Professional Documents
Culture Documents
CHILDREN
Simon Dennehy
Abstract
1.0 Introduction
Ergonomic
posture and active sitting are now recognised for being far
furniture
ultimately
ensures
increased
to sit with an open posture, where the angle between torso and
importance.
A User First Design approach guided the literature review,
the front of the chair can be off putting to certain users, and it
Kneel chairs hold the users' legs in position for long times. It is
that students will attain postures to suit the task work, rather
analysis has shown, how underused the lower body, from the
chest to the toes, become during task work. In almost all cases,
all sitting heights and during task work, became the aim.
groups around the stomach, back and legs of the subject. The
most direct effect of sitting idle is that the work performed by
the large skeletal muscles in the legs, back, and trunk required
for upright movement comes to a halt. (HAMILTON, M.T, et
al 2007)
work toward the student at 25, the work is accessible (Fig 5).
Noted was the small desk area actually utilised during task
work, again due to the need to keep work within OVD. Desks
The chair provides a leg rest, where the student can engage
one or two feet at a time, then alternate back onto the floor, as
required. The chair also includes a unique and safe height
adjustment. It is not possible to disengage from a set height
while the user is sitting. The lowering of the seat can only be
accomplished when the subject dismounts the chair and pivots
the seat arm, which in turn, disengages the lock and allows
readjustment (fig 3).
stackable system for Arts and Crafts, Lego trays etc. The desk
was applied to the work area of the desk. This provides an easy
to clean, warm and haptic surface that grips work and prevents
Once ten students (five pairs) had trialled the furniture, the
slippage.
The same students would use the furniture again in this setting.
The rig was moved toward the rear and centre of the room,
more open and active postures. The higher, the better for desk
and seat heights. In group work, where they sat around without
testing, the range was far broader and included students from
age 6 12 years.
There were two schools selected for user trials and the results
the desk height and slope. By the end of the experiment, all
students were working at heights of in excess of 750mm (the
height of elbow ledge at front of desk). The taller students
chose higher work surface heights of almost 800mm. It was
interesting to note how high the students preferred to sit. By
the end of the experiment,
the large skeletal muscles in the legs, back, and trunk required
for upright movement comes to a halt. (HAMILTON, M.T, et
al 2007)
Activity throughout the course of the day is vital for a healthy
lifestyle. Accommodating children in a reclined position is not
feasible due to the type of course work within primary
education. Even if it was however, it seems almost
pathological to allow such a passive and inactive way of
working to creep in. Perch concentrates on sitting high, upright
and with open posture. Moreover, it promotes active sitting
and continuous movement throughout the body, and promotes
Figure 6: Ergonomic illustration and Testing
3.0 Conclusion
not created to sit down for long hours, but somehow modern
postures. The dire concern for the future may rest with
in a seated position ... This made our search for the optimal
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Low
Energy
The National