Health Tech/Ergonomics Reviews
Neuroon Intelligent Sleep Mask Review
by Jamaica Scott - June 23, 2016
Review
If you are like the majority of people, you sometimes have difficulty sleeping. However, there are groups of people who are more likely to have issues with their sleep schedules. Those people include people who work hard, travelers, students, and shift workers. Most adults fall into at least one of those categories. The Neuroon sleep mask attempts to solve these sleep problems.
Neuroon is a mask you wear when you go to sleep. It blocks light and has a variety of features that are intended to improve the quality of sleep. The mask has guided audio meditation sessions, which is a great feature for those who need help relaxing the mind. Stress is one of the main reasons why many of us can't sleep. Many people give light little thought. However, light plays a huge role in our sleep. Light affects both our emotions and our energy. Neuroon offers two light-related features. Light Boost is intended to give the user a quick boost of energy by using spectrum light therapy. If you're tired in the middle of the day, the light boost should give you the energy you need to continue with your daily procedures. Sunrise is a wake-up feature. The mask gradually emits light in an attempt to simulate dawn. There is also an alarm clock that will induce gentle vibrations if the sunrise fails to wake the sleeper.
Neuroon also measures your sleep and makes adjustments to its performance accordingly. The mask has sensors capable of gathering information about your body by measuring the energy levels of the brain waves we emit. Also, Neuroon also measures the sleeper's pulse, temperature and movement. Neuroon requires a mobile app, which is available for iOS and Android. The app not only analyzes the data collected by the mask, but it also contains a feature that helps sleepers prepare for long flights and prevent jet lag.
We really love the concept of Neuroon. However, we currently don’t think it is for everyone. The current model of the product could use a few adjustments. For example, the mask is bulky and often doesn’t conform to the shape of your face. If you have sensitive skin, you may find sleeping in the mask uncomfortable because the material isn’t very breathable. Additionally, the electronics are all in the front and center: adding to the bulk of the mask.
If you have difficulty sleeping, and you can tolerate a somewhat bulky mask while sleeping, Neuroon is worth trying. There is a 14-day money back guarantee. If the mask causes difficulty sleeping, simply return it. Neuroon has the potential to become an amazing product. However, it's current design is a hassle to use.
Highlights
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Meditation audio sessions
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REM sleep detection
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3 stimuli during REM
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Sleep statistics
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Built in feature that uses light to simulate sunrise
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Light spectrum therapy
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Personal Pause customized napping program
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Biorhythm Management
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Increases probability of lucid dream induction
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Includes an alarm
Pros
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Light therapy works well
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Easy to setup and use
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Great concept
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User-friendly app design
Cons
Score
8.9
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Buggy Android app
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Irritates sensitive skin
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Poor battery life
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Nap mode does not track sleep
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Mask can cause difficulty falling asleep
Lian-Li DK-04 Desk Case Review
by Audrey Liang - May 2, 2016
Review
The upcoming Lian-Li DK-04 desk-type case is cool for many reasons. No matter if you are an office worker or a hard core gamer, the DK-04 can provide an adjustable working desk and an advanced computer case at the same time. From its appearance, the DK-04 case is an electrical height adjustable table. On the front, it features an a control panel with a LED display, up and down buttons, four pre-set with different heights and a memory button to memorize the best height for heights from 2 to 4 feet.
From its tempered glass top, you get the opportunity to display the unique PC computer components inside your desk. The DK-04 desk has a removable motherboard tray that supports ATX or Micro-ATX motherboards. You can assemble up to eight 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch hard drives with vibration dampeners and eight expansion cards. Additionally, on the front panel, there is an optical drive, fan controller, four USB 3.0 ports, HD audio inputs and audio breakout box.
The DK-04 desk has eight 120mm fans. Four fans on the front to take cool air in and four on the back to push warm air out. You can also replace the front fans with a water-cooling system. The Lian-Li DK-04 case also has an RGB (red, green, blue) controller in the front so you can install a lighting system to make your desk even cooler looking.
The Lian-Li DK-04 desk-type case isn't the first desk-based case from this company. Lian-Li has offered six sit-down desks from DK-3 to DK-Q1H. However, the DK-04 desk is the company’s flagship for the first "stand" version. With the DK-04 you get an adjustable desk, a computer case with great extendibility and an opportunity to show off your DIY computer components. If you want a standing workstation or a great DIY PC for games, the Lian-Li DK-04 Desk-type Case will definitely do the job.
Highlights
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Electrical height adjustable table, Height range: 675mm~1160mm
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Up to ten hard drive bays. Four HDD tray: A HDD tray with two drive bays, each drive bay allows for either 2.5″ or 3.5″ drives. Two 2.5″ drive bays on the M/B tray
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Cool air is pulled in through the four front 120mm fans, and warm air is pushed out by the four rear 120mm fan
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Supports Liquid cooling kit and Fan
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Opening to monitor arms or stands
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Maximum Compatibility CPU cooler height: 140mm / PSU length: 220mm/ Expansion Card length: 320mm
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A removable motherboard tray that supports ATX and Micro-ATX motherboard
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4x USB 3.0 ports, HD Audio and RGB controller
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A 5.25-inch optical drive bay
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1 year limited warranty
Pros
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An electrical height adjustable table with a computer inside
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Latest Vibration-Dampened Drive Storage and Inputs
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New design with slimmer frame to offer better legroom
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Spacious and organized room inside case to simplify assembling
Cons
Score
9.6
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Some researchers say that standing desk may not be that healthy
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Not easy to move around at home or office
Fitbit Aria Smart Scale Review
by Mikael Romo - January 29, 2016
Review
It's the morning after a heavy night of jogging--your goal has been to burn fat and lose weight. To check your progress, you step on the scale which compares last week's body readings to this week's. Success! No, this isn't your old scale--this is the Fitbit Aria Smart Scale. The Aria can do so much more than just check your weight: it works with your Fitbit account to give you accurate results about how your body changes as a result of your activity and diet.
What makes the Aria smart is its feedback to your Fitbit dashboard over Wi-Fi, and setting up the Aria is easy when you use a smartphone or laptop web browser. Once you make a free Fitbit account, Aria connects to your home's Wi-Fi to automatically send information over to your account.
The Aria can recognize up to eight different users, and you won't have to worry about it confusing you for someone else because the device's technology will recognize the body specifications of who's stepping on it. Whenever you step on the scale, it'll measure how much you weigh that day, how much body fat versus lean mass you have, what your body-mass index (BMI) is, and displays that information on its circular LCD screen.
You can also view that information on the Fitbit app and from your dashboard on any browser. With the app, you can log your calorie intake, input your workouts to calculate calorie burning, and in conjunction with the Aria, the app will allow you to see the health progress you're making towards your weight and body fat with charts and graphs that are easy to read. Thus, the point of using the Aria is not just to know how much you weigh but to help you interpret trends in your lifestyle, allowing you to make health, diet, and fitness decisions accordingly.
With all the perks it offers, the Aria is costlier than your average scale and it requires you to be technologically invested with apps and programs too. But if you're aiming for lifestyle changes to gain lean muscle or lose weight, you might consider the Aria as smart way to track your progress.
Highlights
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A smart scale to help you stay on track
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See your trends. Take control. Sync it all
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Measures weight, BMI and body fat percentage in pounds, kilograms, or stones
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Uploads data automatically and wirelessly through your home Wi-Fi to FitBit.com
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Set goals, log food and chart progress online
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Free Android and iPhone apps
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Share through social media if you choose
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Motivating badges awarded for reaching goals
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Automatically recognizes up to eight people
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Water resistant (but not waterproof)
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A seamless app experience from devices to dashboard
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1 year warranty
Pros
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Easy setup
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Works with Fitbit app and other third-party health apps
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Sends your measurements wirelessly to your free Fitbit account
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Solid and sturdy construction
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Excellent battery life (up to 12 months)
Cons
Score
9.7
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Body fat estimation not accurate
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Users with pacemakers or other internal medical devices cannot use it due to electrical interference
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Lacks support for other third-party health apps
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No body type preset profiles
Highlights
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Dynamic
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Radical idea brought to life
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Forkless bicycle
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Optimal riding position at all times
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Optimal position on all terrains
Cannondale's Chainless CERV Concept Bike
Review
by Sarah Gruenewald - September 25, 2015
The Cannondale Company had a radical idea for a forkless bicycle that could transform itself using cutting-edge technology to keep the rider positioned optimally on all terrains, and partnered with a company that met the creative and technical requirements: Priority Design. The Ohio-based company used their passion, ingenuity, and comprehension to bring Cannondale’s futuristic notion into reality.
The Continuously Ergonomic Race Vehicle, or CERV, literally adjusts itself as you ride through different terrains. Chainless, forkless, and adjustable, Priority Designs came up with a sexy, ultramodern body from a pretty revolutionary concept, delivering a stunning visualization of Cannondale’s advanced model.The system puts the rider in an optimal position based on whatever terrain the bike is on. The headset transitions forward and down for a clean, low-drag position during a descent. When climbing, the headset moves up and back, putting the rider closer to an upright position in order to give maximum leverage on the crank. Doing these things with a traditional fork in place would be unthinkable, so the two companies formulated a single-sided swing arm.
The body isn’t the only trailblazing aspect of the CERV. Its handlebars also adjust themselves without altering the distance from the seat to the crank. This is permitted by its triangular frame that allows 3.9 inches of travel up and down that moves in relation to the front end’s 3.3 in of travel forward and back. These offer the rider an array of holding options best suited for their riding needs. Grabbing hold of the lower part gets the rider down low to reduce wind resistance, and shifting grip to the top bar puts a bit more weight and leverage on the crank when climbing.
The Cannondale Chainless CERV Concept Bike was released at EUROBIKE in 2012 and is still by far the world’s most advanced bicycle.
Highlights
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Track your steps, distance, calories burned, and active minutes
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Wake up with a silent alarm
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LED lights show how your day is building up to your goal
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Slim, unobtrusive, and stylish
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Monitor personal sleep activity and quality
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Lightweight and almost unnoticeable
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Changeable wristbands and many color options
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Easy bundled app that spans across all platforms
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Syncs stats automatically to most PCs and smartphones
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5 day battery life
Pros
8.7
Score
Cons
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Might not have all the features for fitness nuts
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No built in music controls or GPS
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Band quality needs improvement to last longer than 5-6 months
Fitbit Flex
Review
by Eljohn Macaranas - July 2015
Looking for a new workout buddy? One that’ll quietly wake you up in the morning? One that’ll tell you how long and well you slept? One that’ll track your steps, how far you ran, how many calories you burnt, and how long you were active? Maybe, one that is probably cheaper than a personal trainer? Well, Fitbit has you covered with their Flex wristband.
There’s a reason Fitbit is the leading smart fitness device maker at the moment. Between its product’s friendliness to their style, they’ve gotten the digital trainer thing worked out. As mentioned earlier, the Flex tracks activity extremely thoroughly. All sorts of activity even sleep. It even has a silent alarm that’ll wake you up for the daily grind without bothering anyone around you.
The LEDs strewn on the tracker light up to show your progress towards daily goals you can set for yourself on the Fitbit app. It has a battery life of about 5 days, and it is water-resistant as well. The app’s personal dashboard tracks all your data making it easy to set goals and shed some weight
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One of the biggest draws the Fitbit Flex has over other competitors is its color options. From the standard slate gray to cool blues to fiery reds and even a hot pink, Fitbit really lets its customers express themselves through color. I highly recommend the teal. Even sizing is flexible ranging from large to small. Should you ever get bored of the color you bought, changing the wristband is a snap.
Fitbit really knows their audience. They’ve provided us with the Flex, a really neat wristband that comes in even neater colors. It just works.
Score
8.0
Highlights
Pros
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Easy-to-use
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Water-resistant
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Light
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Syncs with iPhones and Android
9.3
Score
Cons
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Lacks a screen to check your progress
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Doesn't have a web app
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No measurement of stair climbed
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Track your steps, workouts, calories burned, and more
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Monitor what you eat with food & drink tracking
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Learn how your day and night affect one another with The Insight Engine
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Commit to personalized, achievable goals with Today I Will
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1 yr warranty - contact Jawbone with any tech support or band replacement needs at no extra cost
Jawbone Up24
Review
by Jose Romero - July 2015
Everything you need to live better is right here. Studies show that simply tracking what you eat can help you lose weight. Whether you want to shed a few pounds or just eat healthier, tracking food is now even easier. New features include frequent meals, an enhanced calorie counter, and an expanded library of restaurant menus. There's even a Food Score, so you can quickly see how healthy your food choices are. It's all designed to help you make great choices about what to eat and when.
More than any other activity tracker, the UP® system gives you an in-depth picture of your sleep. Sleep graphs let you see the good, the bad and the rapidly improving. Use bedtime reminders, Power Nap and Smart Alarm® to get to sleep and wake up at optimal times. UP intelligently analyzes your sleep, diet and exercise, then suggests simple adjustments that lead to more rest and happier days.
The UP® system is like a coach that gets to know you, then guides you to make simple decisions that lead to a more active life. With precise step tracking, workout logging and Insight Reports, UP is way more than a pedometer. Use Idle Alert to remind you to move throughout the day and add friends to your team to cheer and be cheered. When it comes to your activity goals, it doesn't matter where you start—what's important is where you're headed.
The UP® system has expanded to work with not only fitness, sleep and nutrition apps, but also a broad category of hardware. Whether you're adjusting your Nest Learning Thermostat™, biking with Strava™, walking your dog with Whistle or jogging with RunKeeper, UP connects them all. The updated weight management tools include integrations with HealthyOut, PlateJoy™, The Orange Chef and Munchery.
Highlights
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Schukra® Lumbar Support
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Memory Foam Arm Pads with Swivel Function
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Height and Width Adjustable Arms
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Adjustable Back Angle
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Front Tilt Lock Feature
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Adjustable Seat Height
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Variable Tilt, Tilt Tension and Infinite Tilt Lock Functions
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Lateral Shaped Back
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Life-Foam™ Back, Seat and Arm Pads
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Sensitive memory foam that conforms to your body's natural curves to reduce pressure and imporve circulation
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Height Adjustable Ratchet Back
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Contour Seat
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Depth Adjustable Seat
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Core-Flex Technology cradles each leg ergonomically (contour seat pan) and reduces pressure
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Heavy Duty Knee Tilt Control Mechanism
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Tilt Tension Control
Pros
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Custum made
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Extensive adjustments
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Well built
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Sharp looks and multitude of colors and patterns to choose
Cons
9.5
Score
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Warranty and return limitations
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3-6 weeks for delivery
Lifeform Ultimate Executive Mid Back Office Chair
Review
by Mary Rogers - April 18, 2015
Perfect for those looking for medium height with exceptional ergonomic design. 5 adjustable controls put you in an optimal seating position to relieve pressure and encourage correct posture.
Ergonomic office chairs increase productivity by allowing you to sit comfortably for longer periods of time. Lifeform® Ultimate Executive Chairs come with height and width adjustable memory foam arms. The arms along with the ratchet back and seat slider, allow these chairs to easily adjust to any size user. The Lifefoam Memory Foam conforms to your body to reduce the pressure. The contour seat redistributes your weight evenly over the seat surface for better circulation. Shown with upgrades.
The lumbar support adjusts to any size, posture or position by increasing or decreasing the amount of curvature in the lumbar area. Memory foam arm pads with swivel function relieve pressure on the forearm and adjust to suit any activity or task. Height and width adjustable arms relieve shoulder stress and provide support for any height or width of user. Adjustable back angle allows the user to change the back angle while seated in the chair.
Front tilt lock feature prevents your chair from tipping forward when the free float function is in use. Adjustable seat height adjusts quickly to suit any size user. Variable tilt, tilt tension and infinite tilt lock functions allows user to freely rock forward and backward or lock chair into any position. Lateral shaped back follows the contour of your body to support the entire back rather than just the center area.
Life-Foam™ back, seat and arm pads for temperature and pressure control. Sensitive memory foam that conforms to your body's natural curves to reduce pressure and imporve circulation. The height adjustable ratchet back adjusts to any size user. The contour seat shaped to body contours, to relieve pressure and encourage correct posture.
Depth adjustable seat slides easily and quickly to adapt to any size user. Core-Flex technology cradles each leg ergonomically (contour seat pan) and reduces pressure. The heavy duty knee tilt control mechanism allows you to recline without lifting your feet and offers ease of movement and years of reliable comfort.