A SYSTEM OF DETERMINATION AND CORRECTION OF POSTURE
TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention relates to ergonomic system and devices. More particularly, the present invention
relates to providing information on incorrect posture using sensors embedded within foldable
cushion and c.orrecting posture for improving ergonomics of daily life.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
With the advent of technology, pr~sent day jobs require working on computer systems for a long
duration of time, ultimately leading to a sedentary lifestyle. This sedentary lifestyle compromises
a person's health particularly when a person remains in an incorrect posture while working .
. Incorrect posture gives rise to many health problems including back pain, fatigue, slip discs, joint
problems and other related disorders. Moreover, it is practically impossible for any person to
keep his posture correct all the time while being involved in long and continuous work. -Thus,
people continue to work in incorrect postures, either: due to lack of proper ergonomics or due to
lack of knowledge on how to correct their posture. Such ignorance leads to health concerns as
discussed hereinabove.
ln order to prevent health problems arising out of present day job/work lifestyle; there is a need
for a system and a method that continuously monitors posture and provides a mechanism for
correction of the same. Though there are devices that monitor posture but, those are very bulky
and have to be worn on body. This results in discomfort and inconvenience especially. if
monitoring is to be done continuously.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide an easy and convenient way of continuously monitoring
postures and detecting and correcting an incorrect posture thereby reducing the health risks
posed by the sedentary·lifestyle of today.
The other object of the invention is to provide a quick feedback of incorrect posture and ensure
its correction. This would ensure a healthy lifestyle since a person would continuously maintain
correct postures while working for long durations.
SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a system for posture determination and correction comprising of
a detachable pad/cushion comprising at least one sensor; a communication unit configured to ·
receive signals from the at least one sensor corresponding to the posture and transmit said signals
to a processing unit; the processing unit configured to determine posture of a user from the
signals; wherein, the processing unit is further configured to identify an incorrect posture and
generate signals to correct the posture.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is the block diagram representing general system of the invention.
Fig. 2 is the graphical representation of output received after analysis.
Fig. 3 illustrates the system of sensors imbedded within the pad/cushion along with the
processor, computing unil, communication unit and a display unit.
Fig. 4 illustrates the pad/cushion fitted with the sensor system arranged horizontally and
vertically.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been described herein through embodiments that fully and particularly
describe the invention along with its operation. The emb.odim.ents of the present invention that
woulJ follow hereinafter disclose the best way ·of perforrning the invention. The components of
the present invention have been explained with the help of illustrations that are sufficient to· ·
understand the best way of performing, not necessarily including the details that will be apparent
to those ordinarily skilled in the art. It would also be apparent to any person skilled in the art that
the embodiments presented hereinafter are not limiting embodiments and the present invention
can be performed through other embodiments carrying the same pith and substance.
Figure 1 provides a system to determine and correct an incorrect posture according to an
embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the system of the present
invention comprises of a detachable pad/cushion which can be placed over any surface including
that of any furniture article. The pad/cushion is fitted with at least one sensor. It may include an
array of sensors such that each sensor is placed at a different point to come into contact with the
body of the person seated or lying on that pad. Such array of sensors may include one or more
contact sensors that respond to contact with the body. These contact sensors preferably have an
electrical property which changes when it interacts with bodily movements.
In this embodiment of the invention, an array of sensors 101, 102, 103, 104, embeddeq in at least
one foldable cushion is connected to a communication unit 105 and a processing unit 106, which
includes a circuit for measuring and monitoring changes in electrical properties of sensors that
correspond to structural deformations. The communication unit 105 may include a wireless
transmitter 108 and/or a wired connection 109 that connects it to a processing unit 106 which in.
turn includes a data storage unit 110. The processing unit 106 is further connected to an output or
a display device 107. The processing unit 106 has at least one processor 113 which processes all
the data received from sensors. Data may be stored in the data storage unit 110 for future
records. For universal usage, the data may be stored in XML or any other form. This display
device 107 provides for visual signals which may include but are not limited to graphical
representations of posture (Fig.2).
Sensors 101, 102, 103, 104 may include but are not limited to, flex sensors, stretch sensors or
pressure sensors. Flex sensors are known to chanee resistance or nny other el~ctrical property
when bent in any direction. They can be unidirectional or bidirectional. Flex sensors comprise of
carbon based resistive material laminated with copper foil contacts. Flex sensors have been used
extensively iu robotics, bio-metrics, gaming industry and automotive industry. Stretch sensors
are similar to flex sensors, but they change resistance only when they nrc stretched.
Pressure sensors include a piezo-resistive material, which is a carbon impregnated poly-olefin
fiber that is laminated between flexible textile such as copper polyester taffeta fabric and/or a
Nickel copper shielding material. These sensors can serve as contacts for measuring changes in
co.n ductance or resistivity of the pressure sensor. .
The communication unit 105 detects the changes in the electrical properties of the array of
sensors 101, 102, 103, 104. These signals correspond to the changes in bodily movements of the
user and are transmitted to a processing unit 106. These signals can be transmitted via wireless
transmitter 111 and/or wired transmitter 112. The processing unit has an inbuilt processor 113
which processes these signals and ascertains value of each signal.
The system of invention further obtains the values from sensors 101, 102, 103, 104 on real time
basis and stores it in a primary storage for a predetermined period of time. These values can be
extracted from the primary storag~ for analysis. In the posture classification problem, at a predetermined
period of time, the system is given a sensor value. The goal is to output a class label
['Leaning Forward', 'Leaning Left', 'Leaning Right', 'Perfect'] indicating the sitter's posture.
Determining posture requires:
1. A set of features that ·explains the posture data, and
2. Learning and prediction of postural information.
In order to classify postures, different kinds of postures that people sit in during particular
activities are identified and quantified. Most important postures that need to be prioritized are
distinguished. -In order to extract activity or comfort information, temporal aspect of the problem
becomes very important. For example, even though people change postures frequently, such
changes do not necessarily indicate a change in their activity. On the other hand, a sitter's
posture might change only slightly while the sitter shifts from reading book to watching TV.
More information can be gathered from temporal sequences of posture changes.
The steps required to extract the exact classifiers are:
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Step 1: Collecting a training data.
Step 2: Dimensionality Reduction.
Step 3: Feature extraction (Deriving important features).
Step 4: Building model with feature extraction and without feature extraction.
The system further comprises aggregating information from potentially disparate sources viz.
sensors, extracted classifiers & training data with the goal of drawing meaningful. eondusions
about what postur~ a person is sitting the most & the relateq toll on the health. The system
processor which analyzes the dat'l: provided by sensors and transmits it to a device which further
shows the posture positions, whether correct or incorrect, on a graph as illu.strated in Fig. 2. This
is a graphical representation of postures in which the sitter usually sits.
The data gathered after processing can also be stored in a storage unit 110 and may be used by
the user or his/her physician or physiotherapist to give appropriate treatment. This data is also
communicated to an output/display device 107 which may display this data, corresponding to
either correct or incorrect posture, in a graphical manner Fig 2. This representation corresponds .
· to change of posture over a period of time and changes in bodily formations or the posture in
which a person sits. This provides a record by which the user may use to sit in proper positions
' relatively more often. This data can also be used to further develop and better the ergonomics
armmd the workplace thereby reducing the health risks. The displays of display device 107 may
be transmitted· on an external device for display.
The display device 107 further provides for a system which displays such data by gtvmg
optical/light signal. The system further comprises means for alarming a person when his or she is
in incorrect posture and also means for suggesting the correct posture. The system may further
comprise means for altering the physical features of the pad to adjust according to a posture so
that stress is reduced on the sitter.
The system of invention may further provide· for a feedback system, which collates all the data
stored in the data storage unit 110 and gives a firsthand account of the posture pattern of the user.
This feedback system can transmit this information to device such as a smart phone or laptop
over a network which may be connected through peer to peer network like blue-tooth network.
In yet another embodiment,. the processor 113 obtains the data i.e. signal values from the primary
storage and d~termines the posture. The posture is classified as mentioned hereinbefore and
compared to an ideal posture stored in the data storage unit 110. The processor 113 determines
1 . differences in the current posture and ideal posture. The processor 113 further sends an output
signal which suggests corrections to be applied to the posture. The corrective output signal may
either to be sent to the display device or an alarm system so as to convey that the posture is
. '
incorrect. In case the signal is sent to a display device, the system may also display suggestions
by which the posture can be corrected on real time basis.
The ideal posture or posture values are stored in the data storage unit and at particular memory
locations. For comparison, the processor extracts the values of an ideal posture from said
memory locations and compares these values with the real time signal values obtained from the
sensors 101, 102, 103, 104. In another embodiment, the processor is programmed to determine
whether the signal value obtained from a particular sensor lies within a pre-determined range for
an ideal posture.
In another embodiment of the invention, the pad/cushion 301 is fitted with array of sensors 302
having multiple cunlact sensors in a definite arrangement. The specific arrangement of sensors
responds to different pressure points of the person's body and aid in mapping of the same. The
change in electrical property of such sensors is measured and used to generate a representation of
postures in a graphical manner Fig. 2. Such a system of contact sensors 302 may also include
optical sensors (camera) as well and may also give audio signals like an alarm.
In another embodiment of the invention, array of flex sensors are placed in such a manner that
they juxtapose ohe another. Such sensors are connected by voltage, temperature dividers which
reduce errors in measurement caused by temperature and hu.midity changes. Further that such an
arrangement provides· information· that measures changes in curvature when the body of the user
.. is in contact with the pad/cushion.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, two pad/cushions 401, 402 (Fig. 4) are fitted with
array of sensors 403, 404, 405 in a system as explained above can· be used simultaneously. One
pad/cushion 401 _placed horizontally over a surface and the other pad cushion 402 is placed·
vertically or in an upright position over a surfac~. Such an arrangement can be interconnected via
a wireless network and provides information of postures of both upper part (back) of the user and
lower part (lower limbs) of the user.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the system of invention can be fitted over a furniture ·
article like a chair. This can further be fitted over mattresses, couch, sofa and such other articles
which are used at home. Such a system expands the use of invention to households apart from ·
present day workplaces.·

I/WE CLAIM:
1. A system for posture determination and correction comprising of:
a detachable pad/cushion comprising at least one sensor;
a communication unit configured to receive signals from the at least one sensor
corresponding to the posture and transmit said signals to a processing unit;
-the processing unit configured to determine posture of a user from the signals;
wherein, the processing unit is further configured to identify an incorrect posture and
generate signals to correct the posture.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein multiple contact sensors may be used.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the processing unit comprises a data storage unit.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein, the processing unit comprises a processor and is further
Connect to a display device.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein, the at least one sensor can be a flex sensor, stretch sensor
or a pressure sensor.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein, the display device displays a graph corresponding to
change of posture over a period of time.
7. The system of claim I wherein, the display device displays the posture of a user.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein, the user is alerted when in an incorrect posture.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein, the data is transmitted to an external device.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein, the system is used on a furniture.