BackTech - Wearable Posture Monitoring

Team: Rosalie Morrissey, Samartha Okyne, Yian Gong, and Xilei Liu

Timeframe: 4 Months [September 2023 - December 2023]

Keywords: Ubiquitous Computing, IoT, Wearable, Health Tech Integration, UX

Introduction

BackTech is a revolutionary solution for young professionals facing back discomfort from prolonged sitting in remote or hybrid work environments. This innovative system empowers individuals to proactively address posture challenges, promoting ergonomic health and overall well-being. The BackTech system consists of two main parts: smart sensors and a mobile application.

An outcome of various research methods, including diary studies, surveys, user enactments, and ideation workshops. BackTech aims to help individuals reach their posture goals as a way of combating posture fatigue and pain.

Product Video

SI612-product video.mov

Motivation

BackTech focuses on supporting users who already have goals regarding improving their posture. Sustained poor posture can result in situations of chronic pain, especially when sitting for long periods. According to the American Chiropractic Association, approximately 31 million Americans experience lower back pain at times. This is often attributed to poor posture, especially during prolonged sitting.

We are also experiencing a period that is seeing an unprecedented rise in remote work. With this rise in home-based work, there's a growing need for tools that help individuals maintain proper posture in non-traditional office settings. Finally, the digital health market is growing rapidly, with an estimated global value expected to reach $500 billion by 2025, according to Statista. This growth is driven by increasing health awareness and the integration of technology in personal health management.

Key Insights

Diary Study

We had 6 participants complete our diary study. The diary study prompted users to reflect on their body and take inventory of any pain and where this was on their body, as well as what movement looked like in the time since their last reflection. Through the diary study and subsequent interviews, our team identified that the majority of individuals working in jobs that required prolonged sedentary periods frequently experience pain, most commonly in their lower back. Participants identified that a break that consistent of stretching and movement often helped to alleviate pain. Participants who also had previous injuries or conditions that caused pain found the pain to be heightened during these prolonged periods of seating.

Survey

The survey allows for a quantitative approach to comprehensively understand participants' daily activities and routines and helps us identify common issues that are prevalent among a larger group of people and their body’s experiences related to prolonged sitting over time. To achieve this, our team initiated brainstorming sessions, developed a survey on Google Forms, and conducted a pilot phase internally before distributing it to our classmates. The survey garnered 108 responses, enabling us to analyze and glean valuable insights regarding users' pain points and needs when facing posture correction for prolonged sitting.

Key insights from the survey:

There is a strong correlation between experiencing pain/discomfort and the amount of time individuals spend sitting.
Increased education/strategies about posture are needed - prevalence of pain despite moderate posture awareness.
Regular physical activity should be encouraged to complement long sitting hours.
Individuals are motivated to improve their posture/overall health but guidance/reminders are needed to implement effective strategies.
Pain is most prevalent in the lower back and neck.

Empathy Map

User Journey Map

Experience Prototype

Taking the findings and feedback from our dairy study and survey, we began to move to concept validation first through a speed dating matrix that featured 6 design opportunities and dimensions scenarios. From the feedback from the user enactment in class, we were able to narrow down to one prototype design focused on posture correction sensors, which utilize sensors sticking on the key body joints and connecting to an app that reminds people to correct their postures after sitting for a long time. Then, we conducted 5 user enactments offline to test the feasibility and usability of our prototype.

Key insights from our user enactment:

Users found the guidance on sticking sensors is confusing. They are not sure whether they need to stick to their front or back.
The use of red/green dots alone as visual indicators when alerting users of improper posture was unclear - users wanted more explicit instructions on how to correct their posture.
Users were hesitant to know their next steps options on the alert page, the design did not make it clear that users could click on the red indicators to gain more information on how/why their posture was incorrect.

In the following prototype development, we solved these problems by providing clearer instructions and guidance visually.

Final system concept

Feature 1: Easy connection between sensors and mobile app

Prototypes of sensors

Users can access the app and use the QR code scanner to register the sensors. These sensors employ NFC technology to link with the mobile app and send posture warnings when improper postures are detected. The sensors feature indicator lights to show their connection status: a flashing red light for a failed connection, blinking blue for connecting, and a steady green for a successful connection. If the connection fails, users can attempt to reconnect, registering each of the four sensors sequentially.

Feature 2: Intuitive user guidelines on sticking and detecting sensors

After establishing a successful connection, users are provided with clear guidelines and illustrations, showing exactly where to place the sensors - specifically on the neck, lower back, and both shoulders. Subsequently, an easy-to-follow calibration process, complete with animations, guides users to ensure the sensors are correctly positioned and capable of accurately capturing joint movements.

Feature 3: Synchronous reminder on the app and stretching instructions

Following a successful calibration, users can resume their regular activities. If the sensors detect poor posture for an extended period, specifically 10 minutes in this instance to avoid unnecessary alerts for brief activities like picking up items or getting water, they will vibrate to notify the user of their posture issue and prompt correction. Simultaneously, a push notification will be sent to the user's phone, urging them to open the app for detailed posture information. Within the app, users can review the types of poor posture they have maintained over the previous time period and access tailored stretching and relaxation instructions based on their specific postures.

LINK FOR DIGITAL PROTOTYPE: https://www.figma.com/proto/hxRRfdIPYgFz46mlcI7CkF/SI612-M3%26M4?page-id=292%3A639&type=design&node-id=292-1560&viewport=1294%2C680%2C0.29&t=CiEPVy3ghaNeH6Xf-1&scaling=scale-down&mode=design

Ideal System Concept

High-level Architecture

Here is the high-level architecture of our posture monitoring and correction system. It outlines the interaction between sensors, a mobile application, and the user. The sensors are designed to detect and analyze poor posture by assessing the relative positions of the user's joints. When bad posture is detected for an extended period, the sensors send a soft vibration to alert the user. These sensors are connected to the mobile application via NFC, ensuring seamless communication. The mobile application then sends a synchronous push notification to prompt the user to check their posture and provides additional posture data. Lastly, the user is engaged through the application, which offers corrective posture advice and recommends stretching exercises to relieve discomfort.

Environmental Setting

This is our setup for a demonstration, designed to showcase our latest technological solution. In this configuration, we have a projector connected to the phone that users use, which is aimed at a large projection screen to display our app. The phone runs the application, which demonstrates the interactions on the app in real-time. The key components of our technology, the sensors, will be put on users’ backs. They include four sensor enclosures: fabric for securing the light, neopixel light for visual feedback, and a vibrator motor for haptic alerts.

Reflection

Limitation of our design

Due to the limitations of materials and labor, we cannot remove the complicated wires connecting the sensor, which makes the sensor look complicated and inconvenient for users to wear.
We haven't identified an effective method to securely attach the sensor prototypes to the users' bodies, resulting in the sensors falling off twice during the demo presentation.
There are still several guidelines in the app that are confusing for the users.
Due to time limits and project scope, we don't develop other functions like history record analysis, or social media connection that may further motivate our users to correct their postures and increase their awareness.

Next Step

Enhance the sensor prototype by optimizing the design to conceal or minimize the visibility of connecting wires, thereby achieving an elegant and user-friendly appearance. This refinement aims to provide users with an unobtrusive sensor experience, promoting both comfort and convenience in wear.
Discover a method for seamlessly and comfortably attaching the sensors to users' bodies.
Enhance the visual and interaction design of the app to clearly communicate the actions that users can take and their corresponding information outcomes. Include additional hints to guide users through the app's functionality.
Incorporate some psychological principles such as positive reinforcement or long-term reward into the new functions of the app to motivate our users correct their postures more.

New Insights

Our project enriched our comprehension of how user requirements intertwine with sensor technology, computing, and the art of video creation and editing in the realm of product design. This journey provided us with crucial insights into the strategic use of visual mediums to elevate the user experience effectively. Also, collaborating with a team composed of members from varied academic and cultural backgrounds highlighted the value of teamwork and the benefits of incorporating diverse viewpoints. This strategy enabled us to tackle challenges from several perspectives, which consistently resulted in more effective solutions.

Appendix

Milestone 1: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NjvM-diFjfsoefAZFvsjjg6crCKw7gPHp9H_BHOYmjo/edit?usp=sharing

Milestone 2:

Diary Studies: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wJAeG-pDEWlB3QnvlAavbkE3jJxXmjr0e5mMRQ4R5ps/edit?usp=sharing
Survey: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LbyMgZqtDJEsMwqIPBUQAoDu4OFW7QGKAJwjd6Httk8/edit?usp=sharing

Milestone 3: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ES0Nbz5E8vrEK27xTx31IBLOYpgggXYkN8_ulepDczk/edit?usp=sharing

Milestone 4: https://docs.google.com/document/d/18_tux74YOf6yPKfJnzU-VHCukdAInSgZj70-QnNNw5c/edit?usp=sharing

Presentation slide deck

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