THK Co. Ltd of Japan exhibited three Smart Sensing Chair prototypes at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair 2017, the world’s largest furniture fair. The company presented prototypes integrating smart sensing systems that can analyze a person’s health or the condition of the surrounding environment. The sensors built into the chairs can measure respiratory rates, heart rates, stress levels and conditions of the surrounding air. The information is then displayed on a monitor.
The prototypes showcased a design consisting of transparent acrylic with a blue seat. The seat is equipped with sensors to measure body movement and take readings of the surrounding environment. THK’s model FBL56H+305LS slide rails are built into the seat, enabling sensor installation. Each of the three chairs exhibited at the fair featured different functions: one chair analyzed a person’s health, one conveyed information, and one took measurements of the surrounding environment.
The slide rails are built into the seat of the chair, and they can be used to pull the seat back to load or remove a computer. Various health statistics about the person sitting on the chair (such as respiratory rate, heart rate, and stress level) can be seen on an adjacent monitor. A body motion sensor installed in the chair measures one’s heart rate, respiratory rate, and stress levels. Data can also be saved and reviewed with a cloud environment.
The International Contemporary Furniture Fair took place May 21-24, 2017, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. For more information about THK visit: www.thk.com
