A Dutch industrial engineer has developed a hammock-inspired head support (shown here) to make flying in economy class more comfortable. (Image: Crystal Cabin Award Association)
Flying in economy class hurts. Being crammed into your seat in an almost vacuum-packed fashion is an open invitation to full-body stiffness. And then there is your head. There is simply no position you can put your head in to avoid waking up from a nap without an aching neck. Thankfully, someone has created an award-winning headrest that rids you the headache.
According to a report by Wired, Dutch industrial engineer Manon Kühne’s creation, which she gave the uninventive name of “HeadRest,” supports your skull in hammock-esque fashion.
To use HeadRest, simply place the device onto the back of your seat. From there a piece of fabric folds out in opposite directions to form a supportive U-shape where the head is placed.
The hammock for your head provides enough room for you to move your skull into a comfortable position, but sufficient restraint so that your head doesn’t sink to your shoulder, or worse, that of the person you’re seated next to.
HeadRest could also be retrofitted into existing seats and the fabric that the head lays on can be removed for washing.
Kühne began working on the HeadRest in late 2014. The HeadRest, which also served as her thesis project while she attending Delft University of Technology, was created through her partnership with Zodiac Aerospace’s Human Factors and Ergonomics Lab, which owns the rights to the design.
HeadRest recently earned Kühne an award in the “university” category of the 2016 Crystal Cabin Awards.
HeadRest is just a prototype right now, and it’s unknown when or if it will ever be brought to market.
Filed Under: Rapid prototyping
