Shared desk workplaces
The concept of shared desk workstations is a way of organising work in which users can freely choose their workstation at different locations each day. Equipped with a laptop, they look for a free workstation, connect to the hardware provided via a docking station and get started. Such workstations will be created at various locations at TH OWL in the future. The first of these will be in the Innovation Spin, where a number of shared desk workstations will be available.
In addition to the spatial resources that can be saved, this concept offers many advantages for users:
- There is always an alternative if the previous workplace is too loud, occupied or unusable due to construction work.
- Working outside the familiar environment creates new perspectives.
- The concept of shared desk working is available to all members of the university. This includes students, employees and teaching staff. This promotes an exchange at eye level.
- Organisation-wide exchange is encouraged. Today you are working alongside colleagues from the S(kim), tomorrow a team member from the Central Student Advisory Service may be sitting next to you.
For the concept to work, all workstations must be equipped in the same way, and you as a user should be able to quickly find your way around different environments.
In the following sections, you can read what you need to know about working at the shared desk workstations:
How to use the hardware
![[Translate to Englisch:] So sieht ein USB-C-Anschluss aus. Ihr Endgerät, das Sie nutzen möchten, muss über die entsprechende Buchse (unten) verfügen.](/files/_processed_/e/8/csm_USB-C_580ec760e7.jpg)
The shared desk workstations are equipped by S(kim) with the following hardware:
- Two monitors
- Docking station
- USB-C cable for connecting the laptop to the docking station (see image)
Please note: Keyboard and mouse are not provided for hygienic reasons. Please use the integrated devices on your laptop or bring your own external devices.
Please carry out the following steps to connect your end device:
- Check whether the docking station is switched on (LED must light up blue). If the orange LED lights up, this only means that the docking station is connected to the power supply. If necessary, switch on the docking station using the button next to the LEDs.
- Check whether the monitors are switched on (LEDs next to the standby button must light up)
- Connect your end device to the docking station using the USB-C cable.
How to install the required software
Driver installation on Windows
Driver software must be installed for the monitors provided to work with your end device. If your end device is managed by S(kim), this software is already installed. If you do not have administration rights to your computer (e.g. for departmental computers), please contact your departmental administrator for the following steps.
To install the device driver, please proceed as follows:
- Call up the following link: https://www.synaptics.com/products/displaylink-graphics/downloads/windows
- Make sure that you have selected the "Windows" operating system in the top line
- Click on the "Download" button in the "Latest Oficial Drivers" box
- Read the licence agreement and confirm it - the download will now start
- Open the downloaded file from your download folder and allow the installer app to access your computer if necessary
- Start the installation by clicking on the "Install" button
Once the installation is complete, you will see a blue icon in your control bar. The white outlines of two rectangles overlap.
How to set up the screens
Setting up the monitors under Windows
If you have connected monitors to your device for the first time, you may need to configure them. For example, you can decide whether all monitors should show the same image and on which monitor the start menu should be stored (main monitor). In addition, it may be that the monitor physically on the left in front of you is not automatically recognized by the system as the left monitor. The mouse cursor does not move properly from one screen to another. These external pages show how to solve such problems:
- Support page Microsoft: Setting up two monitors
- Support page Microsoft: Using multiple monitors
- Fachmagzin Heise: Set up second monitors
How to get into the network
The shared desk workstations do not offer a LAN connection, please use the available wireless networks:
- University members: Please use Eduroam. You can find out how to set this up in the instructions wireless network eduroam
- External and guests: Please use the Conference&Guests network. You can find out how to use this in the Conference&Guests guest WiFi instructions
Leaving the workplace
As the shared desk workstations are used by many users, they should be used in accordance with the clean desk policy. Or as the saying goes: please leave the workstations as you would like to find them. We also ask all users to do their bit for the university's sustainability concept and switch off the devices they are using. Please note the following points when leaving your workplace:
- Unplugging the USB-C cable
- Switching off the docking station
- Switching off the monitors
- Please leave the workplace clean, dispose of rubbish and take coffee cups, drinks bottles etc. with you
Here you get help
In the event of technical faults or problems with the hardware (flickering monitor, defective cables), please scan the QR code on the tables. This will open an e-mail template in your stored e-mail application. Please enter the workstation number and the description of the problem in the template and send this email to support@th-owl.de. Alternatively, you can also report the fault at the Service Point in the libraries.
Contact us
E-Mail: support(at)th-owl.de
Phone: +49 5261 702 2222
Last but not least
Incidentally, the shared desk concept is not that new. Even the alternative term "hot desking" shows the derivation from "hot bunkering", which is known from seafaring. Especially in times gone by, there were fewer beds on ships than sailors. So, at the end of his watch, the sailor looking for sleep simply climbed into the still-warm bed that a colleague had previously vacated. Fortunately, we limit ourselves to taking over the workplace from our colleagues.