 |
It's amazing, given the amount of time many of us spend "surfing" in chairs these days, how little attention we actually pay to what we sit in. Not to sound overly dramatic (or gross anybody out), but I'm convinced that I literally sacrificed my right hip to my first book, thanks to a bad chair. I had 30 days to write it, and did so (OK, so it was 46 days, but who's counting?) in a cheap "task chair" I bought at Staples. I have really bad arthritis, so it's not like I was physically fit to begin with, but I started out with a working hip, and by the time I finished (spending almost every waking hour at the computer), my hip was history. This painfully-personal information is simply to point out: A) You shouldn't take your seating lightly, B) I'm a special case when it comes to finding a comfortable chair (which we'll revisit in a moment). Furniture makers Herman Miller recognize the importance of comfortable and efficient seating for those of us who work on our backsides. Since 1976, they've designed a series of award-winning work chairs that are both exceptionally comfortable and beautifully designed. The Aeron chair is the latest in this distinguished furniture line. Herman Miller claims that they take ergonomic office design very seriously, and do their research about how people actually work before tackling each design assignment. From my experience with the Aeron chair, and the research information and photos on their website (not to mention their reputation in the industry), I have no reason to doubt them.
The Aeron chair was designed to be versatile in application and adjustable enough to accommodate all body types. Most work chairs are designed on what's called a "middle-out" model of anthropometrics, which means they're designed to accommodate the largest middle percentage of the population. This leaves the ah...special people (short people, tall people, the handicapped) out of the equation. The Aeron chair was designed to fit all users and to offer as many adjustments as possible including lower leg length, seat depth, hip breadth, back height, elbow height, lumbar height and lumbar depth. The chairs are available in three sizes based on height and weight. A chart on the website can be used to choose the right size. The chair has adjustments for seat height, tilt tension, arm height, arm angle (three horizontal positions), lumbar depth and height (using an optional reversible lumbar pad), degree of forward tilt, and tilt range. One unique feature of the chair is the woven elastic fabric that's used for the "seat pan" and back. The purpose of this material is to evenly distribute weight over its surface to conform to each person's shape and to minimize pressure on the body. The material also lets air pass through, adding to long-term comfort by preventing body heat build-up. Another significant feature is the "kinematic tilt" mechanism that allows the body to adjust to different sitting postures (leaning back, leaning forward, upright) using the natural pivot points of the body ("kinematics" is the study of motion). Using the seat's adjustments, you can fine-tune the kinematic tilt (and all the other adjustments) to minimize stresses on the body as you assume different seating positions. All of the seat's adjustments are within easy reach and can be adjusted while seated. The chair is a dream to sit in. Given my physical condition, I'm very finicky about chairs, but the Aeron feels perfect on my back and its balance is far superior to anything I've ever sat in. My only big problem is with the seat pan. I got chair size B (I was right on the edge of B and C on the chart). After spending a few weeks in it, I realize I should have a size C. I have long legs and the B chair hits my thighs in the wrong place. The fabric seat, which is supposed to conform to your body, is too tight across my thighs and cuts off circulation after long computing sessions. I have a programmer friend who also has advanced arthritis, and after two years of use, he still swears by his Aeron. Clearly, I'd need to exchange this one for size C. The only other criticism I have is that the three position arm pads move from one position to the next too easily. I put a lot of downward and outward pressure on the pads as I get in and out of the chair, and they often slide to the outward position abruptly (and that hurts!). This is obviously something that most people won't experience, but since Herman Miller makes such a big deal out of the fact that their chair is designed for everyone, I think this is something they should address. A lock for the three positions (like they have on the vertical arm pad adjustment) would do the trick. The Aeron chair is incredibly well-designed and well-made. It's also a thing of beauty--as much a sculptural object as a piece of work equipment. Not surprisingly, it won I.D. magazine's 1995 design award for furniture. Sure, nine hundred bucks is a lot of money for a chair, but given the loss of work efficiency, the chiropractic bills, and in my case, the cost of a hip replacement, it's money well spent. - Gareth Branwyn [10/27/97]
Update [7/20/2000]
|
