Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) (www.jaguarlandrover.com) is developing a pioneering shape-shifting seating system designed to improve customer wellbeing by tackling the health risks of sitting down for too long.

The ‘morphable’ seat, currently being trialled by Jaguar Land Rover’s Body Interiors Research division, uses a series of actuators in the seat foam to create constant micro-adjustments that “make your brain think you are walking, and could be individually tailored to each driver and passenger”.

JLR says that more than a quarter of people world-wide (1.4 billion) are living increasingly sedentary lifestyles that can shorten muscles in the legs, hips and gluteals (a group of three muscles that make up the buttocks), causing back pain.

“The weakened muscles also mean that you are more likely to injure yourself from falls or strains. By simulating the rhythm of walking — a movement known as pelvic oscillation — the new technology can help mitigate against the health risks of sitting down for too long on extended journeys”.

Steve Iley, JLR’s chief medical officer, said: “The wellbeing of our customers and employees is at the heart of all our technological research projects.

“We are using our engineering expertise to develop the seat of the future, using innovative technologies not seen before in the automotive industry to help tackle an issue that affects people across the globe.”

Dr Iley has also issued advice on how to adjust your seat to ensure the perfect driving position.

This ranges from removing bulky items in your pockets to shoulder positioning, and from ensuring that your spine and pelvis are straight to supporting your thighs to reduce pressure points.

A video can be seen on Machinery Market’s Web site (www.machinery-market.co.uk/video-archive.aspx).