Gizmodo: massage chair

A Floating Electric Massage Chair For Your Pool: What Could Go Wrong?

Sean Fallon — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:40:00 EDT

The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.What better way to usher in the summer by rolling the dice with a floating lounger with a built-in iPod dock, speakers anda 3-mode massage function?

Indeed. Throw some alcohol into the mix here and you have a perfect storm of potential disasters—everything from electrocution to ruining a perfectly good iPod. Still, if you are willing to take the risk, the iPod Stereo Pool Oasis can be had for $200. [Hammacher via Coolest Gadgets via DVICE]

Harp Chair Massages Your Back With Horrible Music

Sean Fallon — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:10:00 EST

I appreciate the originality of a chair that massages your back with the vibrations from harp music, but there are a couple glaring reasons why this thing isn't worth $7000.

First of all, getting a massage is still a two person job. You still require someone to stand behind you and strum the harp that is integrated into the back of the chair. Plus, even the most ham-fisted of us can deliver a passable massage—a harp chair requires that the person giving the massage actually have some skill. After all, randomly plucking away at the strings isn't going to be relaxing for anyone—unless you are Phillip Glass or something. [Hammacher via DVICE]

Sharper Image Human Touch Massage Chairs Look Familiar

Jason Chen — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:30:00 EDT

Reader Tim points out that this massage chair, seen at Sharper Image, looks really familiar. You know, we think he's right, but we can't quite get a grasp on it. We just hope they keep on selling these things even after their stores close—you know, for the human touch. Seriously, it's like on the tip of our tongue. What is this thing? It's gotta be staring us right in the eye. [Thanks Tim!]

Japan's Most Advanced Massage Chair

Jason Chen — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:00:00 EDT

This aired a few nights ago on Kinchan no Kasoh Taisho in Japan, a show apparently dedicated to the advancement of science, technology and the arts. We'd love to have one of these massage chairs in our own homes, because it looks super comfortable and not at all awkward. The only request we have? We want a female version. That'd be slightly softer and have more back support. [Japan Probe]

A Message to Panasonic, Purveyors of Real Pro Ultra Massage Chairs

AddyDugdale — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 12:30:57 EDT

Dear Panasonic. First of all, I'd like to say how fine that Real Pro Ultra massage chair looks, if a little scary. It reminds me of that robot thing in Aliens - you know, the one that Ripley straps herself into right at the end. I'm sort of waiting for the model (about whom, more later) to start moving about the room in it, shouting, "Get away from her you BITCH!" just for the hell of it.

But could I just make a few observations? Firstly, if you want us to buy this thing - and, at $4,799, you're asking quite a lot - you need to do something to your press shots. Biscuit parquet covered by an even beiger carpet, and walls the color of biannually-cleaned fish tanks do not a sale make. What happened to the rest of the furniture? Perhaps she had to flog it all in order to pay for this vibrating mound of Pleather .

You will, I am sure, allow me to say a few words about the sleeping lay-dee, clad in what looks like a leisure suit (Is it softest Terry towelling? I bet it is) - sure, she may have assumed the "Do it quietly and gently, or you'll wake her" position, but it's just, not enough, is it?

No sirree. What you want is some shameless minx, clambering upside down on the chair, all tousled blonde hair extensions and PVC, oiled up, legs akimbo, proclaiming to the world that, yes, she likes 200 inches, she can TAKE two hundred inches, because that is what your massage chair can give her. 200 inches (square inches, obnoviously) of back massage! 460 inches of air massage - is that like air guitar, only more sensuous? The Giz must know now, please.

She must writhe and shiver, telling potential customers that the Real Pro Ultra does it Shiatsu-style, does Swedish, has a magic thumb that soothes away stiffness (oh, hold on, best not say that) erm, has a magic thumb that does unspeakable things, that grasps, that kneads, that can cater for up to four people*. Tell her to point out, breathlessly, that the chair is made of easy-wipe, synthetic leather, that it comes in either chocolate brown or black, and it's exclusively available at The Sharper Image.

And if that doesn't work, tell her to get her kit off and make an "Ooh" shape with her mouth. [Panasonic]
*Not at the same time, sadly.

ROBO Chair, Voice Controlled Massage Chair For the Lazy Elitist

blongo3 — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 20:30:07 EDT

The INADA ROBO chair is the every-man's dream. It has all of the features that your typical massage chair includes like a 3D rolling mechanism, leg massager and 170˚ reclining ability. But it has one more trick up its armrest that sets it apart, voice activation.

So when you're too lazy to reach around for the remote, you can just yell at the chair to start rubbing your back. Just like you said to your ex-wife before she left you and took the kids. Although you'll probably have to take out a loan to afford the $6,000 price tag, especially with all the alimony you're probably paying.

The only question left whether it is always listening or is there a button on the remote to make it listen? Because if it's the later of the two then that's a big wah, wah...wahhhh.

ROBO Chair Responds to Voice [UberGizmo]

DVD Massage Chair Scans Your Body, Synchs With Music

Charlie White — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 09:48:42 EDT

Sure, we've seen message chairs with multimedia attachments before, in fact, we've even feigned intense interest in them at CES just to retain the privilege of lounging around for an extra 15 minutes. But this DF-1688F-3 DVD Massage Chair adds one element we hadn't thought of: It synchronizes its Dolby Digital music playback with the massaging.

It's got balls, too—four of them that massage you from stem to stern, neck to waist and all points in between. While you watch its LCD screen, it's watching you with its infrared sensors that scan the curvature of your body, and it can detect "the exact acu-point unique to each individual," according to China Funsports, its manufacturer. Using that highly personal info, the chair knows exactly where to apply the just the right amount of pressure. Sorry, but we found no word on pricing or availability. – Charlie White

Product Page [China Funsports, via Red Ferret]

Sanyo's Massage Chair Knows Where It Hurts

Adam Frucci — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 10:55:47 EST

Sanyo showed off this "zero gravity" massage chair at CES, and it isn't your pappy's Brookstone massage chair. It's got "intelligent Stiffness Detection Sensor technology," figuring out where your body needs some TLC by checking changes in your pulse rate and where you're sweating the most. They claim it's very similar to galvanic skin response technology used in lie detectors.

If you're so stressed out that you require this much fancy technology to massage you after a long day at work, might I suggest a career change? –Adam Frucci

Massage Chairs [Sanyo]

iJoy Massage Chair=Real Fun

tgrumet — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 15:41:30 EST

Oh la-di-da, good days are here. Look, there's a special on the iJoy ZipConnect Massage Chair with built-in speakers and subwoofer. Only $700 and it comes with a free ZipConnect module (with retractable 18-inch cable and mini stereo plug) for playing any iPod, MP3, portable CD or satellite radio. So, along with listening to music through the speakers in the headrest and powered subwoofer in the base, you also get a massage from the Human Touch Technology Robotic Massage, with Rolling, deep Kneading, tapping Percussion and therapeutic Compression. Heaven.

New! iJoy ZipConnect Massage Chair with Built-In Speakers & Subwoofer [Sharper Image]

Complete line of iJoy massage chairs [Amazon]