Skip to main content

When standing isn’t enough, the NextErgo will have you doing yoga at your desk

Sitting is the new smoking, according to some fairly recent research. This idea helped lead to the rise of the standing desk, but if you aren’t moving around enough, standing isn’t much better than sitting. Offering oa solution is the NextErgo, an A.I.-powered standing desk that features an eight-inch touchscreen and can adjusted based on height. The NextErgo ensures your posture is correct — all while tracking the amount of time you spend both sitting and standing.

Your desk will hold you accountable. Built-in presence detectors won’t let you lie to yourself about how long you’ve spent at your desk, while hand-level sensors ensure your desk is in exactly the right ergonomic position to prevent unnecessary hand strain. An included touchscreen provides regular reminders to stand and move around. It’s about more than just health; standing up and moving can get the blood pumping and help you think more clearly.

You can set up other personalized reminders, such as ones to take a deep breath, stretch, drink water, have a snack, or even move specific body parts. After all, long days at the desk can make your neck and shoulders incredibly tense.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The NextErgo can also provide suggestions for desk-based yoga and exercise. If you’re looking for a way to cram in a workout during your workday, or just work out a few kinks in your muscles, it’s a great option. Your desk can also provide you with standing goals based on your fitness level. Depending on how fit you are, you will need to stand up for a certain length of time throughout the day to ensure you are remaining as healthy as possible.

The NextErgo also responds to voice commands. You can request a news briefing, check your usage levels, set alarms, and even adjust the desk itself with nothing but your voice. At the moment, only Google Assistant is supported, but NextErgo says that both Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit will be added in the future.

The basic edition of the NextErgo standing desk will be available for $599 on Kickstarter, while a standard edition will cost $899. The premium option with all the bells and whistles will cost $1,099. Standing desks are a popular trend, but they do yield health benefits that even the most ergonomically designed desk chair cannot. As with any Kickstarter campaign, just know what you’re getting yourself into with a pledge.

Editors' Recommendations

Patrick Hearn
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more. If it's a…
7 things you didn’t know your home security system could do
SimpliSafe bast station sitting on a table infant of a mirror.

Your home security system is the main line of defense against burglars and unwanted visitors. It can provide peace of mind when you're away, but there are a lot of things your security system can do that you might not be aware of. For example, rather than just catching suspicious activity, it also lets you record your pets being silly for video clips worthy of America's Funniest Videos.

With the right setup, your home security system can extend its functionality far beyond the basics. Here are seven things you didn't know your home security system could do.
Connect to your smart home to disarm the system and turn on the lights
When you come inside, your first step is typically to turn on the lights and/or disarm your security system. You can actually disable your security system with the right key code and connect it to your smart lights so they automatically turn on when you enter the code. You can also connect it to other smart devices like a smart plug to turn on other devices.

Read more
7 things you didn’t know security cameras could do
swann digital ecosystem provides powerful home security tools smart camera

Security cameras are often thought of as one-dimensional devices. They keep an eye out for suspicious activity around your home, but security cameras are capable of significantly more than just the bare minimum of motion detection.

While smart cameras excel at home defense, they do much more than simply alert you to activity around your home. Here are seven things you didn't know security cameras could do.

Read more
7 things you didn’t know robot vacuums could do
iRobot Roomba 692 Robot Vacuum.

Smart vacuum cleaners like the iRobot Roomba i7+ or the Roborock S6 MaxV are best known for their ability to automatically clean your home, but did you realize that robot vacuums can do much more than that? Yes, the expectation to clean our homes is there. However, you may be surprised by the technology packed into today's bots.

Depending on the model, your robot vacuum could be jam-packed with other features that give it utility far beyond a cleaning appliance. Here are seven things you didn't know robot vacuums could do.
Robot vacuums can spot clean specific areas
While a whole-room cleaning is recommended at least once a week, you might only have a specific place that's dirty. For example, maybe you had rice for dinner one night and there are little grains all around the kitchen table. The iRobot Roomba i7+ is just one of the many that can do this.

Read more