A low power accelerometer used to improve posture

Abstract

A monitoring system for training people to improve posture has been developed. The prototype system consists of one accelerometer, a low-powered 16-bit microcontroller, RAM, real time clock and battery. This prototype device was used to investigate its feasibility of using accelerometers to monitor human posture. A subject who had kyphosis (round back) for many years wore the system for two days. The system provided feedback to the subject only on the second day. By comparing the data collected on both days, we found that the system was able to detect postural changes and alert the subject to improve his posture.