Tag: desk

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Accents Tech Accessories

Portable Lap Desk offers space-challenged offices a small landing pad

It seems that the workplace is constantly requiring more mobility and interconnectedness. And when one is working on the road, or just works in an office space with limited seating, a portable desk can be great item to have around. Portable Lap Desk was invented with the space-challenged office in mind.

The bamboo plank balances on two metal brackets, which are attached to the wall. While the piece of wood is portable, the rest isn’t. The desk can be set up either at a standing height or sitting height.

It seems that a trip to a home supplies store or hardware store would offer the same materials and “freedom” that this product boasts. That being said, the Alden Lap Desk might prove to be even more convenient and be a better product. Interested backers might also like to check out ZestDesk, The BU Desk, and Lappito. This campaign seeks to raise £3,000 (~$4,600 USD) on Kickstarter. For £60 (~$91 USD), backers get one product with an expected delivery of June 2015.

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Furniture

Stance Desk rises to challenge of the war on sitting

The war on sitting in is full swing as the new year has begun. Stance Desk is here to add some additional artillery to the armory. This particular standing desk works with a toggle and weight system. Release the toggle to adjust the desk up and down, and the weight on the back of the desk balances with the weight on the front of the desk. The idea is that when those tedious tasks that come with every desk job begin to make one’s eyelids feel heavy, there is the option to stand up rather than remain seated and risk falling asleep in front of the computer.

While Stance appears to be a quality product, it doesn’t really seem any better than other standing desks trying to make their way into the marketplace. Interested backers might also want to check out the BU Desk, and ReadyDesk, not to be confused with the RediDesk campaigns. Those who think laterally may also be interested in Wrap. This campaign seeks to raise £6,500 (~$10,000) on Kickstarter. For £200 (~$300), backers get one Stance Desk with an expected delivery of April 2015.

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Furniture

The BU Desk lets you create your own desk space

It’s reminiscent of those old typing tables from the days before computers. Except that The BU Desk offers more versatility and has a more esthetically appealing design. BU Desk allows users to customize their desk for their specific needs. Besides functioning as a standard desk, it can also work as an elevated drawing board, easel, offer a duel computer monitor space, function as a social space for games, or a place to gather for small group meetings. In addition, it folds up to be stored away easily.

The dimensions of the desk are not clearly indicated, and it looks as though it may need to be secured to a wall rather than being self-standing, making it much less convenient. Backers may also want to check out the Zestdesk portable desk, Lappito, and iTray campaigns. This campaign seeks to raise €35,000 (~$43,600) by December 24, 2014. Backers can get the basic kit for €165 (~$210). Larger contributions get more options. Expected delivery is May 2015.

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Furniture

ReadyDesk stands up for large, two-level work surfaces

If it’s actually true that sitting is the new smoking, and that even an hour of exercise can’t burn off an entire day of sitting, one might consider cutting back on the chocolate and eating more fruits and veggies instead. But that hobby horse aside, ReadyDesk was designed as a part of the war on sitting that may have actually gotten its start in Corporate America right about the time the technological revolution began in the 20th century. Funny how no one is willing to study if it’s the computers that are the problem rather than remaining seated at them all day.

Anyway, for those who believe that standing will mean that they will get out of cutting back on all those candy bars at work, this desk is touted as being able to be ergonomically correct no matter what a person’s body build is because it is very adjustable. And since it’s made from recyclable Baltic birch, even those who are environmentally sensitive can feel good about standing at this particular desk. This campaign seeks to raise $18,900 by December 5, 2014. Backers get one desk for $189 with an expected delivery of January 2015.

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Organization Tech Accessories

Cablestop is a small cylindical weight to tame your cables

Desks are notorious for wires shooting out all over the place making a messy work environment. It’s hard to keep them all organized as we continue to add more devices to the mix. Cablestop is like a paperweight for your wires. It’s small and discreet, using little slots to slide the wires through. This product comes in several different colors. In addition, Cablestop doesn’t use any type of magnet or adhesive so it can be adjusted easily. To use, simply snake through one or two wires.

Each Cablestop only holds up to two wires, which is good from an organizational perspective, but not so great from a financial perspective. The typical backer with a cluttered desk will probably need at least two to tidy up. One will cost backers $21 AUD (~$18 USD) for delivery in April 2015 from Australia. This product is looking to raise $29,000 AUD (~$25,000 USD) on Kickstarter. Some backers may opt for a more do-it-yourself approach to the wire situation by using binder clips as wire holders. For the less creative, however, Cablestop is a nifty little solution to your clutter problems. 

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Furniture

Zestdesk portable desk works while you stand, travels where you walk

One of the hardest parts about having a desk job is sitting for eight hours a day. The lack of movement tends to make muscles and joints feel tight and a bit stiff after a few hours. The creators of Zestdesk have come up with a solution that lets you stand up and work at the same time.  It’s made of anodized aluminum, offers adjustability for a monitor, keyboard and mouse, and is lightweight. While it appears that raising and lowering the legs may mean clearing off one’s work station first, it does offer the convenience of folding up and a carrying handle for maximum portability. Another campaign offering an easily storable workspace is Refold, but this item is made of cardboard. Other portable desk options include StorkStand, Frey Desk, and StandDesk, but not all of these offer the same adjustability and durability as the Zestdesk. Zestdesk seeks to raise at least $10,000 by November, and early bird backers can get in on this Australian product for $337 AUD with an expected delivery of April 2015.

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Furniture

Refold is a standing desk that packs flat

Yeah yeah yeah, sitting is bad for us. We keep hearing this over and over. For those who are super concerned about sitting down, try the Refold standing desk. It’s not only a standing desk though, it also folds into a sitting desk, or folds flat so it can be transported easily. Hard to imagine, eh? The reason it’s so foldable is that Refold is actually made out of cardboard. Refold is strong too, featuring a photo of a dude standing on top of the desk. He looks a little surprised that he’s able to do this, however. One will cost backers $160 NZD. Oh, hello, New Zealand. Refold has a campaign goal of $25,000 NZD on Kickstarter.

Standup desks are all the rage these days. StandDesk, ChairBot, and Stealth Rising Desktop, all covered on Backerjack, feature the whole standing-at-your-desk idea. Refold has the added perk of its folded up form. It’s also recyclable, if you’re into that, though drinks are probably a no no on this desk as well as hot laptops. It’s also unclear why anyone would want to carry a desk around with them. However, if you happen to be a workaholic who wants to nab Starbucks’ Wi-fi, but stand at the same time, Refold may just be the product for you. Just be careful with the drink.

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Tech Accessories

Veyem display stand lets your monitor rise to any occasion

Anyone who has gotten used to working on dual monitors is probably not about to go back to a single monitor workstation any time soon. But an extra monitor takes up more desk space, and can be uncomfortable or awkward to transition across displays.

The VEYEM stand, which stands for Vertically Elevate Your External Monitor, is a collapsible metal laptop stand that starts out compact and folded before expanding to a stand that can support a monitor above the laptop screen. The basic shelving principle design behind VEYEM means that it can also hold any other object like a book, smartphone, or tablet. VEYEM has a target of $20,000 in mind to manufacture these stands. The stand will only cost backers $40, with a shipping date of January 2015.

There are plenty of solutions that one can come up with to support an external display, from shoeboxes to simple shelving, but something like this that can travel with a laptop and collapse down conveniently is worth looking into for those that use two monitors. The only problems this creates is how to transport that second monitor with the laptop, as well as the actual large size of the stand itself, which does not fold very flat and has fairly large dimensions.

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Connected Objects Fitness

Glyder is a smartphone-connected exercise product for the deskbound

The Premise. Sitting is as harmful to our health as smoking is. Or so they say. Either way, it’s difficult for office workers to get the exercise they need in order to stay healthy. Some have the chance to take a walk at lunchtime, but busier bees are chained to their desks all day.

The Product. Glyder is a fitness device that lives underneath your office desk. Resembling a digital scale, it has two pedals on either side where your feet go and comes in red, gray or black. The motion is similar to that of an elliptical machine. A large digital screen on top shows the calories you’ve burned, the strides you’ve taken and how close you are to your daily exercise goal. This data can be stored and set with an accompanying smartphone app. The app stores your workout history and also allows you to adjust the resistance of Glyder and compete with other Glyder users.

The Pitch. Glyder’s campaign video shows an office worker trying and failing to workout at the office. There’s also a funny part where the Glyder user makes less noise while exercising than her coworker sitting in a rocking chair. The rest of the campaign goes through Glyder’s various features along with helpful gifs of the pedal width being adjusted as well as the product in use. This under-the-table fitness device hopes to raise $75,000 on Kickstarter.

The Perks. Early gliders can enjoy the Glyder for $99 at a regular price of $139. The top tier of $10,000 offers backers a trip to China to tour Glyder’s factories. Estimated delivery is currently set for January 2015.

The Potential. As with any office workout tool, there’s always the risk of looking unprofessional as your legs mysteriously gyrate under your desk. We’ve seen several of these types of products at Backerjack like Tao and Cubii, both of which stress at-desk workouts. Like Cubii, Glyder emphasizes that elliptical motion, but does so in a sleeker manner at a fraction of the cost. While it’s unclear how beneficial a Glyder workout really is, the price and lure of activity at the office may be irresistible for antsy executives.

Categories
Tech Accessories

StandStand ensures your laptop rises to any occasion

StandStandAmong those things we do all the time that are awful for our health, sitting is the new smoking. That’s why many sedentary office workers are finding new and interesting ways to avoid sitting all day. The StandStand offers one such solution in the form of a laptop riser. The wooden stand sits atop any desk or table making it possible to stand at your computer anywhere. While not completely revolutionary, StandStand provides the convenience that most standing desks fail to offer. One of these wooden stands costs backers $50 on Kickstarter with a $15,000 campaign goal.