I built a lay-down desk • Hacker News Board

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#11

Post by curryst » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 1:44 PM UTC

ThePadawan wrote: post #3

But where do your put your mug of tea?

This is the biggest question I have. This, to me, doesn't function as a desk because of the incline. It has the potential to be a remarkably comfortable means to use a desktop (or perhaps laptop if you built in a way to mount it), but without a way for me to sit my coffee on it, or to put a notepad somewhere and not have to worry about it sliding off.

I know you can build in mounts for that stuff, but I think there's a lot of value in how dynamic desk surface is. Need 2 notepads so you can see things side by side? Cool, put it on the desk. Working on 2 laptops today, because you got a new one? Cool, put it on the desk.

I wonder if you could find a way to to make things stay put. Anything sticky would get all over your arms. Velcro seems usable if you put the soft side on the desk, but it's ugly. You could maybe use magnets that you embed into your stuff to increase the friction enough that they don't slide. Won't help with tea, but it should work for most other things. Modern monitors and computers without magnetic hard drive are okay with magnets, right? (I can't say for sure)

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#12

Post by willj » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 1:46 PM UTC

What about your arms? Wouldn’t they get tired from always having your arms above your head/heart?

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#13

Post by bamboozled » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 1:46 PM UTC

diegocg wrote: post #8

zoba wrote: post #5

A friend once said “There’s all these studies about how bad sitting is for you. Now there are even studies about how bad standing desks are for you. Nobody ever says anything bad about laying down so I just try to do that as much as possible.” I still laugh. Perhaps true in part though.

The worst potential consequence of laying down is that your back muscles would become weaker. This is one of the reasons why sitting harms your back, and with laying down it would be even worse. Unless it's combined with some exercise it could be a really bad idea.

I use a backless chair, called “The swooper”, imo it’s the best of both worlds. Sitting and standing.

You can bounce aroundd on it which is fun too as the seat is mounted on a spring like a pogo stick.

Apparently this bouncing helps keep the joints lubricated.

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#14

Post by telesilla » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 1:49 PM UTC

Those unfortunate enough to have injuries have similar desks, I have a journalist friend with very bad RSI or whatever you call it these days: she can't work fast any more but it let's her rest and apparently it's the easiest on her wrists.

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#15

Post by delgaudm » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 1:51 PM UTC

http://archive.is/Xyf6r

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#16

Post by Spacetoaster » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 1:51 PM UTC

bamboozled wrote: post #13

diegocg wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The worst potential consequence of laying down is that your back muscles would become weaker. This is one of the reasons why sitting harms your back, and with laying down it would be even worse. Unless it's combined with some exercise it could be a really bad idea.

I use a backless chair, called “The swooper”, imo it’s the best of both worlds. Sitting and standing. You can bounce aroundd on it which is fun too as the seat is mounted on a spring like a pogo stick. Apparently this bouncing helps keep the joints lubricated.

How long are you using it for every day? I also own that chair, but i find it uncomfortable for longer periods of time and tend switch to a chair with a backrest after ~1h

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#17

Post by bloak » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 1:53 PM UTC

> Nobody ever says anything bad about laying down

Really? Then let me be the first:

IT'S "LYING DOWN", FFS!

You can be laying down the law, but on a bed you are usually "lying down".

This has been a public service announcement, et cetera, et cetera.

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#18

Post by baud147258 » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 1:57 PM UTC

ThePadawan wrote: post #3

But where do your put your mug of tea?

On the ground? It should be close enough to grab it.

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#19

Post by iambateman » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 2:00 PM UTC

bloak wrote: post #17

> Nobody ever says anything bad about laying down Really? Then let me be the first: IT'S "LYING DOWN", FFS! You can be laying down the law, but on a bed you are usually "lying down". This has been a public service announcement, et cetera, et cetera.

Hey friend, take a breath. Idk what’s going on in your world but you sound pretty stressed.

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#20

Post by scudd » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 2:03 PM UTC

This looks comfortable, but I wonder if I'd actually be productive in this. I tried sitting on an exercise ball for a while for posture, and it definitely was a small nagging distraction. I find I'm 95% equally productive with a standing desk, but I have noticed that when I'm embarking on a couple hours of focused work, I lower it to seated.