Sitting for Long Periods? Jaguar Land Rover Creates a "Shape-Shifting Seat" That Simulates Walking

What are some of the problems when you're sitting for a long time in a vehicle? When done habitually, it can shorten muscles in the legs, hips and gluteals. And the result? Back pain. Your muscles also weaken, and you're more likely to injure yourself from falls or strains. Meanwhile, you notice your posture is getting affected--hunched backs and protruding shoulders are a common sight here. That's because the abdominal muscles that support your back and abs are weak (and crying out for a good workout).

Of course, that's just for starters. We haven't even mentioned the risk of diabetes, obesity, increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, abnormal cholesterol levels and body fat around the waist. And to top it all off, according to Peak Fitness, sitting for extended periods in a car can also lead to lung, uterine, or colon cancer for those with weakened immune systems.

Truth is, we can't think of anything particularly good about sitting for a long time. Perhaps, Jaguar also shares the same sentiment with us, considering it developed the "seat of the future" -- a shape-shifting system that aims to lessen the health risks of sitting down too long inside a vehicle.

This ‘morphable’ seat system continually adjusts to optimize customer wellbeing on long journeys, and makes micro-adjustments using a series of actuators in the seat foam that simulates the "rhythm of walking". This will make your brain think you’re actually walking--even while you're sitting down.

This "walking" movement is known as pelvic oscillation. According to Jaguar, this helps lessen the risk of sitting down for too long on extended journeys.

The good news is that all Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles have this ergonomic seat design included in its features. This is part of the company's goal to continually "improve customer wellbeing through technological innovation". Some of the previous projects they've made under this initiative include reducing motion sickness and incorporating ultraviolet light technology to stop colds and flu.

All these efforts are the company's drive towards their main goal: Destination Zero. It is Jaguar Land Rover’s ultimate ambition--"to make societies safer and healthier, and the environment cleaner" by being relentless in  innovating products that allow them to " meet the rapidly-changing world."

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