'CLIPPER CS-1' introduced in 1994 by Newspace Incorporated a division of Gilbert Internationnal, Fort Worth Texas, tel. 817 921-5331.

The Clipper is a "virtual office", a completely self-contained and enclosed 'capsule', 4' wide, 7' long, and 4.5' high, designed specially for concentrated (and ergonomically correct) computer use.

This computer workstation provides perfect seating, viewing, lighting and air supply, as well as the option of total privacy.

Being inside is much like sitting in the cockpit of a small plane...with everything you need within easy reach.
As well as providing correct ergonomics, it allows a person to have a separate workplace without having a separate room.

 

Above; A gathering of Clippers. The rear and front side components provide storage for CPU, manuals, files, and even a small printer. Side wings have 4 positions; flat, inclined , more inclined, and closed.

The Clipper is shown at left with the side components removed. One can now see the unique seat arrangement.Once the footrest is correctly adjusted to the user the seat glides forward and tilts to the rear at the same time. As you tilt back a plunger is activated and keeps the seat from rolling to the rear which means that the body can totally relax, supported with chair and footrest.

The first and second protoypes are shown above. The second went through an eight year use and evaluation process.
Following its debut in Chicago at Neocon 94, the Clipper was featured in a diverse range of magazines, from Architectural Review and Interiors to British Vogue and Wired. It is also part of the permanent collection in the British Design Museum, London.

 

. .........Principal Advantages

  • A private way of shutting out the distractions of your environment.
  • Lighting which is diffused, warm, and glowing, preventing any glare on the screen, and reducing eye fatigue.
  • A relationship between seat and computer that is at once flexible, comfortable and ergonomically correct.

CS-1 instantly achieves parity with the electronics revolution which has made the computer essential to virtually every kind of business.

Until now, the two elements which make up the computer-workstation, the seat, and the computer support surface, have been designed independently.

Normally these two elements are seen as seperate problems in the office, but not so in the automobile, the airplane cockpit or the space shuttle, where sustained performance is critical.

Design Team

Douglas Ball, Alain Deslauriers, Leon Goldik, Jeff Sokalski

 The above photos show the various stages of development the final prototype went through in our model shop.


main map|systems|furniture|workstation|seating|prototype|custom|disabled|exhibit|modeling|contact