Ergoblog

Gravitonus Ergonomic Office Chair--Ultimate in Spinal Comfort

I've had a Herman Miller Aeron chair for several years, and haven't had any complaints, but I've seen in the comments for that review that not everyone is as big of a fan.  Well, for those who want an upgrade, here's perhaps the ultimate luxury option when it comes to ergonomic computer chairs:

The Gravitonus

It sounds--and looks--like something out of a futuristic science fiction movie (and I'm not sure if it would go with my home office decor), but I'd love to try one out.

"Created by a group of medical researchers studying spinal cord injury, the Gravitonus ergonomic workstation comes with an on-board computer which constantly analyses body position, measures local temperature and pressure for different body parts and gently rotates the frame accordingly.

Currently being adapted for quadriplegics by means of an alternative computer control system (ACCS) which places a control unit in the mouth to do all of the work and allow for breathing, drinking, talking, smoking at the same time." ~ SafeComputerTips (see the rest of their blog post for a lot of other nifty ergonomic chairs too).

Some of the Gravitonus' features include:

• a system that "constantly changes position of the user to maintain comfort in relation to the Earth Gravitational Field vector." (I don't even know what that means--more science fiction!--but it sounds cool.)
• the ability to hold three flat screen monitors  so you can "align the display in the user’s best field of vision in any body position"
• an array of LED lights to offer "shadow-less and glare-free local illumination of the working area"
• a highly adjustable keyboard holder
• surround sound stereo system (yes, gamers, you can really rock out to that World of Warcraft theme music now)

Prices for the snazzy computer workstation start at $7,000 (which is actually less than I thought it might be, but I fear I'll have to stick to my Aeron for now).

SwingSeat, an Ergonomic Chair That Rocks

Whether you're suffering from repetitive stress injuries, back pain, or just want to have a healthy office environment, a good chair is a must.  This is especially true for writers, programmers, and other folks who spend the majority of the work day at the computer.

There are a lot of ergonomic chair options out there, and it's hard to say that any one particular one is best, so it depends a lot on what you're looking for and what price range you're looking in (it's entirely possible to spend $1,000 or more for an ergonomic chair!).

Today I came across one I haven't written about before: the SwingSeat from SmartMotion Technology.

The picture here doesn't look all that impressive, so I suggest you take a look at the company's website, where there are a few videos of the chair in action.  Basically, the back piece and the seat piece can both rock (tilt forward and back) in response to your shifting weight.

If you've ever experienced pain or stiffness after getting up out of a chair, then this might be just what you need.  I'd think the regular movement would help keep your muscles from getting cold and stiff. 

The SwingSeat seems to be targeted at those with back pain, though I suspect anyone might enjoy these features. 

New chairs start just under $400, and the company also has some "like new" demonstrator or refurbished chairs you can pick up for a lower price.

Jobri Kneeling Chair Gets Positive Review

I was over at someone's place the other day, and they have a kneeling chair, so I was able to try it out.  He is an avid computer gamer (read: oh, I forgot to go to bed last night because my guild was on a dungeon raid...) who logs 100  hours or more at the keyboard (he has a computer job in addition to his gaming addiction), and his old chair (an Office Depot special) wasn't cutting it.  Since he wasn't able to afford something like the Aeron (this is the chair I have, and you can read my review at the appropriately named Herman Miller Aeron Review post), he picked up a kneeling chair by Jobri for a couple hundred dollars.

Anyway, he's a big fan of it and sits in the thing for hours on end without any back pain (before he was having trouble with lower back pain and tension knots in his neck and upper back).  I got to try it out and it felt a little weird at first (I just felt like my balance was off... you feel like you're being pushed into the kneeler cushion), but after a few times getting up and down and typing for a while, I got used to it.  It actually did seem comfortable too.

The kneeler chairs work by taking more of your weight on your knees (you rest them against the padded lower cushion), which is supposed to let you sit in just the right position to keep the natural S curve to your spine.  Apparently, this is a good thing.  All I care about in a chair is whether or not it's still comfortable to sit in at the end of the day.  And this fellow swears up and down by the chair, saying it's totally gotten rid of his back pain.  (He wasn't trying to sell me one or anything, so I believe him.)

He said it was by Jobri, but I'm not sure if the one pictured here is the exact model I tried (it's what I could find a picture of for you on Amazon).  Still, I think they are probably similar.  This one has Tempur-Pedic cushioning (yes, the mattress people do chairs too) and runs $229, which sounds about like what my friend paid for his.  That makes it about 1/3rd the price I paid for my Aeron, so if a kneeling chair works for you,  it's probably not a bad bet, financially or ergonomically speaking.

Jobri Kneeling Chair (affiliate link)

Custom-built Computer Desks?

I've been looking for a new computer desk (something that's ergonomically correct yet has room for my copious stuff) for more than a year.  (Ok, I haven't spent a lot of time looking, but I've been keeping my eye out, ya know?)  The pieces I see at Office Depot and stores like that never quite fit the bill.  Desks at real furniture stores are more likely to be about style than ergonomics or economy of space.  After a friend told me about some custom-built bookshelves he had done, I started thinking about having a desk custom-built. 

I haven't done anything about this yet (I probably need to do some sketches of exactly what I want), but I have started to look at web sites of companies that do custom-built furniture.  In case you're in the same boat, here's a few of the links I dredged up:

http://www.woodenitbeniceinc.com/
http://www.woodwiseinteriors.com/
http://www.montanawood.com/
http://www.designerantiques.com/

I have a feeling a local carpenter could probably make what I want (for less), so I'll be checking into that too.

Colorful Ergonomic Chairs

As much as I like my Herman Miller Aeron, it's a touch... monochromatic.  (That's code for all black.) Though I haven't had a chance to sit in an Azeo GT office chair, I like the color options they offer: "durable ergonomic seating available in your color of choice" is the product's tag line.  Glossy red doesn't have to be just for cars any more...

http://www.globaltotaloffice.com/

More Ergonomic Office Chairs

I mention the Herman Miller Aeron quite often because, well, it's what I've got.  There certainly are other ergonomic office chairs out there, though.   Here's a few I scrounged from around the Web:

The Trendway TF series chairs are high-backed with a curved dual-compound seat and adjustable height.  I don't like that the arm rests don't seem to be adjustable, and it's not clear whether the back has a tilt option, but the TF series has a range of seat sizes with five arm choices available, so you may find something that fits just right.

http://www.trendway.com/ (look under "managerial task seating")

When I saw the Knoll Chadwick Chair, I thought it looked awfully similar to the Herman Miller Aeron, and then I found out Don Chadwich was the designer of the Aeron and the Equa I (haven't seen that one).  The Chadwick Chair is his newest project.  It has active suspension and resilient support via the "elastometric" back and seat fabric.  It comes with variable seat depths, flexing arm pads, forward tilt, and lumbar support.  The frame is black glass-filled nylon with a breathable 100% polyester fabric available in beige, silver, brown, green, and black.  Hm, I think this one goes on my Christmas wish list.  It seems to have everything you could want in an ergonomic computer chair.

http://www.knoll.com/

The Kimball Office Wish Task Chair sports a synchronized-tilt recline, multiposition back lock, five-zone tilt tension, and pneumatic height adjustment so users can easily customize the chair to get just the right fit.

http://www.kimballoffice.com/

I haven't actually tried any of these chairs (maybe some day!) and a lot of the blurbs are summaries of the manufacturers' own descriptions, so you'll want to do some more research if you're thinking about buying any of them.  I'd love to hear comments from anyone who has tried any of these chairs.

(Pictures came from the product section of InteriorDesign.Net)

The Ultimate Home Office Desk

I've been half-heartedly looking for a new ergonomic desk/workstation for a while.  If only I had an extra $4,500 in the couch cushions, I'd have to check out this armoire and desk with built-in fitness center with treadmill and tv (to watch while you work out of course).  Now, I'm not sure there's anything ergonomic about it, but my sore hands and wrists always feel better after doing some cardio at the gym, so I believe there's a real benefit to getting that blood flowing.  Every time your break reminder program goes off, you could just hop on the treadmill for a few minutes without leaving the room.  *drool*

via Luxist

Height Adjustable Keyboard Drawer

One of my beefs with keyboard drawers is that the keyboard usually ends up being at the wrong height for me.  I found a height-adjustable drawer while browsing at Amazon though (3M Adjustable Keyboard Drawer). Since Amazon didn't have a picture, I hit the 3M product catalogue and found some more information. It looks like the keyboard trays come out from a metal monitor stand, at least from the pictures.

It wasn't clear from the product description whether it just sits on the desk or holes need to be drilled (I'd be more likely to drill a hole into the bottom of my desk than the top).  Has anyone used one of these adjustable drawers?  If so, do you like it?  I'm still looking for something to hook up to my desk.  Right now, I tend to just put the keyboard in my lap to type.

Herman Miller Cella Chair

Since I already have a Herman Miller Aeron, I probably don't need to buy a new ergonomic chair anytime soon, but for those in the market, the Cella work chair won the "Best of NeoCon 2005" awards at the annual industry exposition in Chicago.  The award was for Innovation in the Seating (Ergonomic Desk/Task) category.

For a little more on the chair and the award, you can check http://www.dexigner.com/product/news-g4867.html or get product information from the Herman Miller site.

Egg Chair?

I noticed an advertisement for an "ergonomic egg chair" and decided to take a peek.  It looks like the same sort of idea as is behind those ball chairs, except instead of sitting on a ball, you're sitting on the tip of an egg.  The site that's selling them is http://www.sellcom.com/ergochair.html.  The price listed is $198 with free shipping to the continental US.  Personally, I'm happy to stick with my Herman Miller Aeron, but if anyone has tried an "egg chair" and would like to leave their comments, I'd like to hear some opinions.