A Zurich-based Startup Company has come with a "wearable chair" that can offer relief to production line workers and allow for better posture while performing their tasks.
Designed by noonee, the 'Chairless Chair', which can be worn on legs like an exoskeleton, changes into a chair with a touch of a button and never touches the ground, which makes it easier to wear, as a belt secures it to the hips and even has straps that wrap around the thighs, CNN reported.
A variable damper engages and supports the bodyweight, which is directed towards the heels of the shoes, which are specially designed and part of the mechanism, but an alternate version works with any footwear and touches the ground only when in a stationary position. The user just moves into the desired pose and then powers the device, which currently runs for about 24 hours on a single 6V battery.
Keith Gunura, CEO and co-founder of the company, said that the idea came from wanting to sit anywhere and everywhere and from working in a UK packaging factory when he was 17.
The 29-year old said that 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. So he thought that the best idea was to strap an unobtrusive chair directly to himself.
In addition to resting leg muscles, the chair also provides optimal posture, keeps the back straight and can reduce the occurrence of bad postures for both healthy workers and those recovering from muscle related injuries.
