Oki's robot chair heralds a new age of robot-aided seating

The chair is a tool of extreme simplicity and antiquity, and many would argue that it's foolish to mess with something that obviously attained perfection with the advent of air conditioned seat cushions. Of course, those people have never seen Leopard, the high-tech "concept chair" that takes technology originally developed for Oki's Robot Leg (an entire robot with design principles based on the human leg) and places it under your posterior for "seating comfort akin to being held in someone's arms." This is a chair that adjusts itself to your back, cradles your bum, and gives you a helpful little boost when it's time to stand up. Sound wasteful? Extravagant? How about totally awesome? Hit the read link for more details, and feel free to check out the fun little picture of the Robot Leg after the break.

[zmjjmz @ Nov 5th 2008 11:28PM]

The robots are attracting us into a docile state within their grasps...
Just wait, the robot uprising will start with these chairs.

[Deusexx @ Nov 6th 2008 4:11PM]

what about the chair that can reassemble itself?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEMx0-4Z1jo

The union of this guys would make a super indestructible chair

[AVG @ Nov 5th 2008 11:30PM]

A seat that can help you when it's time to stand. Yet a cure for cancer eludes us...

[mvp @ Nov 5th 2008 11:39PM]

Kids in my high school can develop a robot lift....

Kids in my high school cannot develop a cure for cancer...

[AVG @ Nov 6th 2008 12:07AM]

Sounds like those kids are part of the problem, mvp.

[Jon Nelson @ Nov 6th 2008 12:42AM]

@ AVG's second comment:

I wish I could up-rank you twice. That was brilliant.

[zoopthegame @ Nov 6th 2008 1:29AM]

more than just a cure for cancer eludes us. This world is just plain f*cked up.

We don't even have safe transportation. Millions die in car crashes.

You could just be walking in a park one day and a piece of aircraft can fall on you and kill you.

Someone could kill you just because you have a different skin color. As if you chose to look a certain way when you were born.



There are so many problems in this world that it wouldn't make common sense to focus on one thing--curing cancer. Yes, it is important, but there are many ways one can die in this world.

You might as well substitute "cure for cancer" in your statement with "gun control", "cure for aids", "world peace", or any number of random things.


Why not make a 100% safe transportation system? That would save many, many lives. Why not get rid of all guns in this country? That might save a few lives.

Even ROBOTS will save lives one day. They will be put to practical use and help the world.

So if you care only about the cure for cancer, then pick up a biology book and start trying to solve the problem. That is the way this world works. 99% of the people out there are going to wake up and go to work everyday and have fun in their spare time. Then one day, they will die.

If you want, this problem is unsolved and out there for you to conquer. You can do it. It doesn't take millions of dollars of research. I believe that most things can be done with pencil and paper, and experimentation, and not too much else. I believe in you.

[James @ Nov 6th 2008 1:58AM]

Yeah because nobody is trying to find a cure of cancer or aids. We should all just stop progressing as a society until all known problems in the world are solved.

[Greg @ Nov 6th 2008 11:34AM]

Many people, such as those with muscular dystrophy, *NEED* assistance when trying to stand. About time a lift chair comes in a form factor other than "fat recliner".

[Valicore @ Nov 5th 2008 11:41PM]

That should help our (western world's) obesity problem. My only problem is I think there is a real chance this chair might "help me" through my office window, 46 floors up!

[James @ Nov 6th 2008 1:52AM]

Robot chair assisted suicide.

[a @ Nov 5th 2008 11:52PM]

the question is not how awesome it is, the question is when can I get it for less than $100.

[sip @ Nov 5th 2008 11:56PM]

Maybe this chair will have a leg up on its competition.

[Gibson @ Nov 5th 2008 11:59PM]

But can it run Leopard?

[DarkLight @ Nov 6th 2008 12:01AM]

No it can't run like a leopard, this technology isn't there yet

[thatrotierkid @ Nov 6th 2008 1:14AM]

it would but osx doesnt support it. apple is very picky about what kind of office chair you sit in while using their computers.

[Ayman @ Nov 6th 2008 1:46AM]

with the right software it can just RUN....very slowly

[Run and Hide @ Nov 6th 2008 12:07AM]

I for one welcome our new Robot Chair Overlords

[Dillon @ Nov 6th 2008 4:09AM]

These are more like underlords, considering that they're chairs and all...

[Link2877 @ Nov 6th 2008 12:20AM]

Dr.Evil: All I asked for was a freaken rotating chair!

[phanbouy @ Nov 6th 2008 1:06AM]

that'd be funnier without the "Dr. Evil"

[Link2877 @ Nov 6th 2008 2:10AM]

I just didn't think people would get the reference without it.

[derX @ Nov 6th 2008 3:53AM]

If "freaken" were "frikin'" we certainly would have. Toss in some laser-equipped sharks and it would've been a sure thing.

[ian @ Nov 6th 2008 12:29AM]

i guess well all just have to, "stand against them!"

...

we need better puns...

[domoPod @ Nov 6th 2008 12:53AM]

what if these chairs have a different purpose?

to probe?

[gad get @ Nov 6th 2008 1:31AM]

I don't know... I've never found being held in someone's arms to be very comfortable. There's all kinds of pressure points and hand slipping, and the occasional falling to the ground and landing on your "bum"... Plus then there's the issue of being a straight guy, and the associated difficulty in finding anyone willing and able to hold you in their arms, whom you'd actually want to be held guy-- er, held by. OK, you know what? This topic is raising a whole lot of issues for me, and I'd really rather not talk about it!

[James @ Nov 6th 2008 1:56AM]

Wow you sound a bit self conscious.

Hiding something?

[Dillon @ Nov 6th 2008 4:11AM]

My god, is that the leg from a terminator robot?

[gad get @ Nov 6th 2008 6:04AM]

Yes. No wait, it's a chair!

[Magallanes @ Nov 6th 2008 7:28AM]

This robot can kiss my ass. *sic*

[Dave @ Nov 6th 2008 2:21PM]

Ah, sitting. The great leveler. From the mightiest king to the lowliest peasant, who doesn't enjoy a great sit?

[RK4N3 @ Nov 6th 2008 3:08PM]

Will the robot rip you apart with its robotic armrests when you fart? Cause its gonna happen
SOMEONE WILL FART ON THE ROBOTIC SEAT OVERLORD!!!!!!!!

THEN WHAT!!!!????