Office Chairs - The History of the Office Chair

Office chairs first came in demand because of thecomfortable for long periods of sitting. Computer chairs
railroad system. Traditional, family owned businessesusually feature an adjustable seat and backrest,
were becoming less and less attractive and as largecasters, a swivel function and a padded seat for more
companies, like railroad companies, began to increasecomfort. Many times employees from different shifts
in numbers so did the need for administrativewill use the same chair. This makes the adjustability of
employees. This new type of occupational need alsocomputer chairs a big positive. Ergonomic Office
created a need for new types of furniture that wouldChairs are designed to keep the user in a supportive,
be specific to the administrative tasks. The office chairproper sitting position to help minimize stress and
was created to increase productivity and comforttension put on the muscles, joints and limbs. Ergonomic
while tasking for long hours. Office seating was firstchairs are highly adjustable and feature high end
introduced with 2 functions that set it apart from mostupholstery. Most ergonomic chairs have a fully
other chairs. Office chairs had casters and a swiveladjustable seat and backrest, fully adjustable armrests,
function. These functions made employees muchadjustable lumbar support and an adjustable headrest
more mobile. The casters allowed for effortless rolling(if the chair features a headrest). An ergonomic office
around a workstation or desk area. The swivel abilitychair should be used if the employee will be seated for
made it possible for 1 employee to perform multiplemore than 4 hours at a time. Mesh Office Chairs first
tasks at the same time because of the added rangecame into popularity when Herman Miller introduced the
and movement.Aeron Chair. Most mesh chairs are completely
The rapid development in our technology has createdtransparent which makes them extremely breathable.
a huge demand for a number of different office chairTraditionally office chairs have had a wood or plastic
designs. New technology creates new occupationsbacking with a fabric or leather upholstery. This
and some of those occupations require new types ofupholstery will often make the user hot or sweaty if
furniture. Much of the technological growth has come inused for long hours. Mesh has constant airflow
administrative and information based fields. Thesekeeping the user cool during the day. Executive Office
fields have created the demand for specialized officeChairs are usually upholstered in top of the line
seating like computer chairs and ergonomic officeupholstery and almost always feature a high back or
chairs. Other factors like climate and architecturalheadrest. They also feature a swivel function and seat
design have recently influenced the office chairheight adjustment. There is a wide range in the number
industry. The increased popularity of mesh officeof adjustments available on different models after the
chairs in hot and humid climates is due in large part toinitial functions. Executive office chairs have typically
the ability that mesh has to breathe and keep the userbeen upholstered in leather but many executives are
cool during the work day. On the other hand, chairs likenow sitting in mesh chairs.
the Aeron have been developed with a strongOffice chairs will continue to evolve as technology
emphasis on modern, artistic design which has drawndoes. New upholstery options like mesh will continue to
the attention of any business trying to keep up withbe redeveloped and improved upon. Topics like
modern trends. There is also a big distinction in theergonomics will continue to be at the forefront of the
style of chair that an executive uses compared to thatoffice chair industry. Office chair design has gone from
of a typical employee. Executives have always had toa simple fabric swivel chair to fully adjustable
distinguish themselves from the rest of the crowd andergonomic chairs with memory foam seats. Who
it is no different with executive office chairs. Computerknows what type of office chairs are still to come?
Chairs were designed to be very adjustable and