With the office world trending toward its feet, we're awash in choices for standing desks. Even better are sit/stand or variable-height desks that don't force you to commit to standing all the time. Models like the Stir or the Ikea Bekant are recent faves.

The TableAir is one of these variable-height desks, but it's built with tech that's more advanced than the rest: it uses a sensor to adjust to your position. When you want to work standing up, you briefly press the button on the top, then hold your hand out in front of you to indicate the desired height. The sensor on top of the desk detects your hand's height, and the motors move the TableAir up to match it. Oh yeah, and the whole rim of the desk lights up like an Arc Reactor while this happens.

Pushing the button once and holding your hand above the sensor raises it. Push and hold the button, and it lowers back down until you let go. The TableAir's motors are small and relatively silent, and they can move the surface between 25 and 51 inches (between 64 and 130cm for you non-Imperial folk). That's roughly 2 feet, the height of a tall coffee table, to 4.25 feet, the height of a comfortable standing desk.

TableAir also pairs with your smartphone. Using the TableAir app, you can change the height remotely, pick and change the hue of the lighted side panels, and track metrics like calories burned (best not peek at that stat if you’ve opted for sitting all day, though). In addition, if technology-aided self-discipline is your thing, you can customize and automate a schedule for time spent sitting and standing.

The company is based in the U.K., and is currently shipping desks to EU countries, plus Switzerland and Norway, along with the United States upon request. The legs are painted stainless steel, and the tabletop is MDF. There are four finishes to choose from: glossy white, black, American cherry or walnut.

Though prices vary depending on your surface preference, the TableAir Kingsize (which features the lighted panels and a "power station" with 2 AC ports and 2 device-charging USB ports) is pretty steep at $2,200 (€1,900). While you can’t put a price on living well, because TableAir does cost such a considerable chunk of change, it isn’t the best fit for the casual standers or work-from-home types. However, if your company’s the one footing the bill, then by all means, set to work plying with your office manager with favors, flattery, and cases of Red Bull.