Back in 2008, BMW introduced an "active" anti-fatigue feature in their X6 that subtly and continuously changed the contour of the seat. I tried it on a long drive, and it is barely perceptible. If I didn't know I had turned it on, I'm not sure I would have noticed it was on.

Some medical beds have a similar feature where the mattress will inflate/deflate in different areas to best match the patient's weight distribution. They'll also inflate/deflate on a cycle.

Supposedly it's good for patients that stay in bed for long periods without moving as it improves circulation, reduces back pain and prevents bed sores.

I have an Airhawk cushion on my motorcycle and one one of the things I find best about it is everytime I stopped for petrol I'd let a little air out, or add a little air. It took 10s and gave me a different riding position for the next few hours. I can spend a lot longer in the saddle with it than without. (Speaking of saddles, I plan on trying it next time I go horse riding too, though I don't know what my queue will be for adjusting the volume of air).

Interesting! I used to have a Morgan car, and the seat was a blow-up to which I'd add or remove air to change my position. It helped avoid discomfort on long-distance trips.

I would pay for a chair with this tech. I have back problems which go away when I exercise and some pain when sitting still caused by an accident a few years ago.

I've seen multiple hacks where people go to the junkyard and pick up an old Mercedes or BMW driver's seat, hook it up to power, and then use that as their desk chair with a floating desk.

If I had the space I'd consider it myself. Like you, I can drive five hours without stopping and be fine the whole way and when I get there.

Car makers have spent a fair amount of money trying to make better seats. A luxury car from 1920s is much less comfortable than the economy car today. Comfortable seats are important for people who drive all the time, and they tend to buy cars.

BMW's new i3 "Urban Suite" interior shown at CES this past January supposedly takes comforts to a new level, albeit just for the one passenger.

https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/304393-ces-2020-limo-for...

What an incredibly awkward position to be in for both the driver and passenger. Be sure not to wear a skirt in the Urban Suite

Checking local laws where the car was demonstrated, it appears that it is not actually mandatory that skirt wearers put their legs up on the ottoman. While local police may harass you anyway, there is sufficient leg room to place your legs in the space between the edge of the seat and the ottoman.

I could hardly believe it myself, but it is true.

I probably missed a joke here.. why does this have anything with law to begin with?

You did but it's ok.

Ah, I think I get it now.

The "local police may harass you anyway" part threw me off as I thought that's a reference to something actually happened.

Now if they could just rework the look of the front...

Seems cool, but I prefer to drive myself. Maybe I'm not cut out to be an executive? IDK

I'm not sure it's the chair so much as the movement that changes things. You're shifting around a lot when driving. Legs moving on pedals, arms and hands wheel turning, head+shoulders turning to look left and right.

It'd be nice if being comfortable at a computer all day was as easy as changing the seat but i don't believe that's true.

> You're shifting around a lot when driving. Legs moving on pedals, arms and hands wheel turning, head+shoulders turning to look left and right.

As someone who lives in the midwest, I have to disagree. Pick pretty much any random 100 mile stretch of I-70 or I-80 between the Appalachians and the Rockies and the majority of it will be straight enough that you could set the cruise and only have to turn the wheel a few degrees at most as long as traffic doesn't do anything stupid.

When I was younger and dumber I once drove from I-71 near Cleveland almost to Chicago with just my knee on the wheel. There's a kink about half way across Indiana that was the only real challenge.

> Pick pretty much any random 100 mile stretch of I-70 or I-80 between the Appalachians and the Rockies

Having recently (and historically many times before that) drove both I-70 and I-80 in the area indicated, I feel you’re being a bit hyperbolic. I’d agree both are as described for some 100 mile stretches (I-70 between Hays / Salina KS and I-80 between Lincoln / Grand Island NE as two examples), but not any random section.