They’re sleek, stylish and look like a suspended animation chamber from a science fiction movie. But those are no cryo-sleep pods cropping up in the library of the British Columbia Institute of Technology; they’re nap pods.
"We have students who are often sleeping at their desks or sofas or couches," said BCIT Library Services Director James Rout.
"Our students are busy, they're working hard and research is very clear that rest and napping and sleep is very important to retention, memory and learning."
The pods are made from plastic and acrylic components, with a gym mat inside. They’re sturdy and stackable and easily disinfected with alcohol wipes between uses. Rout says they’re still sorting out details like how long students can use the pods and how to book, but he plans to install iPads for onsite reservations, while integrating the stations with the institution’s booking system.
“We’re looking at a time period from half an hour to an hour, but we’re interested in feedback,” he said.
The tech sector embraced the “power nap” idea years ago to boost productivity, with companies like Facebook and Google famously integrating sleek, space age-looking units into their corporate culture. Other major companies have recognized the benefits, with Nestle, the Huffington Post and Ben and Jerry’s all embracing the idea of a short rest to recharge the mental batteries.
Located next to a security desk and under the watchful eye of a security camera, there’s little opportunity for hanky panky where BCIT’s pods are located conspicuously in the centre of the library. They augment the institute’s Nap Room, a first for a British Columbia post secondary school. That launched in January and located in the recreational building, which is an inconvenient location for some students.
At a reasonable $2,000 each, the pods are funded from vending machine profits. The pilot project will run for six months before BCIT administrators decide whether to expand the program.
