My fingertips rise and fall about an inch over six seconds, as if my hands were resting on the chest of a sleeping person. But I'm touching a desk, not a human. The so-called "Whisperbreath" that's just happened is supposed to prompt me to reach over to a touch screen built into the desk and tell it to rise to my desired height so I can work while standing.
Hype around the Stir Kinect smart desk has been building since it was first previewed to technology writers a few weeks ago, and the company is now officially selling the desk. A mere 50 units will be available for order through the company's website for $3,890.
Fifty big spenders who place orders first and put down a $300 deposit will have exclusive access to a limited-edition production run of the desk, which will ship in February. The second production run of desks is expected to start shipping in April, according to Stir.
The Stir Kinect Desk, which measures 58.5 by 29.5 inches (and a hefty 3.5 inches thick), adjusts in height from about 22 inches to 51 inches, so that it's low enough for a seated tiny person, and high enough for Yao Ming to work while standing. I don't know if that's true about Ming, but it is the joke the CEO of the company, JP Labrosse, made when I met him.
The desk weighs about 150 pounds and can lift about 75 pounds worth of stuff laid on top of it. Anyone who buys a desk will receive "white glove delivery" in a home or office, including setup.
At the desk's left near corner is a built-in touch screen that's flush with the desk. It looks like a smartphone that's been neatly sunken into the wood. The technology lets you adjust the height of the desk at any time, but it also powers the desk's ability to figure out when it should prompt you to sit or stand, based on your daily habits. The screen will also show basic stats, such as how long you've been sitting or standing, plus how many calories you burned in those different positions.
Equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, the desk will support even more smart interactions in the future, company representatives said. While these won't be available at first run, they could include interactions with other fitness devices and apps. Imagine, for example, using a Bluetooth-enabled activity tracker, which can tell the desk that you ran six miles before breakfast. When you walk into your office, the desk might detect that you've had enough exercise for the morning and allow you to sit until noon.
The desk itself is built of hardwood with a few options for premium finishes (white lacquer or espresso) and accent colors (green, crimson, ultramarine, and charcoal) that appear underneath the desk and in two cable drawers at the desk's far end. The cable drawers are also chockfull of USB and electrical outlets, making for a tidy charging station.