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Four-Position Workstation Lets You Lay Down on the Job
"On the advice of counsel, I recline to comment"
You know those times when you're impressed by an object's design and engineering, yet slightly horrified at that object's implications? That's how I feel about the Altwork Station, a mechanical marvel that lets you choose one of several working positions, one of them quite radical:
The workstation was apparently designed based on the now-well-known research indicating that too much sitting is bad for you. And while I love the standing mode of the Altwork, the lying down setting has me stumped; if sitting is bad for you, can lying down during non-sleeping hours be any better for you? For the company's part, they state:
…Most experts agree that humans should change positions and move throughout the day. We believe movement throughout the day is important. While there is no formal ergonomic data we know of regarding the Focus (reclined) position our Altwork patented technology provides, many experts believe a large part of the health benefits from standing come from keeping the torso and legs at greater than 135 degrees apart to allow blood flow vs. the 90 degrees that a traditional chairs require.
I guess the thinking is that being in that dentist-chair-like position still allows for proper circulation. On some level that makes sense, but I can't help thinking of this:
Enter a caption (optional)In any case, the $5,900 workstation is up for pre-orders here, with early birds able to knock two grand off of the price.
What say you, readers: Yea or nay on lying down on the job?
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Looks well executed with the adjustable work surface. One of the biggest benefits I see with these is the alleviation of pressure on lower vertebrae in reclined position (vs sitting upright). I guess we won't see a reclined interface dedicated to driver/ pilot/ operator with the advent of autonomous vehicles.
Years ago I was given a hammer that can be converted, on a single pivot, into a slot screwdriver. I have never used it for either function. Even if it is possible to combine two functions it doesn't necessarily mean you should.
As a consultant orthopaedic physician who has had to treat backache for 50 years I could not respond to my patients request for an ergonomically correct chair as none existed in the market. So, in 1998, I researched the latest spinal bio-mechanics and pathology and the logical conclusion was that the only way to avoid or limit LBP was to adopt a reclined position for prolonged work. And you are right, this must be the way things will go. To adapt this simple concept to an efficient work chair involves a number of essential requirements. The practicality was tested in the engineering (IfM) department at Cambridge and the students working on the project also came up with a deskless variant, as is yours. For essential requirements see http://sittingsafely.com
Years ago I was given a hammer that can be converted, on a single pivot, into a slot screwdriver. I have never used it for either function. Even if it is possible to combine two functions it doesn't necessarily mean you should.
Looks well executed with the adjustable work surface. One of the biggest benefits I see with these is the alleviation of pressure on lower vertebrae in reclined position (vs sitting upright). I guess we won't see a reclined interface dedicated to driver/ pilot/ operator with the advent of autonomous vehicles.
Being an ID student myself I think this is a really interesting concept maybe it wont be the right answer to fixing workstations but, hopefully a new way of thinking what they can do. Especially like all the hinges
I can certainly see the merit. The price in Australia and not counting getting it shipped puts it way outside consideration. I've used both a stand up and sit down desk method. Problem with stand-up desk is you do need to sit down every few hours... especially during long crunch times. So I really like this design. Wonder if it works with an 27" iMac!? Look at me trying to justify one! ;-)
First mod: 5 point seat belts and the ability to go face down for effort-free dangle arm action.
I'll keep my standing desk, thanks.
The Sit/stand concept has slowed following work showing less difference in sitting and standing intra-disc pressures as was first thought. A comeback is occurring as the importance of keeping staff exercised is recognised. See http://sittingsafely.com/sit-stand
It would have to come with tiny monitors installed behind my eye lids or an alarm that would wake me up every 15 minutes. :-)
I feel like my arms would constantly be sliding off. Plus, would I need a working space where my chair is the center or my office? Where's my desk? On the plus side, it would make me feel like I'm taking off on a rocket on my way to Mars, which I'll probably never experience, so that's cool. I say Nay.