Addicted to the Web? Walk it off

A D6 attendee tries the Walkstation.

(Credit: Rafe Needleman / CNET)

Here's an idea that only goes half way: Furniture maker and D6 sponsor Steelcase was showing off its Walkstation product. It's a stand-up desk integrated into a treadmill. So now you can take a walk while you're working.

I tried it and it's not as awkward as you might think. You have to get the speed on the treadmill just right, so you can walk without thinking, but once you do it is actually possible to read and type while walking.

The device is thousands of dollars, steep for the average worker. I fully expect the Walkstation desk to show up on CSI soon, as metaphor for wretched executive excess.

And here's why the device doesn't go far enough: It lets you expend your energy but doesn't do anything with it. In an era of emerging environmental consciousness, I don't know how it's legal to build exercise equipment that doesn't feed the energy that people expend working out back into the power grid, or at least back into the equipment itself. I'm serious.

See also: More Walkstation coverage on Crave.

Click here for full coverage of the D: All Things Digital conference.

[Motyoj]

They need to make a workstation with a built in toilet...now we're talkin'.

[Kev50027]

Rafe, you are insane. Humans create such piddly amounts of energy from walking that it would be useless, it wouldn't even run an EEEPC. Also, having to push the tread beneath you is awkward, compared to having it being moved for you while you move your feet to keep up.

The solution is sunglasses with build in displays that are translucent.

[surfgal]

I think the energy debate misses the larger point, our health. Obesity is a huge issue and costs American business more than $60 Billion annually in health care and lost productivity issues. You are right this model is very expensive but there are other options which are more affordable. Look at the TrekDesk which also incorporates an exercise ball chair into the design. You can read about it at www.trekdesk.com. Hopefully home offices and corporations will take notice that workers can stay healthy, energetic and productive with these simple tools.

[rafe]

@Kev50027 Good point on the mechanics of treadmills -- they don't capture human energy, I suppose.

But what about weight machines?

[Sheepish12]

More realistic would be a stationary bike. Those usually power themselves through your pedaling, but there is no doubt extra energy to power your computer.

[TheOfficeRat]

I don't know about the science behind using these as a power source, but I did some research on these gizmos recently and found some very affordable options (as little as $50) for do-it-yourself treadmill desks: http://www.officerat.com/2008/10/walking-at-work-can-be-neat/