Designing a chair asking “Could a chair provide comfort through active interaction?”
The urge of getting a massage without the help of another person
Massage Chair
The interest in building a contraption that’s mechanically powered, with muscle power as a starting point
Making a chair multi purpose (more than just the support of your body and/or comfort)
Pedaling to improve bloodflow for thrombosis patients
Pedal powered sewing machine
Why this technique instead of classic bycicle pedals?
- Provides easier accessibility than the need of two legs for classic pedals
- Demands rhythm from the user, eventually leading to a “fidgeting” motion maybe improving concentration
- Rhythm makes a certain speed of the massage heads possible and keeps it consecutive
- Fulfills the idea of a rocking-pedal for thrombosis patients
Aesthetics
Rehab Chair by Xinyan Yang & Zhongfeng Zhang, College of Furniture and Art Design, China
Too much of a medical device design
Wood for massage rollers, as a pleasant natural material for contact with the body, and general construction of the chair
Leather as natural, durable material for sitting surface and maybe armrests
Metal for mechanical parts, durable and exact to manufacture
Experience with all of these materials, also help is accessible in the university workshops
Alternative
A chair that uses the own body weight with massage surfaces / hand flatterers etc. to provide additional comfort
Surfaces individually carved from wood
Problem:
Formulate a question regarding the brief – what kind of investigative stance could this chair take?
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