Health & Wellbeing

The Orrb pod is a place to get away from it all at work

The Orrb pod is a place to get away from it all at work
The Orrb is a relaxation and learning pod for the workplace
The Orrb is a relaxation and learning pod for the workplace
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The Orrb is a relaxation and learning pod for the workplace
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The Orrb is a relaxation and learning pod for the workplace
The Orrb has a reclining seat
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The Orrb has a reclining seat
The Orrb has a monitor and speakers for audiovisual content
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The Orrb has a monitor and speakers for audiovisual content
The user interface of the Orrb
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The user interface of the Orrb
An "Orrb Tower" could be installed in airports
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An "Orrb Tower" could be installed in airports
An aerial view of an Orrb Tower
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An aerial view of an Orrb Tower
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Sometimes we need to get away from our busy workplaces, even if just for a small amount of time. A new pod has been designed to provide exactly that sort of refuge. The Orrb is a single-person space in which workers can take short relaxation or learning sessions.

The need for spaces where workers can take time out has inspired a number of pods designed for the office over the years. The CalmSpace, for example, provides an environment in which individuals can take a short power nap, while the Cozy Room simply offers a space to be alone. Although simply being in these pods might help a user to relax to some extent, the Orrb is designed to actively aid the relaxation process.

Founder and CEO of Orrb Technologies Lee McCormack says the Orrb is a response to our increasingly frantic lifestyles. The project was started, he says, over 10 years ago by considering the impact that technology would have on society.

"We asked ourselves, how will the move towards open plan spaces and an always-on culture brought about by the increasing use of technology affect our daily lives?" explains McCormack. "We concluded that these changes would bring about a loss in the quality of personal space, the ability to concentrate and focus and a sense of loss of control in our personal environments. In short, stress."

The Orrb has a monitor and speakers for audiovisual content
The Orrb has a monitor and speakers for audiovisual content

The Orrb is a 7ft (2.1 m) long and 5 ft (1.5 m) tall pod into which users are able to climb and in which they can enclose themselves by pulling shut the door behind them. Inside, there is a reclining chair and a monitor on which content can be displayed. The content is provided by a subscription service called Orrb X.

Once ensconced in the pod, users can choose either a 5, 10 or 15 minute wellness session. On-screen content and audio through speakers guide the user through breathing exercises, relaxation techniques and meditation. The user can then either continue with their working day, relaxed and refreshed, or remain in the Orrb for a learning session. The wellness sessions are said to put users in state of mental focus conducive to learning.

In addition to the learning and development content, Orrb X acts as a delivery and booking management platform. It is also possible for organizations to upload their own training content.

The standard package for the Orrb is US$9,950 with a $400 per month subscription fee for Orrb X. The maximum number of employees allowed per single Orrb is 50 to ensure that there is adequate availability for its usage.

The video below provides an introduction to the Orrb.

Source: Orrb Technologies

Orrb Technologies

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4 comments
4 comments
Mark Craddock
Reminds me of the pods in VIEWS an excellent art book from the '70s by Roger and Martin Dean. These two English artists designed this and built a prototype.
kalqlate
The screen and speakers are OK, but offering it with VR, making it a sphere instead of an egg shape, and allowing 360 degree swivel and pivoting would make it an "experience" pod.
Doug Doyle
If the person has a fear of enclosed spaces, a device like this is unusable.
JAT
With a lock on the inside, also a great place to get away from the wife when she's nagging about the honey-do list! Hello nap time...