Sitting for long periods, it turns out, is not good for your health. Unfortunately, though, standing has its own problems ... like being uncomfortable. The LeanChair offers a middle ground, reducing the risks associated with sitting and taking some of the standing weight off your legs.
The rap-sheet for sitting is worth recounting. As well as being bad for your muscles, neck, back and circulation, it also increases the chances of cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Standing desks are the obvious solution for this and ideas such as the Standing Task Chair have been devised to make standing for long periods more manageable.
Designed by software developer Wayne Yeager, the LeanChair offers another approach. It provides a cushioned body support with a slight backwards inclination against which the user can lean and a tilted foot rest to support them.
Yeager says the LeanChair takes around 25 percent of the weight off the user's legs, making it more comfortable for long periods of use than standing desks. In addition, a built-in swing-arm work-surface provides a well-positioned platform for the user's laptop or notepad.
A Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign is underway for the LeanChair. At the time of writing, individuals who pledge from US$255 will receive one of the units, assuming all goes to plan with the production and roll-out. Shipping is expected from November this year.
The video below is the Kickstarter pitch for the LeanChair.
Source: Kickstarter
The hard part is waiting until November for delivery. This shifts the thought of leaning back instead of leaning forward as has been some of the past thinking in design.
Other solutions aim to sell a chair and also a desk combination. The LeanChair provides both at a greater value proposition.
I can use the LeanChair immediately without any modifications to my work environment. Further, and this has tremendous value to me, I can move this easily to any other place in my house, including my balcony.
Try that with anything else?