Field study on the improved use of
of sit-stand desks

The WINI brand specializes in ergonomics in the office. With the development of new products and the optimization of existing ones, we have intensively studied the usage behavior and usability of sit-stand desks. As an office furniture manufacturer, it is essential for us to understand the behavior of users and users as precisely as possible and to optimally adapt the design and function of our furniture to this.

WINEA ECO Detail: Bedienelement zur Höhenverstellung mit App

The quality of usability is crucial

One of the challenges in the development of sit-stand desks is to design the operation of these desks in such a way that the height adjustment is used as frequently as possible. This is because desk users only fully benefit from the advantages of an electrically height-adjustable desk if they regularly adjust the desks with a height difference of more than 25 cm.

Important aspects when motivating people to adjust an office desk are good intuitive operation, quiet movement of the desk and the speed of height adjustment - and of course ultimately the prospect of significantly increased physical well-being through more movement in the office.

Research question and design of the LINAK field study

The extent to which motivational software in the user interface can also encourage more frequent height adjustment of sit-stand desks was investigated in a field study conducted by LINAK in collaboration with WINI Büromöbel. Particular attention was paid to the long-term change in ergonomic usage behavior - employees should get used to working standing up several times a day if possible.

The study was initiated by LINAK, manufacturer of electric linear drive systems, including for the operating elements of the height-adjustable WINI sit-stand desks. The IGR Institute for Health and Ergonomics was responsible for conducting this study, which was carried out at WINI customer Diamant Software GmbH & Co. KG in Bielefeld.

Over a period of three months, the field study examined the usage behavior of 40 office workers at their desks from the WINEA ECO series with height adjustment from LINAK. The employees were divided into two groups (one group with and one without motivational software).

The study participants with motivation software had three different reminder functions of the LINAK DPG control unit at their disposal:

Light signal on the control element
Reminder function via PC software
Use of an app (Android and iOS) with reminder functions, statistics on personal user behavior, individual settings, etc.

By tracking the lifting movements and surveying the study participants, their usage behavior was evaluated.

Abstract

The motivational software led to a significant increase in the use of height adjustment of the office desks. Height adjustments of more than 25 cm, which correspond to a change between sitting and standing, were carried out 74% more frequently with motivational software than without. And not only was the frequency of the changes significantly higher; the total duration of working in a standing position was also significantly higher for those using motivational software (62%) than for those without motivational software.

With 85%, the reminder function of the PC software was used most frequently. The light signal on the control element was followed by 35% of users, while only 15% of study participants used the app (multiple answers were possible).

Read the entire study here