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Faculty of Medical Sciences

Use and work experiences of the office scape ‘The End of Sitting’: 10 weeks of familiarization

Mollee, N. (Ninke) (2017) Use and work experiences of the office scape ‘The End of Sitting’: 10 weeks of familiarization. thesis, Human Movement Sciences.

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Abstract

Background Prolonged sitting results in negative health consequences and is a growing problem, especially in office workers. In response to this Rietveld Architecture-Art-Affordances and visual artist Barbara Visser created an architectural installation called ‘The End of Sitting’. In this office landscape chairs and tables are absent, instead different sloped surfaces exist that afford working in several non-sitting postures. Objective The present study examined the effect of familiarization on using and experiencing The End of Sitting. Is the landscape used as it was designed for, i.e. inviting participants to work in different supported standing postures and alternating between these postures? Methods Fourteen office workers were to work in The End of Sitting for ten weeks, one hour per week. Office task, locations, and postural transitions were monitored. In addition, participants reported work experiences and perceived comfort when working in The End of Sitting and when working behind their regular desk. Results Over the period of familiarization no significant changes in performed office tasks, locations, and postural transitions were found. After familiarization, work experiences and perceived comfort were not significantly different compared to working behind their regular desk, although large individual differences were found. Conclusion The End of Sitting was partly used in the way the designers intended. During the final work sessions most office workers made large postural transitions and switched location between sessions, but they did not move through the landscape within a work session. Working in the landscape several times a day could offer a good alternative to reduce the sedentary time at the office. However, given the large individual differences, The End of Sitting might not be suitable for all office workers.

Item Type: Thesis (UNSPECIFIED)
Supervisor name: Caljouw, dr. S.R.
Faculty: Medical Sciences
Date Deposited: 11 May 2022 07:27
Last Modified: 11 May 2022 07:27
URI: https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3257

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