The PC is an Oxymoron, the PCE is Pure Moxie

Let’s face it, we’ve been had. All of us. Duped, tricked, and hoodwinked. Incredibly, every last one of us has been deluded into thinking that that thing on our desk is a Personal Computer.

In its purest form, you would expect a Personal Computer to be just that – a Computer designed for the needs of a Person. Pretty simple, right? Well, they only got half of it right. It is a Computer, but it’s anything but Personal.

In case we’ve forgotten, the word Personal is a prefix that describes the physical self or “body” in all of its manifestations: Personal Trainers, Personal Bodyguards, Personal Hygiene, and a Personal Foul in basketball. When the PC’s usage of “Personal” is contrasted, it becomes evident that the phrase “Personal Computer” is actually an oxymoron, like jumbo shrimp.

Today’s PC scenario usually involves purchasing a unit, plugging it in, placing it a work/home environments of some sort, and then finally inserting a person into the equation. If this were truly a Personal Computer, this equation would be reversed. You would START with the Person, getting them first in an optimal sitting position, supported with a footrest and correct keyboard placement to reduce pressure points and minimize the chance of injuries. Only after the body’s physical requirements have been met should the hardware placement and device orientation be considered.

HOPE IS ON THE WAY

I wish I could say that I thought this all up myself, but a radical company called Personal Computing Environments (PCE pronounced “Peace”) beat me to it. Fresh off their selection as a finalist for PC Magazine’s “Best of Comdex Award – PC Category” in November 2002, and appearance at last month’s E3 gaming convention show, I can say they’ve launched IT’s next “disruptive technology.” This pioneering start-up has introduced an entirely new form factor, a revolutionary revamping of the computer station so it’s comfortable, ergonomic and, most important, centered around the human.

PCE’s “environments” integrate an award-winning ergonomic Freedom chair into a modular frame design, creating a cockpit that surrounds the user in a cocoon of high performance computing, entertainment, and display technology. The company’s first product, the MasterPeace, was cited in a November 2002 CNN report as “the future of the workspace,” and they have received kudos from Popular Science and Wired magazine as well.

GOOD ERGONOMICS = GOOD ECONOMICS

The PCE staff consistently and passionately referred to their launch as a “crusade,” a counter-cultural movement flying in the face of convention. Whereas most companies bolster the bottom line by making products cheaper and by buying inexpensive desks, chairs, and computers, PCE strives to improve the bottom line AND morale AND employee health by creating a superior workspace which maximizes employee productivity and minimizes work-related injuries.

“Ergonomics is not fitting the WORKER to the JOB, it’s fitting the JOB to the WORKER,“ says PCE founder and CTO Ben Moglin. “We’ve become a nation of knowledge workers, enabled by the computer, and the body is increasingly identified as the weak link in this cerebral supply chain. We can minimize the causes of neck, back, and wrist injuries associated with extended computer usage by first cradling humans in an ergonomically healthy and productive position and then aligning the supporting technology for each user.”

PCE’s “ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” strategy is the right message at the right time, especially for companies with skyrocketing health insurance costs often associated with carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive motion maladies.

To continue their “human first” emphasis, Personal Computing Environments have a modular design which can be adapted to any computer-related task, from financial trading and web design, to PC/online gaming and video editing. “Think of this as a delivery mechanism for all of the latest technology,” was how one executive put it, meaning each environment can be customized and expanded for the unique technological and physical needs of each user.

PCE’s pricing is designed to be just as flexible as their customized environments. Beginning at around $2,400, buyers can purchase an ergonomic technology environment in a variety of colors, and with the choice of either a DAD racing chair (for gamers) or the plush, ergonomic Freedom chair designed by Humanscale (think Aeron meets La Z Boy).

The fun begins once immersed in your Environment as you decide how to make it Personal. Do you want one flat panel or two, and in what sizes? A desk on the right or left side? A six-channel surround sound system or a DVD burner? At PCE, it really doesn’t matter where you start, each Environment is designed to scale and evolve with the changing needs of user or user community.

I can happily say I’ve finally discovered a true Personal Computer, and the guys at PCE are quick to agree. “We make the Environment, You make it Personal,” says the website and after sitting in this for a few minutes, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to go back! But they don’t stop there with human-centric soundbytes: “It’s all about the E (the Environment),” “It’s not about the computer, it’s about Comfort.” “PCE – this time it’s Personal.”

Frankly, it’s about time! Check out their website at www.mypce.com, and see if you agree that the Person in Personal Computing has finally found a home.