Don’t you wish your desk had a doorbell?

Sometimes I just hate working in an open-plan office. There is just no privacy. Apart from the whole office hearing your private phone calls, anyone, including and especially the office dork, can just walk up and chat because you don’t have a door that you can close.

Of course, most of the time I’m only too happy to chat because the crazy folk at The Herald are fascinating (you may have read some of their blogs – if not, then go to our website front page for more). However, sometimes, like right now, just before the weekend, it’s hard to stay focussed on the daily grind.

Here is a really useful invention, though, that would make a great Christmas present for workers in this position: I bet that Dilbert would love it. If you order it now, even with the South African post office’s not so snappy service, you should receive it in time for Christmas. It is a Cubicall doorbell to announce a visitor’s arrival at your cubicle or office space, and I suppose you could even hang it on your office door if you are lucky enough to have a proper office.

The cubicaller has three volume levels and a dozen ring tones, including chirping birds, cats meowing, a foghorn and the classic “ding dong”. It uses two AAA batteries and attaches to the wall of your cubicle with a double-sided adhesive tape and a hook-and-loop fastener. Not bad, eh?

One design flaw though ... unlike answering your home door bell, you can’t pretend you’re not in and ignore it ...