Enterprise Communications

It takes an Engineer

by Dave Michels

Wire managed process and skill remains important. Yes, I know we live in a wireless age, but you wouldn’t know it around my office.

I just moved my PC from under my desk to on my desk. This involved re-routing 19 cables:

  1. One cable to my USB receiver on my wireless keyboard those are wireless)
  2. Two  DVI cables to two monitors (and two power cords)
  3. One cable to my BCC-950 Camera/speaker (and a power cord/brick)
  4. An audio cable to my Sub-woofer, which then spawns a power cable/brick, two speaker cables, and a remote control cable.
  5. One cable to my Blue Yeti microphone
  6. One USB cable to my Dell monitor for the built-in USB hub (very stupid because when the monitor goes into sleep so does the USB hub).
  7. One network cable
  8. Another USB Hub for easy access to ports
  9. A e-SATA cable to an external backup drive which also has a power cord/brick.
  10. One cable to my Savi Plantronics headset that is also connected to my hard phone which has a power cable and EHS cable.

Cables are always the bane of an engineer’s existence. However, I’ve found hope. There is a proper way to bundle a cable to reduce tangle risk.

Managing active wires is a challenge as is storing unused cables can be problematic. I currently tend to use tie-wraps, but they are a pain because they require scissors to open, can’t be reused, and still inevitably tangle.

Which brings me to this very interesting video on how to at least roll-up or bundle a cable. Something I’ve never given much thought to:

I’ve decided this is a very important break-through in cable management. Tangled wires are a pain, and I always assumed this to be a result of modern world. I think it’s also potentially a good interview question or at least discussion topic because it touches on compassion, attention to detail, and process orientation.

I hope you find it as meaningful as I did. Good luck, and use this power for good.