Posture Nudge

Prolonged screen time and sedentary lifestyles are silently reshaping the posture and long-term health of young adults. With over 8 hours of daily sitting, university students and early-career professionals often develop poor posture without realizing it—leading to chronic discomfort and musculoskeletal issues. However, most existing solutions are either too invasive, expensive, or ineffective in daily routines.
This project presents a hybrid software + hardware solution that integrates posture detection into a tool users already rely on: their laptop. A lightweight Mac application uses the computer’s webcam to identify poor posture based on head-screen proximity. Upon detection, users receive customizable feedback in three modes: soft pop-up reminder, strict screen lock, or optional physical intervention via an inflatable smart lumbar cushion.
The inflatable cushion, controlled via pneumatic actuation, delivers gentle physical prompts—simulating a hand guiding your lower back into healthy alignment. It also offers ergonomic support for chairs lacking proper lumbar design.
Unlike traditional rigid braces or standalone posture gadgets, this system is non-intrusive, portable, and embedded within the user’s workflow. It emphasizes awareness, gentle correction, and long-term behavioral change—making posture health accessible, sustainable, and personalized.