A Brief History of Standing Desks
If you’ve ever wondered who invented the standing desk, or even how long people have been using them, this blog post is for you.
Standing desks are becoming increasingly popular, as more and more people are looking for ways to improve their health and well-being while they work. However, standing desks are nothing new – in fact, their history goes back centuries.
Here’s a brief overview of the standing desk, from its origins to its modern-day incarnation.
Who Invented the Standing Desk?
The first known instance of a standing desk was in ancient Egypt, where scribes would stand to do their writing. This position allowed them to have all of their materials close at hand, and it helped to prevent back pain from sitting for long periods of time.
The next major historical moment for the standing desk came during the Renaissance when Leonardo da Vinci designed a “writing slope” that could be adjusted to different heights. This design allowed people to write or draw while standing or sitting, depending on their preference.
The modern standing desk as we know it began to take shape in the early 1900s. In 1908, an architect named Frank Lloyd Wright designed an adjustable height desk for use in his studio.
And in 1953, Finnish designer Keijo Petäjä developed the first electric height-adjustable desk. However, it wasn’t until the 21st century that standing desks really began to take off.
In 2005, two software engineers working at Google decided they wanted to build their own standing desks after suffering from back pain caused by sitting all day. They built prototypes out of plywood and 2x4s, and then founded a company called Varidesk to sell their desks commercially. Since then, the popularity of standing desks has only continued to grow.
In 2016, Amazon even unveiled a voice-activated “smart” desk called the “Kathykkier” that automatically adjusts to the user’s preferred height.
Conclusion
Standing desks are nothing new – in fact, people have been using them for centuries. However, they have only begun to gain widespread popularity in recent years. Thanks to companies like Varidesk and Amazon, it’s now easier than ever to get your hands on a quality standing desk.
So, if you’re looking for a way to improve your health and well-being while you work, consider investing in a standing desk of your own!
Allen Joe
Allen is a stay-at-home dad and freelance writer. He writes for the home office blog, where he covers topics like organization, productivity, and home improvement. Allen loves spending time with his wife and two young kids, and when he has free time he likes to golf, read, and cook.
