Properly planned open workplace acoustics are positively associated with both comfort and productivity. In an open office, background noise can be distracting from talks. By hiding or masking these conversations, an acoustic treatment increases speech privacy by reducing the amount of information that is visible to the listener. These open-plan workstations may seem chic and ideal for brainstorming sessions, but they can really be detrimental to concentration and output. The presence of echoes in conference rooms made of glass and drywall can potentially pose a risk to the efficiency of phone or Skype sessions. Important acoustical elements that support worker comfort and efficiency include the combination of soundproofing, absorption, and isolation techniques.