Chairs are frustrating objects, in that they have to be physically present for you to use them.Is that a phrase? Anyway, to combat the problem of having to literally have a chair in order to sit down on a chair, Swiss startup types Noonee have a better idea. Their concept is to attach a lightweight exo-skeleton to your puny human legs, and engineer them in such a way that you can sit down anywhere - without a chair. The wearable seat is designed to keep factory workers more rested and alert mid-shift, and involves a new locking mechanism that can hold the weight of a human. Meanwhile a battery-powered dampener takes the weight off your back and legs by directing your weight to your heels. The prototype design is still in the early stages, though they claim that Audi and BMW are already interested. Noonee says that its "technology is a powered, lightweight and energy efficient lower limb (legs) posture support device. It is designed for static as well as dynamic industrial market applications to increase the users' health, comfort and productivity.
We aim to change the experience of industry workers in Switzerland and the world allover." Robotics Chair Noonee Exoskeltons Charvolution This is a video of a marketing stunt that KLM did in Manchester Airport last month. It shows a guy reclining in an “invisible chair”. (There must be a metal tube going down his extended leg with an area to sit on, all hidden in his pants. It could finally let people who work on their feet sit down on the job.Swiss researchers have unveiled an almost invisible 'chairless chair'.The exoskeleton can be locked in place, allowing the wearer to sit comfortably. The gadget attaches using a belt, and can be locked in place when the user wants to 'sit' A belt secures the chairless chair to the hips, and straps wrap around the thighs. A variable damper engages and supports the bodyweight, which is directed towards the heels of the shoes. An alternate version works with any footwear and touches the ground only when in a stationary position.
The user just moves into the desired pose and then powers the device using a control button.It currently runs for about 24 hours on a single 6V battery.When not in use, the chair remains attached and the wearer can walk and even run normally.The firm behind the invention says it could make workers who currently stand all day more productive.'Once activated, the Chairless Chair uses a lightweight portable variable damper to engage and hold the users’ bodyweight, and thereby relieves the stress on leg muscles and joints,' the firm behind it, Zurich-based noonee, said. By making the process of work more comfortable and by reducing the risk of exposure to muscle related disorders, employees will also work more efficiently and effectively,''As a result, production levels will increase.'Called the Chairless Chair, it was invented by Keith Gunura, the 29-year old CEO and co-founder of noonee, the Zurich-based startup behind the device. The user moves into the desired pose and then powers the device using a control button.
One version of the Chairless Chair features boots that are connected to the device, preventing the need for the frame to ever touch the ground. Another version doesn't require any special footwear, but the frame does touch the ground when the stiffening mechanism is engaged. A variable damper engages and supports the bodyweight, which is directed towards the heels of the shoes.'The idea came from wanting to sit anywhere and everywhere, and from working in a UK packaging factory when I was 17, Gunara told CNN.'Standing for hours on end causes a lot of distress to lower limbs, but most workers get very few breaks and chairs are rarely provided, because they take up too much space. 'So I thought that the best idea was to strap an unobtrusive chair directly to myself.An aluminium and carbon fibre frame keeps the overall weight of the Chairless Chair at just two kilograms.I Want an Invisible Chair Too5/08/11 9:00pm I spend half my day sitting on a chair. Probably more than half.
It's comfy enough but man, I'd take an Invisible Chair over the most comfortable chair in the world. They don't exist yet, but these pictures from Jens Sage sure as hell make it seem like they do. And they look quite the comfy. [Jens Sage via Colossal] New (6) from $7.97 Sold by G H Brands and Fulfilled by Amazon. Selection for all your crafting needs, from jewelery making products and art supplies to gift wrapping and more. Invisible Thread Magic New Floating Trick Clear Sewing 219 Yards Nylon MagiciansDetailsMagic Makers Pen Trick, Original, Easy Pen Thru Dollar Bill Penetrating Trick FREE Shipping on orders over . DetailsBite Out Quarter FREE Shipping on orders over . 4 x 3 x 1.2 inches 0.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) 2.6 out of 5 stars #280 in Arts, Crafts & Sewing > Sewing > Thread & Floss > Sewing 5 star17%4 star12%3 star12%2 star12%1 star47%See all verified purchase reviewsTop Customer ReviewsStrong, but a bit visible upclose.
Not what I expectedOne StarOne StarThree StarsOne StarFive StarsFour Stars IKEA furniture comes unassembled with assembly instructions included. If you prefer, we can do the assembly for you. • We assemble the furniture in your home and put it where you want it, ready to use. Assembly charges vary by store.(This page will close) Shop for your favourite products online and have them delivered for only $20 to a location near you.(CNN) -- It's like a chair that isn't there, but magically appears whenever you need it. It's called the Chairless Chair and you wear it on your legs like an exoskeleton: when it's not activated, you can walk normally or even run. And then, at the touch of a button, it locks into place and you can sit down on it. Like a chair that is now there. "The idea came from wanting to sit anywhere and everywhere, and from working in a UK packaging factory when I was 17," says Keith Gunura, the 29-year old CEO and co-founder of noonee, the Zurich-based startup behind the device, "standing for hours on end causes a lot of distress to lower limbs, but most workers get very few breaks and chairs are rarely provided
, because they take up too much space. So I thought that the best idea was to strap an unobtrusive chair directly to myself." The device never touches the ground, which makes it easier to wear: a belt secures it to the hips and it has straps that wrap around the thighs. A variable damper engages and supports the bodyweight, which is directed towards the heels of the shoes. These are specially designed and part of the mechanism, but an alternate version works with any footwear and touches the ground only when in a stationary position. The user just moves into the desired pose and then powers the device, which currently runs for about 24 hours on a single 6V battery. "In addition to resting your leg muscles, it also provides optimal posture," adds noonee CTO and co-founder Bryan Anastisiades "it keeps your back straight and can reduce the occurrence of bad postures for both healthy workers and those recovering from muscle related injuries." Read: Spaceship reinvented for new frontiers
Sammy Margo, a chartered physiotherapist, told CNN: "As physiotherapists we actively encourage people to move throughout the day. This device looks like a great compromise in that it allows the wearer to move as well as sit intermittently. I wouldn't encourage its use for long term sitting, however it is suitable for people who need to vary their tasks." The Chairless Chair is attracting interest and production line trials are set to start in Germany with BMW in September and with Audi later this year. While sitting down all day is so detrimental to health that it will shorten life expectancy, standing up in order to work is also a source of problems. Physical strain, repetitive movements and poor posture can lead to conditions called Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), which are now one of the leading causes of lost workday injury and illness. In 2011, MSDs accounted for 33 percent of all worker injuries and illnesses in the U.S. with over 378,000 cases, according to data from the United States Department of Labor.
In Europe, over 40 million workers are affected by MSDs attributable to their job, according to a study entitled Fit For Work Europe and conducted across 23 European countries. Read: Incredible new tech inspired by nature The Chairless Chair represents an innovative approach to this problem, which is currently addressed mostly through ergonomics of the workplace. Although unique, it shares some similarities with the Swiss Milking Stool, a monopod used by farmers to milk cows, which dates back to the early 19th Century. It had straps that secured it to the wearer and required some practice to be used due to the single source of support. It was phased out by the rise of the milking parlor. An aluminium and carbon fibre frame keeps the overall weight of the Chairless Chair at just two kilograms, so it doesn't burden the wearer with too much excess weight and only marginally impairs movement. And in the future, it could be fitted with smart motors able to infer the user's intentions and offer the ideal posture without even the need to press a button.