When I was a kid, (maybe 9), I thought of my first (and only) ground-breaking idea. My idea was that the loud buzzer of your alarm clock should start really softly and get progressively louder. This way, you’d be woken up gently at the softest possible volume that would knock you out of your slumber. This would save the human race from starting their day with a rude and unexpected ear-assault. I wasn’t a shrewd businessman at that time, so I decided to donate this idea to the world for free. I wrote down my idea in a letter, sealed it up, stamped it and sent it to Sanyo (the brand of alarm clock that I had at the time). I found the “customer service” address in the instructions that came with the clock in my room. I didn’t ask for money, but I did ask for them to send me one when they finished production. Twenty years later, Sanyo still hasn’t sent me a finished product. I’ve seen some gradual alarms here and there in the past decade, but I’m not mad. In fact, I have another invention to donate to the world.
This time around, I’m solving the ergonomic problems of the automotive industry. I hereby present: THE ADJUSTABLE MIDDLE CONSOLE! Most car seats will move up, down, forward and back, but regardless of where your chair ends up, the middle console stands there motionless like a British Royal Guard. The problem is that everyone’s body is different, so the vast majority of people will not be able to rest their arm comfortably on the middle console. Personally, I get into a situation where I rest my left arm on the windowsill and rest my right elbow/forearm on the middle console; only the middle console is a few angry inches too low. The result is unequal shoulders, which turns into a little bit of a lean towards the right and uneven pressure on the hips. After sitting for several hours, the right side of my body and the right side of my booty are not happy. This is not such a hot-button issue if you are occasional driver, but if you have a heavy commute or if you’re a traveller, this can be a real pain. So, car companies, use the same technology that allows you to adjust the height and position of the car seat, and apply it to the middle console. You’re welcome, it was my pleasure. 
Uneven shoulders are one common car ergonomics problem, or “cargonomics” problem, but there are certainly more. Here are a few more common problems:
Lumbar Support:
Many vehicles, especially the older ones, don’t provide enough lumbar support. The lumbar area is the big curved area of your back that is directly across the pond from your belly. It is the largest curve in your spine and it needs your support. Many car seats will allow you to adjust the size of the lumbar support, but if your car doesn’t care about your health, you can also use a lumbar pillow or a rolled up blanket. Remember: don’t overdo it. Just support the natural lumbar curve, then move on.
The Driver’s Slouch:
There is a very distinctive driving stance that many drivers seem to fall into. Picture a brontosaurus standing on his four legs in a huge grassy field, surround by other happy little dinosaurs. He hears a pterodactyl screeching above his head and thinks to himself, “man, that is a rude and unexpected ear-assault.” Anyway, the brontosaurus has eaten the majority of the easy-to-access leaves on the front of an enormous green tree. He’s still hungry, so he lifts his neck up as high as it goes, then slowly extends his neck forward toward the leaves at the very top of the tree. Many people mimic the brontosaurus as they drive, by jetting their neck forward towards the windshield. When this neck-forward posture is combined with a forward-slumped set of shoulders, it becomes a classic case of “Driver’s Slouch.” Driver’s slouch can lead to pain, strain and the development of even worse postures. It’s also harder to breathe while slouching, compared to when you’re sitting upright. Try to sit up with your neck roughly in line with your torso. If you have trouble doing this, consider tilting your chair backwards, which will automatically bring your shoulders and neck back towards the seat.
Sitting Too Long:
I was gifted with the bladder of a champion. Because of this, I’ve been guilty of driving for hours without taking a break. Sitting in a car is just like sitting in a desk, and we all know the inexplicable darkness that befalls you when you sit for too long. If you can manage a quick stop every 30-60 minutes during long trips, you will minimize many of the negative effects of the drive.
Take a brief walk, then come back and read another blog:
Make Your Own Standing Desk!
What Rafael Nadal’s big nasty can teach you about ergonomics.
Do I sit too much?
Ergonomics Fail: A real pain in the coccyx.
The Swiss Ball will save us!
Your wrists are like baby squirrels.
photo credit: Joe Shlabotnik via photopin cc
photo credit: bark via photopin cc
photo credit: Mike Souza via photopin cc