Before...
After...
Well that is phase 1 at least.
Phase 2 involves the empty computer case and wall mounted monitors.
The evolution continues, at least in small steps.
Recent changes:
* Additional wall-mounted monitors for observing infrastructure graph/pipeline status
* An external microphone and speakers makes pairing with my colleagues much more comfortable. Bye bye hot sweaty ears and ear ache. Relying on Pulse Audio's echo cancellation which thankfully, seems to work.
Also added a foot rest (not pictured).
Still to do:
* replace noisy desktop PC used to drive wall-mounted monitors with almost finished energy-efficient silent PC (CPU has been ordered but was supposed to arrive in stock + be dispatched 3 weeks ago)
* boom arm for microphone (the integral shock mount doesn't seem to be quite enough to eliminate vibration when typing in anger)
* some means of absorbing room echo - probably applying some foam tiles to the back wall
* some supplemental lighting
* replace the two work provided monitors (the lower pair) and office chair with my own equipment
*This has probably got to wait until the new year, given that I hadn't budgeted for the new desk and accessories to make it all work and I've got to turn my attention/disposable income back to fixing up the house. I think the total cost has run to ~£1500
** including the half decent laptop, additional monitors etc..
Overall, I think the better setup has made me much more effective at work, in-terms of being able to see what is going on with our infrastructure at a glance and it has made working from home each day much less of an endurance.
*
If I find myself in a position where I have to change jobs/take on some consultancy/go self-employed, I want to be set-up and ready to go without any further outlay - especially, if as a result of an economic slump I've been without work for any length of time**
At the moment the company are relying on around 2/3 staff using their own devices for WFH. Between savings on fuel to get to work and small amount extra they are paying us in work from home allowance, the outlay should be covered in around 2-3 years, depending on extra energy use. I know the company are looking at a scheme where instead of buying computers and laptops, an additional allowance is paid for people to buy their own computers for work so I should hopefully recoup it sooner. Not that it really matters, given the difference the 'office' set-up has made