The 5Ws

[22/11/2012]

(Some things become Classic for a reason)


Who?

The integrate chair is designed for employees working in a general office space situation where they will not have their own chair adjusted to their preferences. Given its high degree of adjustability, the integrate could be used by all workers within the hub. The app-based interaction ensures that older users with limited dexterity will be able to adjust the chair as easily as their young colleagues.

What?

The integrate is an office chair that uses an app to allow users to adjust almost every aspect of the chair. With their preferences saved on their mobile device, those preferences can then be communicated to any integrate chair. Not only can the user adjust the overall height, armrest position, they can also adjust the curvature of both the chair’s spine and backrest. The adjustability of key points on the spine gives the user greater back support and helps them to maintain better posture. The 3 pairs of “arms” on the backrest allow users to create a bespoke curvature to maximise comfort. Additionally, the ball at the base of the chair gives users a far larger range of motion while ensuring that the back remains supported.

Where?

As previously stated, the chair is designed for users working in a “hub” environment. In this sort of scenario, everyone will be sharing spaces/resources meaning that no one will have a chair that they, and they alone, use.

When?

With work extending across time zones there is the possibility that the hubs will be open 24/7 meaning that any one chair could be in use for over 12 hours a day. Although the chair could be used by over a dozen people on any given day, there is a good chance that it will be occupied by a single user for a prolonged period of time.

Why?

With office workers no longer having their own chair, they will need chairs that can adapt to their preferences with the minimal amount of effort. The integrate uses the increasingly ubiquitous nature of technology to achieve this. The automatic nature of the adjustment is also of great benefit to the ageing workforce who may be unable to fully customise the chair by traditional means. The physical wellbeing of users across all age groups is also key and the adjustable spine and backrest go some way to ensuring this. While the spine aids posture and provides increased support, the ball at the base allows users a wide range of motion. Given that current predictions estimate that by 2030 nearly half of the UK population will be classed as obese, a chair that allows its users to move freely could have a beneficial effect on their overall health.