The field experiments lasted several weeks and the result was brought to life on behalf of Dauphin by the Ulm design office busse design; it is set to be presented to the wider public for the first time at Orgatec 2006 under the name “Dolphin”.

And “Dolphin” does in fact differ in many ways from its rivals. For example, this new type of standing seat allows people sitting on it to lean backwards or forwards without feeling like they are going to tip over. Depending on the height of the seat, the seat area automatically adapts to the necessary pelvic tilt; an ergonomic achievement which has been shown to work for years with office swivel chairs. The seat pan has been designed on the basis of extensive seated profile pressure measurements similar to the specific contour of human sitting surfaces. Moreover, an optional lateral rotation by 45 degrees to the left or to the right takes place with the seat and not in the spinal column.

Height adjustment of the seat is triggered by the foot by means of a button, so that both hands remain free at all times to perform other tasks (surgeons for example wear disinfected gloves, and people working on machines often have oily hands or gloves - neither is conducive to fumbling around with levers).

The new three-legged design is also very practical: with three legs the standing seat is not just stable and secure at all times even on an uneven floor, but also provides plenty of leg room. Castors ensure that it is easy to manoeuvre the standing seat when nobody is sitting on it. However, when somebody is sitting on the seat, the castors are braked, which prevents the standing seat from accidentally rolling backwards.

All in all, “Dolphin” does not just provide the original features just mentioned, but also fulfils all of the modern demands in terms of ergonomics, practicality and a great image. It is equally well suited to office workplaces, laboratories or workshops. It can be used by people working on a conveyor belt or by anaesthetists in an operating theatre or as a working seat for dentists treating patients. It will go down well in the sales area of a textile department as an important aid allowing the sales staff to take the weight off their feet, or in a hairdressing salon or just for domestic use at home.

To complement this new seat, Dauphin has developed a functional standing lectern which is equally stable and secure thanks to the original three-legged design. Two castors provide mobility, and a straight foot stabiliser ensures that the standing lectern is stable and secure. Thanks to its tilting bracket, the “Dolphin” standing lectern can easily be tilted to different angles and be arranged so as to save space - the perfect complement to the standing seat.