Tag: sitting

Categories
Sleep Travel

Sleeploop keeps your head up while napping, may not do same for dignity

Sleeping on the go is rarely comfortable in part because seats tend to make it difficult to keep one’s head from dipping forward. Many travel pillows have sought to make things better, but they;re often bulky and ineffective.

The SleepLoop uses a simple design to help sleepers who are sitting down and avoid that uncomfortable head roll – a literal pain the neck. The product features a padded section that serves as a pillow, and a long section to create tension. The padded loop cradles the chin and one ear. Then, the tail section threads [iunder the legs and pulled until comfortable. This allows the head to relax without rolling forward. At $28, the Sleeploop is fairly affordable. The campaign’s seeks $16,738 by June 23, 2015, with delivery expected September 2015.

The fairly compact Sleeploop could work well for travel but looks as silly as other options for travel. Aside from travelers, the Sleeploop could provide comfort for people required to sleep upright for various medical reasons.

Categories
Health and Wellness

BetterBack provides improved posture, produces better backers

Good posture is one of the most ignored health issues out there. Our posture affects the way we breathe, grow and function. Bad posture can have serious long term complications, such as back pain and a hump in our old age.

BetterBack is one solution to this problem. This product is targeted towards individuals who sit a lot and helps them straighten their otherwise slouched over sitting position. The main portion of BetterBack rests on the lower back. Two straps reach from that part to loop around the knees, providing leverage to draw the lower back in while the upper back straightens out. BetterBack can be used and carried around anywhere, making it convenient. It also boasts breathable fabrics so that one’s back doesn’t get all sweaty.

This is one of those products that doesn’t need technology to be innovative and effective. BetterBack provides a simple solution in an even simpler package. The product’s makers may want to consider adding a standing option to their brand, but their existing product is still intriguing. One will cost backers a donation of $75 for delivery in October 2015. BetterBack Kickstarter campaign is looking for $12,500 by May 2.

Categories
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.

Categories
Kids/Babies Wearables

FixSit fixes kids sitting in a W shape; prevents pain later on

As children grow and develop, their habits can have major consequences for the future. For instance, children who W-sit, meaning sit on their butts with both legs bent and splayed out awkwardly, are at risk for back issues later in life.

FixSit hopes to prevent such issues. Designed for children, this product is a wearable device that affixes to both ankles. It can detect when the child is W-sitting. When this behavior is detected, an alarm is sounded. This way, children are provided with instant feedback about their position and can adjust accordingly.

Best of all, each FixSit looks like a toe-less sock. Made of black stretchy fabric, this product will work great on children because it’s not a bulky piece of tech, like other wearables.

One concern about this product is the use of a loud alarm to correct behavior. However, the campaign states that the creators are adding a vibrate mode so the little nose-miner won’t be disturbed at school by the alarm, smart. For their very own, backers can donate $300 for one “production unit” or pair for estimated delivery in October 2015. FixSit is hoping to raise $75,000 with the help of Kickstarter.

Categories
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.

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.

Categories
Connected Objects Fitness

An atypical elliptical, Cubii lets the deskbound stay active

The Premise. Sitting down all day can be harmful to our health, but what is an office worker to do? Some opt for sitting on yoga balls, while others may try to power walk in place during work. Either way, it’s difficult for corporate drones to get the exercise they need and complete their work at the same time.

The Product. The Cubii is a miniature elliptical trainer for under your desk. You place your feet in the product and rotate them at the resistance of your choice just as you would on a conventional elliptical machine. This device is small enough to be portable and discreet, making it perfect for the office. The Cubii has Bluetooth capabilities and communicates with an accompanying app to track your activity from your phone. 

The Pitch. The long Cubii video features various office workers giving testimonials for the product, all saying that they love being active and don’t find exercising while working to be a distraction. In addition, the creators explain their passion for fitness and personal health. They also talk about how their app can also be used with fitness products, such as the Fitbit. Cubii hopes to raise $80,000 in a 40-day Kickstarter campaign.

The Perks. Early backers can enjoy the Cubii and accompanying app for $279 (shipping not included) or a regular price of $299. Higher tiers offer multi-packs of the product for either couples or an entire office (of eight people). Estimated delivery is currently set at January 2015.

The Potential. Several crowdfunded products have tried to solve the evil office sitting problem of our modern age. Some do it with standing desks, such as the aptly named StandDesk, while others try with robotic chairs like the ChairBot. These other products focus on actually not sitting, while the Cubii is all about staying in motion when parked at your desk. For a sawed-off elliptical machine, the Cubii is a bit expensive, especially since it’s entirely mechanical. However, compared to these other products, this mini-workout device is by far the cheapest option. Its app that is compatible with other fitness devices is especially appealing. All in all, the Cubii could be just the solution for stagnant office employees.

Categories
Relaxation

Purrch melds cane and bike seat, invites you to “lean on me”

PurrchFor those times when you’re stuck between standing and a seat-place, try Purrch. Purrch is essentially a little stool to lean on when seats are scarce. It looks like an angled cane with a bike seat on top. The shaft of Purrch is made out of lightweight aluminum and designed to hold up to 400 pounds. Purrch’s Indiegogo campaign has a goal of $75,000 in 60 days and features an early-bird price of $70 and a regular price of $77 (which includes a ‘Strrap’). Purrch is for people who either spend too much time sitting or standing or people who need to take a load of at inconvenient times. An alternative to canes with integrated seats, Purrch is not recommended to use if weight loss is desired; fortunately, it can sustain up to 400 lbs. of backward-leaning girth. Purrch currently has not specified an estimated delivery date.