Introducing the Chairless Chair, the invisible chair

Long hours of standing are often detrimental to health. And especially when it comes to work. Talk about working in cramped spaces like warehouses and we find it is often difficult to provide seating equipment for all workers as it would create problems in movement. Adding to this is the high cost of health, employee fatigue, long breaks from work. This almost seems like an occupational hazard. How about a chair which appears only when you feel the need to sit instead of being always present and causing a hurdle in moving around in the factory.

Noonee, A Zurich based startup co founded by Bryan Anastisiades and Keith Gunura, came up with a Chairless Chair, a patent pending electromechanical robotic device which can be attached to body without causing any kind of hindrance in movement. It is a chair which is not present but appears only when you need it. Yes, At the push of a button, the chair appears out of the mechanical exoskeleton which you've attached to your legs.

"The idea came from wanting to sit anywhere and everywhere, and from working in a UK packaging factory when I was 17. Standing for hours on end causes a lot of distress to lower limbs, but most workers get very few breaks and chairs are rarely provided, because they take up too much space. So I thought that the best idea was to strap an unobtrusive chair directly to myself." said Keith Gunura, the 29-year old CEO and co-founder of Noonee in a statement to CNN.

The startup has also received multiple rounds of funding from Venture Kick, a Swiss firm which works under Swiss Federal Supervisory Board of Foundations.

The best part is that the device does not cause any kind of impediment while walking or even running. It can be strapped to thighs and does not touch the ground during normal movement (it touches the ground only when it is stationary). At present the device runs for 24 hours without battery. The device is made up of carbon fiber and weighs only two kgs.

Once the device comes under mass production, it would greatly help increase productivity by changing certain conditions as the high cost associated with frequent injuries and accidents would be greatly reduced and one of biggest causes of fatigue will be removed.