This post is about creativity, the creativity associated with the creation of products in today’s world. More specifically, it is about re-creating the nature and form of “chairâ€, and is prompted by my currently sore back and tush after this long day of writing.
Many solutions to this problem have been brought forth over the years. Some chairs are certainly better than others, but I personally have yet to encounter what I would consider — the ultimate chair. I propose that we re-envision our image of a chair.
Instead of a rigid thing, with perhaps several moving parts, I suggest that the ultimate chair be a more organic thing that, when occupied, takes the appropriate and precise shape of the torso of the person seated.
It could have an electro-mechanical inner skeleton made up of micro-motors, lightening quick micro air compressors, smooth fluid joints, and strategic sensors. It could then have a soft, pliable exoskeleton, made up of cushioned fixed-panel plains, jell-filled cavities, and instantly inflatable bladders.
IT’S SMART
When an individual approaches the chair, designated sensors would scan the person’s physic, and immediately raise or lower, lengthen or shorten, widen or make narrow the key vertical and horizontal plains that define the basic chair, in order to accommodate the individual’s size and shape.
When the person sits, a new set of sensors engages to determine overall weight, it’s distribution, bend in the knee, slope of the shoulders, length of the nape of the neck, weight/size/shape of head, length from spine to back of knee, and every other weight and dimension necessary to ensure that the chair conforms to the shape of the individual’s body.
There would also be sensors to constantly measure shift in mass and muscle tension to make certain that the body was held comfortably relaxed and balanced in the sitting position.
IT’S ALIVE!
Once the chair has properly and optimally fitted itself to the individual, it then begins the task of pampering and nurturing the person seated. It can understand and obey both subtle physical signals created by body movement, as well as voice commands, and also monitors the temperature of the surrounding environment.
Once the chair has formed itself around you the voice command “Stay†will keep the chair in the shape it has assumed. You can now swivel and tilt to your heart’s content. The voice command “Follow†puts the chair into obedience mode. It will sense you leaning forward, and instantly reform every surface and degree of resistance to properly support and balance you. It will likewise follow your body if you sit upright or lean back slightly. You can also voice command it to be “Firmer†or “Softerâ€, “More Lumbar†or “Less Lumbar“, “Higher†or “Lowerâ€, and a number of other ergonomic adjustments.
The temperature sensors monitor the temperature of the surrounding environment and automatically warm the chair slightly if the air grows too cool, or cool it if the air grows too warm. The temperature adjustments will also respond to voice commands.
The chair would operate whisper quiet and extremely smooth so as not to disrupt the person seated.
OVER THE TOP — BUT NICE ON THE BOTTOM
Perhaps this vision of a chair is extreme, but as I sit here at the end of the day feeling the fatigue in my body – it sounds quite reasonable to me, and most desirable. I am confident that future seating, designed to be effective for long-term sitting, will be some form of “living chair”.
The creativity of the world’s writers, productivity and quality of performance generated in product design studios, in the paneled confines of executive offices and business board rooms, in the halls of government and justice, as well as in the ivy’d climbs of academia would improve significantly if such an ultimate chair existed.
Such a chair would be great in front of your home computer. A variation of this “living chair” concept would be wonderful used in tandem with you’re A/V or video gaming system, as well as in your home theater.
So there’s my vision of the why and what of the ultimate chair. What are your thoughts about all this? I would love to hear them.
Boy, I’d love to find a really comfortable chair. I had one once. It was a huge, wooden rolling chair that my father saved from the trash pile when the Red Cross was refurbishing an office bldg. I had it for years and with a cushion on the seat, it was so comfortable that I could sit in it for hours and not get fatigued. It got broken in a move and I’ve never been able to find a good substitute. I have long legs and a short body and most chairs just don’t fit me. However, as I sat outside on a flat rock today with my back against a tree, I realized that I was perfectly comfortable. Maybe I need a rock. I like your blog and your writing and visual art very much.
Peace,
Lill in Maine
Hi Lill –
I am happy you like my blog and my work. Thank you for visiting.
As you likely realize, I visited your site and enjoyed reading your posts. Your writing made me feel like a very welcomed guest.
A personal chair is such a, well, personal thing — and so very important I believe. I couldn’t imagine being without my now familiar leather recliner. Something would be off in my life.
I have only had to “break in” and “personalize” three “dad’s chair” candidates in the past twenty years. Each took a while before they felt like “mine”.
It is an unspoken acknowledgement in my home — there is a “dad’s chair†and a “mom’s chairâ€. When guests visit, if one of them sits in either of the “designated†chairs, there is a palpable disturbance in the cosmos. It isn’t spoken, but is certainly felt.
At times, without anything being spoken, a guest will evacuate one of the two aforementioned chairs, with the comment, “this must be someone’s chairâ€. It’s as though there is the presence of a tangible connection between the chair and the familiar occupant.
It is very strange. Wonder if that is true in every household?
–and so it goes–
…Rob