Jaguar develops a shape-shifting car seat that simulates walking
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Jaguar develops a shape-shifting car seat that simulates walking
The 'Morphable' seat aims to mitigate health risks associated with prolonged sitting
Why it matters: It's no secret that our increasingly sedentary lifestyles, largely occupied by hours spent sitting in front of a computer screen and commuting through traffic jams for work, pose several risks to our physical and mental health. The World Health Organization estimates over 1.4 billion adults are at risk from a lack of physical activity, which can lead to diseases like dementia and type 2 diabetes, obesity, weak pelvic and back muscles, as well as heart problems. To address this issue, British automaker, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is exploring the idea of using shape-shifting car seats that move your body muscles to simulate walking.
Cars have had massaging seats for a while now, but researchers at Jaguar Land Rover have come up with a new prototype seat technology that "makes you think you're walking."
JLR calls it the 'morphable' seat, currently being experimented in the company's Body Interiors and Research division. It uses a series of micro-adjustable actuators placed in the seat foam to activate the pelvic area, making occupants feel like they're walking, even though they might actually be stuck in a traffic jam or munching miles on the motorway.
A future model of this 2021 F-Type might one day be offered with Jaguar's 'Morphable' seat
These pelvic oscillations, says Jaguar, can also be tailored to suit individual passenger and driver needs. "The wellbeing of our customers and employees is at the heart of all our technological research projects," said JLR's chief medical officer, Dr. Steve Iley, adding that the company is using its eng