Usability of an Intelligent Sit-Stand Desk in Office Teleworkers

Abstract

Office work often results in long bouts of time spent sitting without moving, accumulating prolonged static posture (PSP), which might cause musculoskeletal discomfort (MSD). Although sit-stand desks (SSD) allow posture changes, employees do not use them sustainably. In order to automate posture adjustments, an intelligent SSD with an interactive system (iSSD) was created. This study assessed the impact of the iSSD on postural hygiene and explored the user experience. Ten office employees working remotely from home (teleworkers) used the iSSD with (phase B) and without (phase A2) automation. The usage data of the iSSD was measured daily by sensors. We assessed MSDs and working conditions through questionnaires. Semi-structured interviews evaluated participants’ satisfaction. Results showed a 29% decrease in sitting time and absent PSP for phase B. Subsequently, in phase A2, the sitting time returned close to baseline values. Questionnaires reported MSD alleviation and stability of working conditions. Interviews confirmed automation’s benefits for maintaining postural hygiene. Findings suggest that an interactive system can facilitate SSD adoption and promote postural hygiene at the office. HIGHLIGHTS We added an interactive system to a usual sit-stand desk to force posture change. We tested iSSD usability by teleworkers through data tracked by the system sensors. We conducted qualitative interviews to assess participants’ satisfaction with iSSD. Using an iSSD could help office workers reduce prolonged static postures. Participants appreciated automated posture changes imposed by the interactive system.