What Harvard Wants You to Know About Your Desk

This modern work station is the result of much evolution. Photo provided.

A recent video produced by Harvard Innovation Lab’s Bestreviews.com shows just how much technology has changed the way we live and work. The project, ‘The Evolution of the Desk,’ is a quick and dramatic history of simplification through technology.

“We wanted to illustrate how technology has changed our world, un-cluttering our desks and simplifying our lives,” the team tells designboom. “While gradual change from year to year is often hard to perceive, a longer snapshot gives us a much more dramatic view of the technological progression we have experienced.”

Photo provided.

1980–a cluttered desk includes reference books, a rolodex, a fax machine, and the daily newspaper within arms reach.

Photo provided.

1990–a laptop is a welcome addition, and applications like Microsoft Excel and Power Point enter the scene.

Photo provided.

2006–Wikipedia and LinkedIn are common applications on sleeker laptop computers.

Photo provided.

2014–a portable, self-contained work station. Even the filing cabinet is no longer needed.

Watch the entire progression here:

the evolution of the desk by the harvard innovation lab from designboom on Vimeo.

Learn more about this project on bestreviews.com.