Why bigger is better for screens in your workplace

With the exception of cars, TVs, boats and passenger jets, we tend to measure progress by how much smaller we can make our devices. But there’s an area of technology where evidence tells us that going big could be much better – that’s in the screens we increasingly use as an interface in our working life. 

In the beginning 

The size and portability of today’s mobile phones when compared to the first models that appeared in the ‘70s and ‘80s – like the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, for example – is a genuine eye-opener (and, let’s be frank, good for a laugh too).  

Your average home computer, which sits neatly on a sit-stand desk in your home or office (or, in the case of your laptop or notebook, in a satchel bag) is millions of times faster and more powerful than the original computers of the ‘50s and ‘60s in which teams of scientists had to book research time on giant devices that took up whole floors in research labs. These computers were handled by a dedicated team of specialists running them at extraordinary costs. In fact, a popular comparison is that today’s average smartphone boasts more computing power in its tiny frame than the giant supercomputers at MIT and NASA Houston that powered the guidance systems of the combined Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space missions.  

In short, if it involves technology, then its size, portability and convenience factor are often powerful selling points. Touchscreen information kiosks, however, are a notable exception to that rule. 

Touchscreen kiosks: Bigger is better  

Information kiosks are growing in popularity. You’ll find them in shopping centres, fast food restaurants, medical clinics, airports, hotels and in industrial design and manufacturing settings, to name just a few applications.  

As the people in our society become increasingly comfortable with using digital technology and the platforms that power them, like iOS and Android operating systems, using a kiosk to access information is no big deal. When it comes to the design and the interface for these kiosks, though, having to squint or struggle to see the screen or navigate its functionality contradicts the user-friendliness of the design.  

Large screen kiosks in retail 

In simple terms, large screens mean increased visibility. Kiosks tend to be anchored in one spot or, at the very least, aren’t being lugged around by the user, so portability isn’t an issue. Accordingly, having a large screen in a retail environment to assist people with wayfinding or accessing more detailed maps to assist navigation stands to reason.  

Not only does a bigger screen facilitate access to more information, but the slim and functional design of today’s large screens means they can be easily integrated into various interiors or designs without calling the wrong attention to themselves. Their relatively small footprint, despite the size of the screens themselves, means they can fit into spaces in a way that is not possible with bulkier options. 

Going bigger in the workplace 

Bigger screens support a number of psychological benefits that enable employees to get more work done, and faster. 

Furthermore, studies have shown that larger screen size boosts productivity in the workplace. Data released by ViewSonic claims that more screen space “increases overall productivity by [between] 30 and 50%. It also enables users to complete tasks up to 52% faster… larger screen sizes boost reading comprehension by making more text visible at once,” much the same as has been shown in retail and service environments. 

A 2016 research paper headed by Mary Czerwinski and Greg Smith at Microsoft looked into the productivity benefits of Very Large Displays (VLS). They reported that “[s]ignificant benefits were observed in the use of a prototype, larger display, in addition to significant positive user preference and satisfaction with its use, over a small display.” 

The benefits of accessing larger screens were something that featured heavily in Integra’s thinking when we designed our Integra K4.0 kiosk.  

A “virtual job bag”, as our Managing Director Paul Hughes calls it, this K4.0 system of kiosks combine Integra’s own in-house developed software with an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, Computer Assisted Drawing (CAD) and live machine monitoring data (IoT) to deliver a wide range of efficiencies – from smarter ways of working to ensuring top-notch quality control.  

Additionally, these K4.0 kiosks offer greater collaboration and communication across every stage of the design and manufacture process. Every kiosk is equipped with video-conferencing capability and the operator can create a live video link between the design office and the client directly from the machine on the manufacturing floor, which is further enhanced by the large screen. 

“We've been down the path of tablets but, unless it feels like it's got a presence in the factory, it can feel a bit temporary,” explains Paul Hughes. “I think the big screen, apart from it being really easy to look at and extract details, actually commands respect. The large-format kiosk in the factory says, ‘Take notice!’. It’s there to be used.” 

From the mouths of the users 

The staff at Integra act as living and working examples that support the research linking psychological and productivity benefits with large screen kiosk displays. Since introducing the big screens of the K4.0 kiosks right across Integra’s facility in 2020, staff morale has evolved immeasurably. 

“The big screen of the K4.0 is great because it allows you to see designs in their full scale,” says Darby Connell, Production Site Manager at Integra Systems and Integra TransForm. 

“I like using the big screen because it allows me to have two parts open at the same time,” he continues. “Which is helpful, and I can have drawings at the top and the program running down the bottom, so the K4.0 big screen is great for multitasking.” 

Access to information is a key factor for Michael (Mick) Edwards, Profiling Leading Hand at Integra Systems and Integra TransForm. As Mick says, “I like the big screen because you feel like all the information is right there in front of your face.” 

“It’s great because everything is right there, easy to find in one central location,” Mick explains. “Because of the big screen, it’s easy to read and you can adapt the big screen to what you want to see.” 

“The big screen is fantastic because it works as a visual aid when working,” adds Max Paterson, Forming Leading Hand at Integra Systems and Integra TransForm. “The large scale makes the information really easy to interpret, and it’s great for documenting for programs and spreadsheets. When you consider the number of parts we have to deal with, the big screen makes it so easy to look over everything.” 

In conjunction with these benefits, the large format Kiosk screens make employees feel valued and worthy of commitment and investment within their workplace. The evidence is a more empowered and motivated workforce. 

In conclusion

When it comes to technology, convenience and utility often work hand-in-hand with the physical size of the technology or its casing. In the majority of instances, this can be a powerful selling point. With information kiosks and other such displays, this is a case where bigger usually means better.  

For employees, larger screens offer considerable productivity and work satisfaction while, for customers or other users, improved accessibility and information are some of the major advantages of such screens.  

Sometimes, it just doesn’t pay to think small.  

Talk to Integra TransForm about how our K4.0 designs can help you achieve your Industry 4.0 ambitions