Technology has fundamentally changed the way we work. It’s even changed the way we sit when we work.

James R. Hagerty of the Wall Street Journal had a fun interview recently with James Hackett, the CEO of Steelcase, Inc., the biggest U.S. maker of office furniture, to discuss the evolution of the modern office space, where even workers with a traditional desk are now becoming “mobile.”

It’s a stark reminder that mobile tools — smartphones, tablets, lightweight laptops — are re-shaping almost every aspect of the modern workday. Companies that embrace these tools have an opportunity to get lean and agile, while those old-school offices that cling to their desktops are almost literally still rooted in place, just like their 500-pound desks. Here’s an excerpt from the piece:

“Steelcase, which turns 100 years old this year, tries to anticipate trends by observing people at work. Its 23-person research team, which includes an anthropologist, conducts interviews and surveys, films office activities and uses sensors to measure workers’ use of various rooms and furnishings. One area for growth, says Mr. Hackett, is collaboration via videoconferencing. The company has also developed an electronic device that enables workers in a meeting to share notes and data on a video screen.”

Read the article here: Office Furniture in the Age of Smartphones.

Image via Steelcase.