I built a lay-down desk • Hacker News Board

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#151

Post by jedberg » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 5:42 PM UTC

Abishek_Muthian wrote: post #138

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.

When I had my spine surgery and was bed-ridden I scoured the web for such a setup which will help me use a laptop in bed without moving my neck and wasn't able to find anything practical. I've now come to the conclusion that low latency video glasses/headset connected as external display to the laptop/smartphone is a better solution for that problem as it doesn't require any of these contraptions; But I'm still in se…

There is a company that is solving that! https://immersedvr.com

Disclaimer: I'm an investor in Immersed, but I invested because I loved the product!

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#152

Post by cwkoss » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 5:43 PM UTC

If you sand the corners round and apply some spray shellac, it would look much more 'complete' and less "something I whipped together in the garage in a weekend"

Cool idea though, looks functional

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#153

Post by jedberg » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 5:44 PM UTC

supernova87a wrote: post #147

I don't know if anyone else does this really bad habit, but at night I sit in bed with my laptop, back against the wall, laptop on my lap/upright knees. Then gradually, I sink into lying down and my laptop held on it's bottom edge on my chest, knees keeping the laptop upright. Finally, I know it's time to go to sleep when I doze off and the laptop hits me in the face. I always dreamt of having a laptop stand that cou…

I used to do that a lot. Then my mother in law got me this thing that you fasten to the headboard and it suspends your phone/tablet above your head, so you can lay down and consume data.

It basically looked like a desk lamp with a tension holder at the end.

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#154

Post by jedberg » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 5:46 PM UTC

beagle3 wrote: post #141

christophergs wrote: post #33

I've found the best lying down desk is a $300 mini-projector and a yoga mat. You project at the ceiling (so projector is above your head) and then put a wireless keyboard on your stomach, with mouse by your side. Alternate with a standing desk. Good after 10 years of jiu-jitsu and a knackered body

Twenty years ago or so, I borrowed a projector from the office (they were still very expensive at the time), and spent a couple of nights watching movies on the ceiling with friends, while lying down on the floor. It was incredibly comfortable, and uncomfortably decadent at the same time.

My wife and I used to do that when she was a teacher. Over the summer we'd bring her classroom projector home and watch movies on the ceiling. It was great!

Now we have adjustable beds and a TV in the bedroom, so that's easier.

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#155

Post by SilasX » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 5:46 PM UTC

mangamadaiyan wrote: post #129

SilasX wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One thing that could make it easier to set these up is prism glasses, which have mirrors so that when you look forward, you're seeing your toes. I use them for reading in bed, although sites do everything in their power to make landscape mode on mobile phones unusable.

Interesting, are these like belay glasses, but with the prisms turned around?

I had to look that up, but yes that looks correct. Except that, from the diagram, it bends your view by less than a right angle. Opposite vertical direction though.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belay_glasses

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#156

Post by luckylion » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 5:54 PM UTC

scudd wrote: post #20

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.

I have a similar desktop with a standing desk that can go quite low + good gaming/office chair that I have approximately at desk height. My monitor is on an arm so it's a bit more than an arm's length away from me and at eye level. I have my feet on the table and the keyboard (made out of one piece with a hand rest) in my lap. Can't say exactly about productivity, but I really enjoy working this way.

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#157

Post by Dansvidania » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 5:56 PM UTC

I find this a bit weird. Isn't laying down even worse for you than sitting?

I recently have bought a stationary-bike-desk, hoping it will offset the sedentary nature of my job with some sweating.

It makes my home-office look ridiculous, but my legs are getting a workout.

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#158

Post by xwdv » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 5:57 PM UTC

war1025 wrote: post #131

xwdv wrote: post #97

The best lay down desk for a vim based programmer is to have a good mattress and a split keyboard, one half of the keyboard on each side of your body with arms unbent down by your sides, and then monitors suspended above you facing down.

Something about reading this made me deeply uncomfortable as the only thing I could conclude from imagining it was that I was basically paralyzed. Weird.

Sure, I guess working in a chair would also be like being paralyzed in a wheelchair.

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#159

Post by Abishek_Muthian » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 5:57 PM UTC

jedberg wrote: post #151

Abishek_Muthian wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I had my spine surgery and was bed-ridden I scoured the web for such a setup which will help me use a laptop in bed without moving my neck and wasn't able to find anything practical. I've now come to the conclusion that low latency video glasses/headset connected as external display to the laptop/smartphone is a better solution for that problem as it doesn't require any of these contraptions; But I'm still in se…

There is a company that is solving that! https://immersedvr.com Disclaimer: I'm an investor in Immersed, but I invested because I loved the product!

Thanks I think I've seen that, unfortunately I suffer from extreme simulation sickness, can't even play Minecraft and hence I'm exploring non-VR direct display glasses.

But, those who have no issues with VR might indeed find immersedvr useful.

Re: I built a lay-down desk

#160

Post by masklinn » Mon, Oct 05, 2020, 5:57 PM UTC

philipdavis wrote: post #65

ssully wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did it ever drop? Sounds about 20 times worse then dropping your phone on your face when laying in bed.

A phone is usually less than 200g, a CRT monitor can easily be >10kg, so at least 50 times worse

> a CRT monitor can easily be >10kg, so at least 50 times worse

And some of the later generation CRTs breached 20" and were a good 30+kg.

Sony's 24" GDM-FW900 was a pretty incredible 42kg.