The Lowly Folding Chair, Reimagined with Algorithms | Hacker News Reader

The Lowly Folding Chair, Reimagined with Algorithms

wired.com

21 pointstechpulse11 comments

>when you let algorithms optimize the shape of the legs and back of a chair; they start to resemble animal bones

Evolutionary algorithm evolves biomechanics…

Last time I checked, even basic folding chairs have backrests.

I'm not even sure which side is the back.

These types of chairs are common in the Middle East and parts of Asia they are usually called Syrian or fan folding chairs here is a 19th century example of a 19th century one https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.1stdibs.com/amp/furniture...

There is also another common design in which the chair unfolds to like a bundle of crossed beams and you put a pillow in the middle to sit.

Not exactly sure what "algorithm" was needed to design the chair, I would think by now Sweden would be familiar with middle eastern designs.

> lowly folding chair

> 27 cherry wood pieces

Yeah, okay.

To be fair, i couldn't help read this article with a picture in my mind of repeating the design or something similar using a simple laser cutter and acrylic. I bet it'd be cheap, easy, and look good. (If you like that kind of design.. a bit 60's retrofuturish I guess.)

I don't see a video of a person actually unfolding this thing, which looks like a complicated process when your friend gravity insists on helping you out.

It doesn't even fold into itself? Just goes flat?

I'm tempted to say a good carpenter could eyball this quite quickly.

Looks really heavy. Also, no back rest. And no pillow, so hard on your butt.

Not a great design if you ask me.

Unless your ass is in the shape of a bunch of curved piano keys.

> It also had to be comfortable, so Ratti designed the seat shape around a 3-D scan of a human body.

If true, it shouldn't be too uncomfortable, no more so than a wooden chair. The gap between the slats doesn't matter much (again, you can see a lot of wooden patio furniture for examples).

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