RSS Feeds
Gadgets
Hands (and Feet) On the Steelcase Walkstation (Video)
Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 3:45 AM on October 26, 2007
I hit the Steelcase offices in NYC to get on the new Walkstation. At first, it looks like a bulky treadmill with a basic desk strapped on top, and I had some doubts about how comfortable it would be to work while working out. When I tested it out, though, I was pretty impressed with the design.
The Walkstation doesn't go faster than 3mph so you never move beyond a leisurely stroll. The treadmill/desk includes plenty of features that make walking and typing comfortable, including a large adjustable workspace that raises and lowers to match your height, and a soft raised wrist bar that doubles as a handrail for stability. It also has a kill switch for the treadmill controls, in case you get distracted and forget to keep walking.
The Walkstation lacks a heart rate monitor or any other health information besides the number of calories burned, making it difficult to track your progress. Maybe that'll be in v2.0.
In case you want one, it will be available to businesses in November for about $4,000, and Steelcase reps told us that they're working on a consumer edition for Spring 2008.
[Ed. note: The person you see in the video and gallery is NOT Gizmodo's rookie NYC reporter Jennifer Hooker. Just in case you were wondering.]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
Fran
Posted June 30, 2008 11:24 AM
The computer may not be working but the treadmill desk concept certainly is. There have been a few variations introduced recently as well. One that I like is the TrekDesk. You can see it at www.trekdesk.com. It allows you to attach their desk and a unique exercise ball chair to your existing treadmill. More affordable and you won't need two treadmills in your home.
obscuriosity
Posted 4:51 PM 25/10/07
I'm thinking it would be better if the treadmill wasn't powered and instead it harnessed your leg power to generate electricity for your computer/monitor/etc.
This would be both beneficial to your health and promote energy efficient computing.
Oh, and there should be a huge water bottle hanging upside down that you can suckle from.
obscuriosity
fastm3driver
Posted 4:15 PM 25/10/07
forgot to add:
This message has been sent from a iphone
fastm3driver
fastm3driver
Posted 4:14 PM 25/10/07
How come no one has mentioned that the MAC is obviously not working and/or not simple to use. This is shocking to me.
fastm3driver
Mayfield
Posted 4:08 PM 25/10/07
Ya, but can he balance a ball on his nose?
Mayfield
aec007
Posted 3:41 PM 25/10/07
@weatherman:
I think you are right... It's just a fad. (like an Oxygen bar)
Also 3 mph although better than just resting in a chair, it's not going to burn much of anything.
I like to see the first casualty:
- Someone reading a news story.
- Mouth open in awe due to the news.
- Forgetting to walk of 1 second.
- Running off the treadmill.
- Trying to catch up.
- Tripping.
- Hitting the keyboard with their chin.
- Knocking themselves out flat facedown on the treadmill.
- Rolling backwards passed out.
And to top it off...
- The a corded mouse also falling from the vibration.
- Running off the treadmill and the cord getting tangled in the roller.
- The cord pulling the whole workstation.
- The workstation falling in your head as you just were regaining consiousness...
- Knocking you out cold for good.
I think I'vebeen watching Bernard [www.youtube.com] too many times.
I'll stop now....
aec007
Subterfuge
Posted 3:29 PM 25/10/07
If you're typing and mouse clicking you have nothing to hold onto with so stability seems like a problem. If there was a way to hold the user in place around the waste, perhaps something solid that reaches around one side openly and allows the person to step out of the other side easily, it would make it a more useable workspace.
Subterfuge
weatherman
Posted 3:15 PM 25/10/07
How are you supposed to actually do any work with this? I can't imagine typing while walking. I guess if you were in tech support or something, where your job was more surfing around and finding the right information it might be okay, but I wouldn't be able to get anything done unless I put a chair on the treadmill and tethered it so I didn't roll off the treadmill.
weatherman
Colonel35
Posted 2:55 PM 25/10/07
I saw a story on CNN about a Mayo Clinic study showing that, even at a very modest 1mph stroll, you'd burn a few hundred extra calories over the course of a day (versus sitting on your ass), which adds up to a lot of weight you could lose if used regularly.
(In other words, this is designed for losing weight--and probably increasing alertness--not cardiovascular health, nor would you be able to read a monitor or type if you're going faster than 3mph.)
However, $4k for a small desk and monitor stand fused with a low-grade treadmill? Unless they're throwing in that MacBook and monitor, that's WAY overpriced.
Colonel35
odnet
Posted 2:38 PM 25/10/07
awesome you see the dude mashing right click.
odnet
digitaldavey
Posted 7:11 PM 25/10/07
If only it could used as a game controller. Call of Duty would be so much more realistic!!!
digitaldavey
Bokusatsu_Tenshi
Posted 10:58 PM 25/10/07
Perfect! Now I can put my rollerblades to good use.
Bokusatsu_Tenshi
Reilao
Posted 12:31 AM 26/10/07
@obscuriosity: It obviously couldn't support the electricity all on its own, though, and the resistance would be massive. I've tried this thing which powered a 9 inch TV, a fan, a light, and something else by a bike (you could turn each appliance on or off to make things easier). It was hard, and I was young.
Reilao
Eldragon
Posted 8:59 AM 26/10/07
My wife had one of these in her office at the Mayo Clinic (For a time Mayo was giving one to anyone who requested it). It was pretty slick, but its hard to concentrate on reading/office work while walking. It is nothing more than a desk attached to the top of a treadmill. However I liked it so much I built my own out of a cheap rolling computer desk and an old treadmill. Playing WoW while walking on a treadmill is quite doable (and I lost 5-8 lbs).
Eldragon