LifeSkills Pod

Barclays Bank in the UK has created a "LifeSkills Pod" which it explains is a "futuristic work experience simulator" that mirrors "real-world work scenarios."

Pods will be installed in various schools so that young people can sit in the pod and "build the skills needed in the workplace."

     Posted By: Alex - Sat Apr 30, 2016
     Category: Jobs and Occupations | Technology





Comments
Does it come with a water cooler, a backstabbing cubicle neighbor and a prick boss who takes credit for all their good ideas? You know, for a little reality.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 04/30/16 at 09:23 AM
I'm not too sure that thing is safe for kids to use. Those swinging doors could catch a finger and bruise it or even catch a foot on the way out and trip a person. And, is that chair firmly attached or could it slide backwards through those life threatening doors and cause a person to fall backwards and hit their head? That shelf where the controls are doesn't seem to be at the perfect height and that chair of imminent doom doesn't allow for adjustment so I'm thinking carpal tunnel is right around the corner.

Anyhow, I'm 99% sure it's not Halal so no Muslim men will be using it and the females don't need to know about future jobs they'll be married.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 04/30/16 at 09:47 AM
Someone is gonna have to sit in there and do it for them if I'm a good judge of the current generation.
Posted by BrokeDad in Midwest US on 04/30/16 at 11:28 AM
My office has a chair and a desk. But whenever I sit at that desk, on that chair, there's a steady stream of coworkers coming in to ask me to solve some problem of THEIRS, which leaves me little time to do my own stuff. The LifeSkillsPOD won't ever simulate the inability to get one thing done without having 7 others to do at the exact same time, causing you to have to make life-and-death decisions on a moment-to-moment basis all while making less money because you didn't get the raise this year, because they will pay the secretary a raise faster than a simple worker or manager. Life Skills is actually only achieved at the age of 50. Before that, it's called "experience".
Posted by Greg on 04/30/16 at 11:38 AM
Seems to be an awfully fancy machine just for doing the TSP Reports.
Posted by Virtual on 04/30/16 at 12:27 PM
The feature I like best are the door handles, designed specifically to allow the school douchebag to throw a padlock on the handles when the school pencilneck geek is inside.
Posted by Old Whitebelly on 04/30/16 at 07:16 PM
Any sufficiently advanced simulation is indistinguishable from the real thing. So how do we know they're not giving the kids real work, under the guise of simulation?
Posted by Justin S. on 05/01/16 at 03:04 AM
@Justin: Ever see The Last Starfighter?
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 05/01/16 at 03:27 AM
It reminds me of a Porta-Potty; all it needs is that characteristic blue paint.
Posted by Fritz G on 05/01/16 at 08:18 AM
I guess the multitasking and backstabbing will be part of the simulation, the keyboard stand can be moved and the chair is bolted to the floor. The ventilation doesn't seem to be included, though. It looks very easy to generate claustrophobia with this device. Will they use it to punish students by slow-cooking them for an hour?
Posted by Yudith on 05/01/16 at 09:08 AM
It reminds me of a scene from "Brazil".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS5WLkb_Cxk
Posted by BMN on 05/01/16 at 10:19 AM
Training the next generation of fast food workers, phone tech support, and phone sales.
Posted by RobK on 05/02/16 at 11:41 AM
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