Armchair Fitness?

We all know that too many people sit for much too long—and by doing so endanger their health. German researchers may have a solution to get people moving.

They have designed an “intelligent” armchair equipped with sensors and monitors to gauge the health of the person sitting in it. Via Bluetooth® and WLAN, the sitter can view health vitals such as heart rate and blood pressure directly on a television screen. Data is collected over time, and if needed, a virtual health assistant appears on the TV and suggests an exercise program. The chair then transforms into a rowing machine—the armrests become “oars,” and a support emerges for the feet—and the sitter can begin to exercise.

“Here too the sensors record all of the values, and a health assistant lets the user know if any exercises are not executed correctly,” explained one of the researchers in a press release.

The chair is still in the approval stages.