Proposal

DESN 37900 Interactive Objects and Environments 2: Physical Computing Winter 2017 Project Proposal Your group will be expected to discuss your proposal in class with your course instructor, also it’s to be submitted on Slate BEFORE class week 2. The scope of the proposal may change as a result of your group’s discussion with the instructor. You need to get sign off on the project from your instructor.

Project Proposal Format

Name of Project: PostureBot Group Members: Naomie Grenier-Pleau, Tiffany Fry and Russell Meghoo Date: January 19th, 2016

1. What is the area of concern of this project, in other words, the “Big Idea”?

The ‘big idea’ is the relationship between the ever-expanding world of wearables, the Internet of Things, and how technology impacts our physical health as it is increasingly integrated into daily life. Studies have shown that computers and tech devices have a negative effect on the musculoskeletal system -- more specifically, the spine. Posture abnormalities have been linked to ‘hunching’ over computers and smartphones, and as the condition of the spine and surrounding musculature worsens it becomes more difficult to remedy.

2. What is the underlying question the project will explore?

“Can technology fix the problems it creates?”

3. What is the essence of the idea? the simplest way to describe the idea?

The device would take the form of some type of harness that would hold the circuitry and involved sensors to the upper back or lower back -- wherever the user would be more likely to experience a departure from a neutral spine. People with poor posture are incapable of naturally maintaining a neutral spine for an extended period, and gradually slump back into a comfortable position. A rounded upper back with disengaged muscles and a curved chest cavity due to shortened chest muscles and weak abdominal muscles are hallmarks of a decreased ability to maintain proper posture. Our prototype would sense back rounding and issue a gentle reminder to straighten up to help the user retrain their muscles and make maintaining a neutral spine a subconscious activity once again.

4. Who are the people (audience) that would use this project?

The average user would be a person who is incapable of maintaining a neutral spine naturally due to the degradation of the involved muscles from chronic lack of use and poor posture, and are seeking to correct their posture and retrain their brain to maintain an upright position.

5. Make a drawing of the prototype as you envision it now.

Concept 1:

Concept 2:

Concept 3:

6. What are the roles of the group members?

Everyone will be participating throughout every phase of the project.

7. What features or functionality will the project NOT implement?

The device will rely on the user making a conscious effort to remedy other existing issues with their back, such as regular visits to the chiropractor or massage therapist, and will not include more involved treatments. There would not be more in-depth levels of customization for persons with scoliosis, lordosis, degenerative discs and other issues that would modify the curvature of the back outside of disengaged and shortened muscles.

8 . What features will be developed in the final prototype that you WILL be able to test through user testing and live demonstration?

Features that will exist in the final prototype are some kind of feedback loop to inform the user when they no longer have a neutral spine and will keep informing them until they remedy their posture. We will also include bluetooth or wifi functionality so the user can track their progress over time, because posture remedy can be a process that takes weeks, months or years and seeing their progress over a span of time could help the user see that they have improved.

9. Include some links to resources relevant to your project, artist/designers work, technical tutorials or other http://www.lumobodytech.com/ http://www.uprightpose.com/ http://alexposture.com/ http://blog.htmlfusion.com/diy-slouch-detector/

Bill of Materials -

Flex sensor Tilt sensor/accelerometer Flora Vibration motors Kinesiology tape Lithium battery Battery enclosure Enclosure material pending