Work in the AI era is already based on "simultaneous progress"

In traditional work, the flow of completing one task before moving on to the next was relatively clear. Tasks such as reading materials, thinking, creating, and communicating were somewhat separated. However, the advent of generative AI has dramatically changed this flow.

Now, it is common to expand our thoughts while querying AI, conduct browser searches along the way, organize found information into documents, and simultaneously communicate with internal and external parties. Especially in intellectual labor, comparing multiple information sources simultaneously has already become part of daily life.

In other words, the workspace in the AI era has moved beyond merely needing a PC. What is required is not an environment that switches between multiple pieces of information but one that allows us to view multiple pieces of information simultaneously while progressing with our work. This marks a significant difference from traditional workspaces.

Interactions with AI, document verification, document creation, and communication are already happening simultaneously.

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Image of multitasking in the AI era

As the amount of necessary information increases, the value of a visible workspace rises.

Why multi-monitor setups have been supported

In this context, many people have adopted multi-monitor setups. The reason is very simple: having more screens makes it easier to display necessary information simultaneously.

For example, one screen can be used to check AI outputs, while another displays reference materials, and a third is used to create documents. Alternatively, one can keep a spreadsheet open while checking chat tools or emails. Just being able to use these setups significantly reduces the number of window switches and smooths the workflow.

The reason multi-monitors have been valued is not merely because they provide a larger workspace. It is because basic work actions such as verification, comparison, input, and judgment can be performed in a more natural flow. Therefore, adoption has progressed across various professions, including engineers, designers, data analysts, researchers, finance professionals, and business roles utilizing AI.

However, traditional multi-monitors also have limitations

On the other hand, simply setting up a multi-monitor environment does not solve everything. Traditional multi-monitors come with several challenges in exchange for efficiency gains.

The first issue is the complexity of wiring and installation. As the number of monitors increases, so do the power supplies, video cables, and connection hubs, making the desk more complicated. This affects not only aesthetics but also everyday usability and the ease of rearranging the environment.

Next, there is the issue of space. To accommodate multiple large monitors, a desk of sufficient size is necessary. While this is an effective method for those who can secure enough space, not everyone in Japan's living or office environments can easily place large fixed multi-monitors.

Furthermore, traditional multi-monitors are fundamentally fixed environments. Once set up, it tends to be assumed that they will be used continuously in that location, making it difficult to recreate the same working environment at home, in the office, or while traveling. Additionally, depending on the configuration, the load on the PC may increase, affecting performance, heat generation, and noise levels.

In other words, while traditional multi-monitors do enhance efficiency, they leave challenges in terms of flexibility, portability, and installation freedom.

What will be needed going forward is not an "environment that switches" but a "visible environment"

When considering work environments in the AI era, the number of screens themselves is not what matters. What is truly being questioned is how to arrange necessary information and how to fit it into our field of vision.

In today's work, interactions with AI, research, document creation, data verification, and communication progress while switching back and forth. If we are constantly switching screens with Alt + Tab, we lose continuity in our thinking more than the time spent operating. Each time we switch screens, we need to reset the context in our minds.

What is needed in this situation is not a workspace that calls up information one after another but one that allows us to view necessary information all at once. This idea is clearly represented by the concept of the "cockpit-type workspace."

What is a cockpit-type workspace?

A cockpit-type workspace is an environment designed to organize and arrange necessary information within our field of vision, making it difficult to interrupt the flow of work. The name is derived from the cockpit of an aircraft. Pilots continue to make judgments while simultaneously checking multiple pieces of information such as altitude, speed, course, and aircraft status during flight. Because it is designed to grasp the whole picture with just a shift of gaze rather than switching between pieces of information one by one, continuous judgment becomes possible.

This concept also applies well to modern intellectual labor. There are multiple pieces of information necessary for work, such as AI outputs, reference materials, ongoing documents, chats, schedules, and data. Moreover, these do not appear one by one in order; they always exist simultaneously. Therefore, in future workspaces, it will be more important to "see" than to "switch."

The cockpit-type workspace is not merely about increasing the number of screens. It is a rethinking of the entire workspace, including which information to place where to make it easier to think, compare, and judge according to the nature of the work.

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Conceptual diagram of the cockpit-type workspace

What matters is not just the number of screens but the design of where to place necessary information and how to make it visible.

By organizing and arranging information within our field of vision, we move closer to an environment that is less likely to interrupt the flow of work.

Three conditions required for work environments in the AI era

Considering these changes, future workspaces will require at least three conditions.

A new option gaining attention as the "next step after multi-monitors"

The cockpit-type monitor is a new option that has emerged along this line of thinking. This is somewhat different from the traditional idea of simply lining up multiple large displays. What is needed is not just a simple increase in area but a design of the field of vision that fits the flow of work.

One example of this is the Wisee Cockpit Monitor. It is designed to configure multiple screens around a laptop and allows for flexible layout changes according to use, creating a workspace for viewing information that differs from traditional fixed multi-monitor environments.

Especially in tasks that involve handling AI outputs, materials, chats, and data simultaneously, the placement of "which information" and "where" has a significant impact on the work experience beyond just increasing the number of screens. In this sense, the cockpit-type monitor can be seen as a new form of work environment suited to future intellectual labor.

It allows for the configuration of multiple screens around a laptop, creating an environment that makes it easy to view necessary information.

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Product image of the Wisee Cockpit Monitor

With a different approach from fixed large display environments, it can be configured to fit the flow of work.

The value of vertical displays and auxiliary screens will further increase

Another aspect that cannot be overlooked when considering workspaces in the AI era is the difference in screen orientation and roles. While traditional multi-monitor environments often assume horizontal alignment, in actual work, there are increasing instances of handling vertically long information.

For example, AI outputs, code, documents, papers, chats, social media, and reservation information can often be easier to view on vertical screens than on horizontal ones. Additionally, there is a growing need to keep auxiliary information displayed on another small screen or vertical screen while progressing with main tasks on a large primary screen.

This does not mean that "one large screen is enough"; rather, it signifies that combining screens with different roles according to the nature of the work is becoming increasingly important. Future workspaces will likely move towards a direction where the composition of the field of vision itself is questioned, rather than a mere size competition.

The quality of the work environment directly impacts the quality of work

With the evolution of AI, we are now able to handle more information faster than before. However, as the volume of information increases, the impact of the quality of the work environment on outcomes also grows.

In an environment where necessary information is immediately visible, decision-making becomes faster, and organizing thoughts becomes easier. When comparisons are easier, oversights decrease, and ideas flow more readily. Conversely, in an environment where necessary information is hidden and frequent switching or searching occurs, concentration is disrupted, affecting the quality of work.

In this sense, the number of screens is not just a specification. It relates to how much information can be handled simultaneously and how naturally it can be arranged in the field of vision, impacting the very range of thought. When considering workspaces in the AI era, the work environment should no longer be viewed merely as peripheral equipment but as a foundation supporting intellectual production.

Future work environments will align more closely with the "flow of work"

In the future, AI will further integrate into our work. Along with this, the amount of information we handle simultaneously and the way we work will continue to change.

What will be required in this context is not just high-performance PCs or large screens. It is a workspace that fits the new flow of work, such as interactions with AI, information organization, and parallel progress of multiple tasks. The concept of the cockpit-type workspace can be seen as something that has naturally emerged within this flow.

Going forward, the focus will be on creating environments that are more flexible, less likely to hinder thought, and more aligned with the flow of work, rather than simply extending traditional multi-monitor setups. In this context, the idea of "viewing information" rather than "switching information" will become increasingly important.

Conclusion

In the AI era, there is a definite increase in situations where a single screen is not sufficient. What is important is not merely increasing the number of screens but creating an environment that allows for the arrangement of necessary information within our field of vision, enabling us to proceed without interrupting our thought process.

Traditional multi-monitor environments were one effective means to achieve this. However, there are limitations in terms of wiring, space, portability, and flexibility. The new idea that is currently gaining attention is the "cockpit-type workspace."

Rather than switching information, we should view it. This concept will serve as an important hint for considering work environments in future intellectual labor.