Ergonomics Can Affect Price

Ergonomics Can Affect Price

Did you ever wonder why that simple computer chair costs a $1,000? It could be the fabric they used, but certainly not the only reason. And it most certainly isn’t so expensive because of the brand alone. So what could it be? The answer could very well be one word: ergonomics.

Ergonomics is a fairly obvious idea to understand in its most basic; the harmony of a worker’s body and the worker’s working condition. The better the harmony, the better it is for the worker as well as the work. But the term ‘ergonomics’ it self was coined as recently as 1857 by the author Wojciech Jastrzebowski while Frederick W. Taylor developed the ergonomics theory into a practical sphere by developing gear in factories that matched the work at hand. And like the thought of ergonomics dictated, Frederick W. Taylor managed to not only brings safety levels up but also increased production for the company and helped workers make more money. As corporate culture and a new age of industrial revolution gained momentum in the last century, ergonomics steadily gained attention.

Somewhere in the last 75 years or so, ergonomics became more than just an industrial domain. After all, it was applicable to any situation where a human interacts with almost any thing. So it is not at all surprising that ergonomics has taken over the furniture industry too, furniture not just for factories, companies and offices, but also homes; not just for industrial purposes, but for domestic consumption as well.

The most common and perhaps popular example can be the ergonomic computer chair. Of course there are tons of designs and makers of chairs that are designed specially for use for using computers. But not all of them are good for your body, especially your back and your hands. This is where ergonomics comes in. Computer chairs that are ergonomic friendly cost a lot, but they are worth it. You can actually feel the difference when you sit on it, the way it supports your back, and maintains your body in a good poster almost naturally without you having to put in much of an effort. This obviously puts off the chances of or the frequency of backaches while using computers for long stretch of time, as most office work requires one to do so these days. A really good chair of this kind will easy cost several hundred dollars or even close to or more than a thousand dollars.

But it is not limited to chairs alone; tables, beds, kitchen utensils, your chopping board, TV remote control, everything can be more ergonomic friendly than it is today. Anything that can be made more efficient by putting as little pressure as possible on one’s muscles or bones when using it is a good example of an ergonomic friendly thing, be it a factory line machine or a simple item like the iPod. And not everything will have its price shoot up just because of that fact.

The possibilities of where this philosophy can be used are almost endless. And you can’t really put a price on your health. If good posture means better health and a better working atmosphere, that pricey chair might not seem too pricey after all.