Stir M1: The Smartest Desk You Never Knew You Needed
It is truly amazing how normal, commonplace items have been able to become a part of the technological revolution. The idea of the smart home has really got fire lately, starting with light bulbs and continuing with the air conditioner, security systems, doorbells, and window shades; there’s even IKEA who is putting wireless charging into some of their furniture. There is a reason people out there have their own companies because I never would have thought to build smart functionality into the everyday, everywhere office desk. Stir has done exactly that with the M1 and it is yet another innovative product showcasing the future of possibilities if those technical geniuses keep on keeping on. Let’s jump into the M1!
Looks
When you use a smartphone, you’re always looking on the display side of the phone so as much as we all love to critique phone design, you’re really not seeing the majority of it most of the time. With a desk, you’re always seeing the shiny side of it so it’s very important to have a great design and finish. The M1 is a smart design; it stays low key while also looking modern and sleek. I find it to be a good balance; someone not hard on the eyes but also not too flashy to the point of being distracting. It also has some cutouts for wires so you won’t have to have the obligatory space between the desk and the wall. I’m sure other desk designers have done this but it’s always refreshing to see it again.
The rest of the M1 is fairly nondescript, nothing too fancy except for a touch screen in the lower left corner. Surprisingly, it’s made out of recycled wood instead of the unfortunate plastic or smudgy glass. On the backside hanging below are some power outlets and some trays for cable management. Ok, ok, it’s really not justifying the $3000 price tag at this point so let’s get to the real magic.
What It Does
The M1’s trick is its smarts. You see, it’s a standing desk to encourage healthy habits and such because it is not so good for the human body to slouch for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for years on end (and forget about the workaholics, their spines will be a mess in 10 years). So what, there are standing desks for much cheaper.
You are correct but do they learn from your routine, move with just a double tap on the screen, and potentially become the hub for your smart home/office? I didn’t think so. Granted, $3000 is still a lot but it depends on how highly you value your health and the possibilities the M1 could bring to your entire space, not just your workstation.
