BCAM International (Melville, NY) has developed a recliner
with pneumatically controlled air bladders placed near the
surface of the recliner that can be inflated to “hug” and support
the body.2 This technology, called the “intelligent surface,” has
recently been implemented in the United Airline’s connoisseur
class seats [7], [24]. It should be pointed out that the air bladder
activation patterns are based on ergonomic considerations,
rather than on the needs of its occupant. The sensing chair
can provide the needed intelligence to such mechanisms so
that surface distribution can be altered in response to the
real-time pressure distributions in the chair in an ergonomically
beneficial manner.