Steelcase Leap Chair

You’d think a human factors firm like ours would be furnished with the most ergonomic office chairs. But, our frugal side got the best of us years back when we ordered an “economy model.” Big mistake, paid for by our sore backs. Now we’re systematically replacing the poor performing chairs with better ones, notably the Steelcase Leap Chair. This time we did our homework and noted that the Leap Chair gets fabulous reviews for its comfort and style. Our subsequent “seat of the pants” assessment confirmed its ergonomic advantages and we placed an order. We especially admire the Leap’s synchronized seat pad and back, fabric that breathes, adjustable seat depth, and well-positioned lumbar support. Yes, they’re expensive, but so are visits to the back doctor. Steelcase claims they boosted productivity by 17.8% in one study of office workers. We’re hoping for at least 17.9%.

da Vinci® Surgical System

Intuitive Surgical introduced the da Vinci Surgical System years ago. We admired it back then for its potential to revolutionized surgical procedures and, indeed, it received a 1999 Medical Design Excellence Award. Today, it is realizing its potential in many surgical settings, enabling surgeons to perform new kinds of minimally invasive surgeries with a reduced risk to the patient, such as “nerve sparing” prostatectomies. Reportedly, the system gives surgeons a better view of the nerves they need to avoid cutting and enables them to maneuver instruments with extreme precision while eliminating the need for a large incision.

JetBlue Self-Service Check-In Kiosk

As veteran air travelers, we’ve had a chance to use all kinds of self-service check-in kiosks. Some seem to make a big production out of getting your ticket, while others whisk you through the process. We favor JetBlue’s kiosk for its overall usability and personality. Specifically, we like the kiosk’s combination of simple, friendly graphics and conversational tone, which adds some pleasure to an otherwise mundane activity.