>Then again - this would be a perfect of example of bleeding edge technology being used to "fix" a certain situation

Great!

>That is - by simply getting enough co-workers to get together and letting management know that you simply won't be having any of it.

Because no-one likes open plan offices, right?

You can show me study after study of how inefficient something might be, but your solution of gathering co-workers and talking to management presupposes that everyone is on board. That's not usually the case. Some folks may join your cause to avoid upsetting coworkers. Some may actually enjoy the setup and feel pressured to conform to their coworkers plans.

The technology solution in this case is an individual fix that doesn't affect others -- and while it may continue to allow the atrocity of open-office-planning to exist, it won't interrupt the lives of others' on a whim that everyone shares the same feelings towards something.