Skip to main content

In a slump? This smart stool improves your posture

Even if you have an ergonomic chair, your posture might still be terrible. You could strap yourself into a special device that prevents you some slumping or balance on a rubber ball, but you’ll definitely be a bit conspicuous around the office.

Zami Smart is a stool designed to improve your posture and give you real-time feedback along the way, without looking like something you rolled out of your yoga class. Dutch Designer Ruud-Jan Kokke and orthopedic surgeon Piet Van Loon created the ordinary-looking stool, which has a double convex form designed to enhance your posture over time.

Recommended Videos

The stool has coated black steel and oak wood legs for a sleek, modern look, plus a leather-covered seat. However, the best part of its design may be its generic appearance: No one will even know you’re putting forth the effort into improving your posture.

Sensors embedded in the stool’s legs sync with the Zami mobile app, which can show you statistics on your sitting time and how many calories you’ve burned. You can even view videos featuring core exercises, if you’re interested in learning new ways to enhance your posture.

Zami – The Future of Sitting

The retail price for the Zami Smart is set for $1,249, but if you preorder the device online, you can get it for $749. It’s set to be delivered to customers by November 2015.

Not interested in sensors and statistics? Kokke and Loon have created a stool called Zami Essential for those who want a tech-free version. The Zami Essential has the same double convex design but no sensors. It comes in beech, walnut, oak, or aluminum. You can still order an aluminum edition for $269 on the product’s Indiegogo campaign page, but the wooden Zami Essential deal for $229 has officially run up. Looks like there are quite a few people who strive for good posture!

Krystle Vermes
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Krystle Vermes is a professional writer, blogger and podcaster with a background in both online and print journalism. Her…
Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) vs. Amazon Smart Thermostat: Which is best for your home?
The Amazon Smart Thermostat.

Smart thermostats are an easy way to upgrade your home's heating and cooling skills, and few products are as popular as the Amazon Smart Thermostat and Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen). The two offer many of the same basic features, though you'll find a handful of drastic differences between the devices -- starting with their price tag.

From pricing and design to installation and available features, here's a closer look at the Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) and Amazon Smart Thermostat to help you decide which is better for your smart home.
Pricing and design

Read more
Upgrade your dorm with these smart home gadgets
The Echo Spot on a nightstand.

Summer is winding down, and students across the country are heading back to school. If you're heading to college, that means you're probably worried about getting your dorm room prepped for the year. That's often the most stressful part of returning to campus, as not only does your space need to be comfortable enough for all your studying, but it doubles as your home away from home. For those reasons, you'll want it to be functional, versatile, and capable of keeping you entertained when you're not hitting the books.

Thankfully, there are a bunch of smart home devices for your dorm that can turn even the tiniest and oldest of spaces into a futuristic oasis. From smart speakers and smart bulbs to smart plugs and more, here are a few smart home products that are perfect for your college dorm.
Smart light bulbs

Read more
Echo Spot vs. Echo Show 8: Which is best for your smart home?
The content gallery on Amazon's Echo Show 8 displays a news item about Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

The Echo Spot is the newest edition of the Echo lineup. It serves as a smart alarm clock and is built for small spaces, while sytill offering lots of functionality despite its compact size. That's a stark contrast to the Echo Show 8, which offers a sizable eight-inch display and is designed more as an entertainment center. It's more expensive than the Echo Spot -- but is the Echo Show 8 worth its price tag, or should you opt for the more affordable Echo Spot?

From pricing and design to display quality and available features, here's a closer look at these two smart displays to help you find the right one for your home.
Pricing and design

Read more