But the latest design, dubbed Dynamic Chair, turns the user’s whole body into a mouse so even when they’re sat down, they’re still moving.
Sensors built into the exoskeleton design recognise pressure and movements, which are then used to control an on-screen pointer.
The Dynamic Chair was created by designer Govert Flint from Eindhoven University, with help from programmer Sami Sabik.
It was designed and built for Mr Flint’s ‘Creatures with Creations’ research project.
‘Although our bodies are evolved to move, we tend to design objects based on monofunctional use and posture,’ explained Mr Flint.
‘Furthermore, as technology takes over more functions that formerly required exertion on our part, we are left with a less useful body.
‘We relegate our movements to leisure time.
'Movement becomes a choice and a lifestyle, segregated from our regular lives.
Sensors in the seat detect pressure and the angle of the body, while accelerometers measure and track the movement of the user’s legs.
These movements are interpreted digitally, using software created by Mr Sabik, and are translated into movements on screen.
Moving the hips and lowering the body’s centre of gravity, for example, scrolls through pages and moves the mouse around the screen.
Kicking the left and right leg corresponds with left and right clicks, and in the future, arms could control swipe pages and open windows.
This vision is demonstrated in a video that accompanies the researcher project.
To master the type and range of movements, Mr Flint studied dancers at the Scapino Ballet Rotterdam.
‘Full body movement correlates with feelings of happiness,’ continued Mr Flint. ‘And yet, we spend days sitting behind a computer.’
To make this more dynamic, Mr Flint’s exoskeleton chair allows the body to move freely.
‘With this chair, our bodies are once again functional, stimulating regular movement.
'After all, that’s what we were designed to do.’
相关新闻：
人们越来越注意久坐问题，各种设计也应蕴而生，跑步机办公桌、人类“仓鼠轮”等层出不穷。
据英国《每日邮报》10月23日报道，近日，又出现了一款新型动态椅(Dynamic Chair)，可以把使用者的整个身体变成鼠标，这样即使坐着也在运动。
这套外骨骼设计中嵌入了传感器，可以识别压力和动作，由此来控制电脑屏幕上的指针。
荷兰埃因霍芬理工大学的设计者霍弗特·弗林特(Govert Flint)在程序员萨米·萨比克(Sami Sabik)的帮助下创造出这款动态椅。
这款椅子是弗林特是为“生物与创造”课题时设计和制造的。
弗林特解释道，“虽然我们的身体进化到可以运动，我们倾向于设计只需一种功能或姿势的物件。
“而且，现代科技已经取代了身体的许多功能，因而我们的身体越来越缺少运动，它越来越没用了。
”只有在闲暇时间我们才会运动。
“运动变成了一种选择，一种生活方式，离我们的日常生活越来越远。”
动态椅子内的传感器会感知压力以及使用者身体的角度，加速度计也会测量跟踪使用者双腿的运动。
使用者的每个运动都会被萨比克设计的软件解读为电脑能理解的信号，并翻译成电脑屏幕上指针运动。
例如，移动臀部或者降低身体重心可以控制电脑翻页，移动电脑屏幕上的鼠标。
踢左右腿分别相当于左击与右击鼠标，未来手臂可以控制刷新页面，打开窗口。
弗林特在这个研究项目的附带视频中展示了他的畅想。
为了掌握人体运动的种类以及范围，弗林特甚至特意研究了芭蕾舞者。
“全身运动会让人愉悦，但是大部分人现在整天都坐在电脑前，”弗林特称。
为了使这款设计更动态，弗林特将外形设计成外骨骼式，便于使用者随意运动。
他表示，“有了动态椅，我们的身体就又能变得实用，它促使身体就能不断的运动。
“毕竟，我们的身体就是用来运动的。”
