Ernesto Ramirez has designed and built "Active Desk" — a raised work station connected to a standard treadmill that allows him to walk while he works. Ramirez is affiliated with the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2) at UC San Diego. (Read the full story by Tiffany Fox from Calit2, excerpted below).
His project stems from a body of scientific research that links sedentary behavior (like sitting at a desk all day) with an elevated risk of mortality from all causes and from cardiovascular disease.
Currently located on the sixth floor of Calit2's headquarters in Atkinson Hall, the work station consists of a $200 Ikea desk and a $100 treadmill that allows the user to control his or her walking speed. Ramirez says his average pace is 1.5 miles per hour — fast enough to burn about 2.54 calories per minute, but not so fast that it makes him too breathless to have a conversation.
