Automatic Slouching Detection and Correction Utilizing Electrical Muscle Stimulation

Ravi Kiran Kattoju, Corey Richard Pittman, yasmine Moolenaar, Joseph LaViola

Keywords: Human computer Interaction (HCI), Wearable Computing, Preventive Healthcare, Posture Correction, Slouching

TL;DR: a new physiological feedback system that uses inertial measurement unit sensors to detect slouching, and electrical muscle stimulation to automatically correct slouched posture.

Abstract: Habitually poor posture can lead to repetitive strain injuries that lower an individual’s quality of life and productivity. Slouching over computer screens and smart phones is one common example that leads to soreness, and stiffness in the neck, shoulders, upper and lower back regions. To help cultivate good postural habits, researchers have proposed slouch detection systems that alert users when their posture requires attention. However, such notifications are disruptive and can be easily ignored. We address these issues with a new physiological feedback system that uses inertial measurement unit sensors to detect slouching, and electrical muscle stimulation to automatically correct posture. In a user study involving 36 participants, we compare our automatic approach against two alternative feedback systems and through two unique contexts-text entry and gaming. We find that our approach was perceived to be more accurate, interesting, and outperforms alternative techniques in the gaming but not text entry scenario.

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