Patrick Chinn
pchinn@uoregon.edu

Not too long ago I saw a news segment about a doctor who combined a treadmill and a computer desk, producing what he calls the Walkstation. Pure torture? Perhaps, but as a runner who sits in front of a computer all day, I was intrigued.

The idea of working on a treadmill may conjure visions of an out-of-breath, sweat-drenched runner gasping for air and ineffectively poking at the keyboard mid-stride. Fortunately, that's far from reality. The Walkstation has a maximum speed of two miles per hour, the speed of an easy walk. Research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine showed that "...subjects tolerated the workstation well and were able to use all the standard computer functions while walking and working." The creator of the Walkstation, Dr. James Levine of the Mayo Clinic, claims that users can burn 100-130 calories an hour, lose up to 40 pounds a year, and increase productivity at work.

Information Services will be testing out a Walkstation when it arrives later this month. Look for a full review in a future issue of IT Connections.