| Most people if asked which ergonomic office chair | | | | reacted very favourably to the Leap Chair, where |
| deserved the title of best office chair for | | | | even after using the chair for many hours hardly |
| productivity would likely choose the Aeron and | | | | any increase in discomfort was measured. |
| that's perfectly understandable as it's an excellent | | | | The other interesting thing about the productivity |
| product, fully deserving of a top rating. | | | | increase was that it was a genuine verifiable |
| Given the sheer number of Aerons in use | | | | improvement in dollar terms. |
| worldwide, in excess of a million and the high | | | | This was made possible as the test was carried |
| degree of publicity it enjoys there's no doubting | | | | out in a government tax collection agency where |
| why it is the recognized leader. | | | | results showed that an average of $6,250 of |
| However, in this article I'd like to put forward a | | | | additional tax was collected per employee per |
| chair that I feel seriously challenges for the top | | | | month by those having the Leap Chair with |
| rating. | | | | training. |
| That chair is Steelcase's Leap Chair, clearly it has | | | | Those continuing to work in their old chair showed |
| a lot of ground to make up and in truth it's a | | | | no significant improvement. |
| major bridge to cross. | | | | Steelcase are currently running a further long |
| Nonetheless, it's the product that we're | | | | term test involving 250 participants, however the |
| considering, not its marketing so let's take a look | | | | test is still ongoing and so no results have been |
| at why the Leap is a worthy contender for the | | | | published. After the first test result it wouldn't be |
| top office productivity chair. | | | | surprising if this one is equally impressive. |
| One of the really impressive facts about the Leap | | | | In all, Steelcase spent some four years developing |
| is how it was developed. | | | | the product during which time they took out 23 |
| Clearly, Steelcase faced a big problem in producing | | | | patents to protect the chair's unique features. |
| a chair to rival the Aeron, however to their credit | | | | Here's a brief summary of the key benefits of |
| they didn't just rush out another new chair. | | | | the Leap Chair. |
| Instead they decided to go back to first principles | | | | - Separate controls for independent upper and |
| to produce a chair that was radically different to | | | | lower back support to ensure your back remains |
| earlier models and spent 4 years developing it | | | | fully supported at all times by mimicking the |
| before launching it in 1999. | | | | changing shape of your spine. |
| They began by deciding to enlist expert help | | | | - As you recline the innovative seat glide function |
| working with 4 universities and 27 scientists. Not | | | | slides forward so that you stay focused on your |
| only that, they wanted to show concrete proof | | | | work and in reach of your desk. Unlike |
| of the actual productivity gains made by users. | | | | conventional chairs that lift you up and away from |
| They also wanted to highlight its health promotion | | | | your workstation. |
| features. | | | | - Control over the front of the seat edge to ease |
| To achieve this they asked an independent test | | | | pain on the backs of your legs and increase pelvic |
| organization to run a year long test of the Leap | | | | support. |
| and its ability to deliver measurable productivity | | | | - Arms that adjust in four different ways that let |
| improvements. | | | | you set them to your exact needs. |
| This was a comprehensive study and was a fully | | | | The Leap Chair is a well engineered product that |
| documented procedure involving some 200 | | | | has benefited from the extensive research and |
| participants. | | | | development undertaken resulting in the inclusion |
| And the results were very encouraging, they | | | | of these useful adjustment features. |
| showed that those testers issued with a new | | | | The comprehensive test results do suggest that |
| Leap Chair and given ergonomic training made a | | | | the chair will benefit user productivity rates and it |
| 17.8% productivity gain. | | | | will be interesting to see the results of the second |
| They also showed that musculoskeletal problems | | | | test for further confirmation of its capabilities. |