Pair Programming Desk - Stand-Up, Shared Workstation for Pair Programming and Ergonomics

SharePoint and ASP.Net code sometimes requires a second set of eyes and sometimes it's easier to work through a problem with two people.  Although most developers prefer to work independently most of the time, we've always embraced pair programming for a percentage of the time for learning, sharing and helping.

Sharing the keyboard as is typical in pair programming was made much easier when at some point years ago we had the epiphany of 'why not just have two keyboards on the same computer? ' (as long as you're not still clinging to PS2).  But I've always noticed that sitting at someone else's desk is slightly uncomfortable, as most desks were not designed for two sets of eyes on the monitors.  It doesn't leave much in the way of elbow room. 

After noticing that there was even less room on an inwardly curved corner desk, I had the intuitive and in retrospect, obvious, idea that an outwardly curved desk would have the opposite effect.  Two years later I've finally found what I was looking for.




I picked up this desk at Ikea and it has adjustable legs that extend to standing height.  We actually use the desk turned around 180 degrees from the way the original design was intended, but it works perfectly to suit our needs, the slight outward curve gives enough room for each person  (As one developer on the team also pointed out, the inward curve which we use as the 'back' of the desk might be a nice fit for monitor arm mounts).

It seems like a good option for stand-ups, daily scrum, or one-on-one status update, or whatever you call your agile meetings.  Since everyone in our office has VMs anyway, we can work at any workstation; it's just been convenient to meet at the stand-up for a few to go over something.  And I'm hoping it will also help with the solution to the "humans were not meant to sit all day" problem. 

Here is the item in case anyone is interested:

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