Visible cables are visual chaos. They tangle, they drape, they accumulate dust. Worse, they create a subconscious sense of "unfinished business"—a problem that hasn't been properly solved.
The Cognitive Cost
Every time your eye catches a tangle of cables under your desk, a small part of your brain registers disorder. The effect is cumulative. By mid-afternoon, you've unconsciously processed dozens of small disorder signals.
Visible cables are visual unfinished business. Every glance registers chaos, draining cognitive resources you don't know you're spending.
The Solution
In my client's office, I implemented complete cable concealment. Under-desk cable trays capture everything. Cables run through hidden channels to a central power point. The floor beneath the desk is completely clear.
From the seated position, not a single cable is visible. From standing, the same. The technology is present but invisible.
The Process
Cable management requires upfront investment—time to route properly, hardware to conceal. But the ongoing cognitive benefit far exceeds the one-time effort. My client reports that the clean lines beneath his desk contribute significantly to his sense of order and control.