A Switzerland-based startup is demonstrating that wearable tech comes in all shapes and sizes – and for all kinds of purposes – with the development of a contraption it’s calling the ‘Chairless Chair.’
This awesome piece of kit, which attaches to your hips and thighs like an exoskeleton, cleverly transforms into a chair at the mere touch of a button. When it’s not in use, you can comfortably walk about, as the contraption weighs only 2 kg and stays at all times just above the ground.
Whether you’re a commuter looking for a seat on a packed subway train or a baseball outfielder waiting for the ball to come your way, the Chairless Chair could become a serious hit in some quarters.
Joking aside, what Noonee CEO Keith Gunura really has in mind for his intriguing invention is to have it used as an aid for people like factory workers, who during a typical day can spend lengthy periods on their feet.
“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,” Gunura told CNN this week.
The battery-powered device functions using a variable damper incorporated into its aluminum and carbon fiber frame. The damper engages and supports the person’s bodyweight, directing it toward the wearer’s heels.
An important feature of the Chairless Chair is that besides resting your leg muscles and easing the burden on your back, it can also “reduce the occurrence of bad postures for both healthy workers and those recovering from muscle related injuries,” Gunura said.
Related: FDA approves revolutionary ReWalk exoskeleton for use
The five-person team behind the high-tech version of the Swiss milking stool says that its product, price currently unknown, has already attracted the attention of a number of firms, including car makers BMW and Audi, who’ll be putting it through its paces in its production plants in the coming months.
