No Fax Machines, Cubicals or Phones: Is This the Office of the Future?

Fax machines, corporate dressing and cubicals, enjoy your time in the office while it lasts because according to a recent LinkedIn poll, your days are numbered.

The social networking website surveyed over 7,000 members based in 18 countries and asked them to name the office technology that they thought would be obsolete within the next five years.

Unsurprisingly, tape recorders, fax machines and desktop computers were some of the most popular choices for respondents when they thought about technology that would most likely be shipped out of the offices of the future.

The members who were surveyed also stated that they believed new technologies such as tablets, smartphones and cloud storage would eventually become commonplace in the office. And, interestingly enough, they also said that they believed portable computing devices like smartphones and tablets would give rise to flexible working hours and a more ‘relaxed’ feel within an office environment.

The top three dream office tools that people would most like to see in their work space included a clone to help you through your work day, a place that provides natural sunlight and a quiet room in the office where power naps are allowed.

LinkedIn users believe that technology like the fax machine will be obsolete soon.

When asked how they would upgrade their current office, respondents got creative and suggested the following: giving each employee a private lift to their parking space, giving employees desk chairs that generate heat, having an office tea trolley, the addition of a ping pong table and a room filled with punching bags for those hectic days.

“The key message that we got is that the world is changing. It’s becoming more flexible,” said Nicole Williams, the Connection Director of LinkedIn.

What are some things you’d love to see in your own office over the coming years?