Numerous studies say standing desks are better for your health, and even more encourage people to walk for longer periods throughout the day. Why not turn your office-desk into a giant hamster-wheel to increase your productivity?
Ridiculous? Yes, but you have to admit — it looks pretty fun. [Robb Godshaw] is the mastermind behind this project, and he has a certain way with words too — this is what he has to say about his project:
Rise up, sedentary sentients, and unleash that untapped potential within by marching endlessly towards a brilliant future of focused work. Step forward into a world of infinite potential, bounded only by the smooth arcs of a wheel. Step forward into the Hamster Wheel Standing Desk that will usher in a new era of unprecedented productivity.
Hah. Regardless of possible productivity gains you might have in the office, it’s a hilariously fun project to do. It was designed in Autodesk Inventor, and the wooden arcs were manufactured using a water jet cutter. The materials list is pretty simple too: 4 sheets of 3/4″ plywood, 4 skateboard wheels, 2 pipes, 240 wood screws and a pint of glue is all that was required to build the wheel.
You can even take it outside…
Who wants to build the human-sized hamster-ball next?
[Robb] has been hacking for a few years now, we just found one of his projects from four years ago that we featured as well — an automated pencil manufacturing machine for your living room!
Give it a generator and you have power. Not much, but something. (Could probably charge a few phones, or keep a light on or something)
Looks like enslavement to me…
Are they going pay you extra for turning you into a mule to make power?
How degrading for the human being!
Next thing you know they make walk the wheel and base you job performance on power out !
This is going backwards for the human condition, the human condition is now working for the machine/electronics! SHAME, SHAME, SHAME on YOU!!!
Who really is the ‘RAT’ in this race?
-100% ;^(
“Didn’t you hear me tell you that you are being enslaved? Guys…? STOP HAVING FUN RIGHT NOW! This is serious!”
Hey well they say work is getting more like prison all the time and I guess this just proves it.
http://vcp.e2bn.org/justice/page11362-types-of-punishment-hard-labour.html
Mechanisms just like this were driven by actual slaves in ancient times.
Looks like fun, put the base on a swivel and use it as an VR input controller.
This, totally. Or, you know, just stick yourself in a ball
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eV-MMm8Z7s
thank you for this
where’s the arseduino hidden in this project?
in blue springs nebraska usa there is one of those it was part of a park and i think it was woody woodpecker themed
on the corner of west broad street and north a street sits a small structure witch is a childs version of the same wheel.
The biggest problem / annoying factor is inertial mass. With assisted electric acceleration this would be so much more fun!
anyone worried about the weird foot angle while walking all day. seems like it would cramp my foot.
Yup. Would rather have a treadmill any day.
Use a rectangular frame, staple/screw/etc wood slats to a strong ‘belt’ of material. Then runt he track overhead and under your feet, it will create sort of an obround shape.
This will give you a flat surface to walk on all day. If you keep the angles small enough at the ends, you can have the wood pieces touching at all times and reduce chance for pinching/tripping/etc.
Or maybe you could run the belt underneath itself, in a shape somewhat like a conveyor!
No mention of any reason for a hamster wheel over a treadmill.
A treadmill needs to be powered a big wheel just needs bearings and rollers?
there is such thing as an unpowered treadmill. personally, i see no reason for modern treadmills to be powered except to increase their sales price.
You fools you foolish fools this is how the matrix begins D:
Beautiful in the natural wood but would be cool to see in a lexan or other clear plastic.
I think it should be carpeted, just because.
I swear honey, I had to work late, and the carpet burns came from the hamster wheel at work.
It’s a bit ironic. The hamster wheel of productivity -literally.
The workers know their rightful place..
From a health benefit I like it.
Because you’re just sick and tired of the …rat race?
I know how irritating it was to hear a hamster wheel running all night, does he work in the office alone, or only get in the wheel at night?
Using one at work; would that mean you gave up the rat race to partake in the hamster race? Not that it matters because either way labor is nothing more than rodent to the business elite.
So does it spin you around several times and drop you on the bottom when you stop running?
“Jane, how do you stop this crazy thing?!!!”:
Coming up next the wii hamster wheel.