Does This Desk Increase Productivity or Simply Make You Look Ridiculous? A couple of inventors in San Francisco built a 'Human Hamster Wheel' desk in 24 hours. You have to see it to believe it.

By Catherine Clifford

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Would hopping in a human-sized hamster wheel make the infamous "rat race" more tolerable?

A couple of inventors working in out of San Francisco seriously pimped out the treadmill walking-desk idea: They built a wooden wheel that spins on skateboard wheels for computer-workers to be able to walk at their own variable speed while working.

Yes, it sounds crazy. You might just have to see it to believe it.

Artist RobbGodshaw and developer Will Doenlen worked together, along with a few extra sets of friendly hands throughout the wee hours of the morning, at Autodesk's Pier 9 workshop to build the innovative take on the walking desk. They posted about their invention on the invention blog and online forum Instructables. There are step-by-step directions on how to make your own Human Hamster Wheel, should you be so inclined. It will take 240 wood screws.

Related: The Secret to Increased Productivity: Taking Time Off

The project is presented with an undertone of humor. "Rise up, sedentary sentients, and unleash that untapped potential within by marching endlessly towards a brilliant future of focused work. Step forward into a world of infinite potential, bounded only by the smooth arcs of a wheel," the post reads.

Despite the playful tone, sitting for extended periods of time can be seriously bad business (for your health). Last summer, the American Medical Association formally recognized the health risks of sitting for long periods of time uninterrupted and encouraged employers to facilitate standing workplaces.

Related: Richard Branson Announces Unlimited Vacation Policy for Virgin Staffers

What do you think of this human hamster wheel? Would you try it? Or is it more play and not practical? Here's a pretty sweet -- and kinda funny -- time lapse video of the construction of the Human Hamster Wheel, for your enjoyment:

Wavy Line
Catherine Clifford

Senior Entrepreneurship Writer at CNBC

Catherine Clifford is senior entrepreneurship writer at CNBC. She was formerly a senior writer at Entrepreneur.com, the small business reporter at CNNMoney and an assistant in the New York bureau for CNN. Clifford attended Columbia University where she earned a bachelor's degree. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. You can follow her on Twitter at @CatClifford.

Editor's Pick

A Father Decided to Change When He Was in Prison on His Son's Birthday. Now His Nonprofit Helps Formerly Incarcerated Applicants Land 6-Figure Jobs.
Lock
A Teen Turned His Roblox Side Hustle Into a Multimillion-Dollar Company — Now He's Working With Karlie Kloss and Elton John
Lock
3 Mundane Tasks You Should Automate to Save Your Brain for the Big Stuff
Lock
The Next Time Someone Intimidates You, Here's What You Should Do
5 Ways to Manage Your Mental Health and Regulate Your Nervous System for Sustainable Success

Related Topics

Starting a Business

Starting a New Business? Here's How to Leverage Transferable Skills From Your Prior Careers and Drive Success

Launching your own business can be daunting, but when you harness the skills from past jobs, there are a variety of things you must ask yourself. Here are three recipes for success using your prior experiences.

Business News

'Do You Hate Me?': High School Teacher Shares Wild Emails He Receives From Students

Jordan Baechler teaches high school students in Ontario, Canada.

Data & Recovery

This Father's Day, Give the Gift of No More Low Storage Warnings

Save 85% on 1TB of cloud storage for Father's Day.

Employee Experience & Recruiting

Don't Let These 11 Job Interview Myths Stop You From Getting Hired

The interview process is constantly changing — adapting to current employee-employer trends. Here's our latest list of what you should keep in mind the next time you are interviewed (or interviewing).