a standard letter size scanner for the more common use and also to help with overflow workload. Another important element for digital capture is the digital notepad. These are particularly useful in Athenaeum International environments for capturing graphics that participants and staff drawon the walls. 

Disk and CD Drives. A few other useful attachments to the design are removable media (disks and CDs) for storage and easy transport of data. In large, graphically oriented environments, it is valuable to remove archives from the server when they are no longer commonly used in order to continuously have enough space for new input.