Pause
Extended periods of work in front of laptops often lead to poor posture, contributing to physical health issues like eye strain, and neck and back pain.↗
Project Type:
Group
Time Frame:
3 Weeks
We observed various individuals working on their laptops and noticed that as time progressed, their posture worsened. Simultaneously, they also grew more restless and took frequent breaks to check their phones.
*Statistics based on digital survey conducted among 55 participants of varied age groups.
Design Brief
To design a solution that encourages correct posture and timely breaks among individuals working in front of laptops over prolonged hours. This project aims to improve overall health, focus, and productivity by reducing cognitive load and physical strain.
How Might We...
Increase Postural Awareness
Improving the individual's conscious awareness of their posture through targeted interventions may lead to reductions in pain and disability.
Postural awareness is an important factor in maintaining proper posture, especially in sedentary positions like sitting.
*Source: “The Effect of Postural Awareness Training on Chronic Low Back Pain- A Pilot Study” by by René Schwesig et al. (2016)
Encourage Regular Breaks
Taking short breaks helps individuals stay focused for longer, while lengthy intervals can lead to boredom and fatigue. Taking breaks at the right time and for the appropriate duration is crucial to boost productivity and energy levels.
*Source: “Adverse Effects of Prolonged Sitting Behavior on the General Health of Office Workers” by Hadi Daneshmandi et al. (31/07/2017)
Enable Habit Formation
Repetition is a fundamental mechanism in the development of habits. By consistently repeating a behavior in a specific context, individuals can create strong associations that lead to automatic actions over time. This process not only simplifies daily routines but also supports long-term behavior change and personal growth.
*Source: "Making health habitual: the psychology of 'habit-formation' and health" published in the journal BMC Public Health (01/ 2024)
Ideation
Desktop Accessory
Back Support
Chair Accessory
Handheld Device
Laptop Attachment
Divergent Phase
Suction Based Adhesion
Clip On
Compact Design
Slider
Motorised Device
Convergent Phase
Concept Testing
Logic Flowchart
Before coding the microcontroller, we needed to understand the tasks performed by the product. I played a key role in building the circuit and writing the code required to execute the logic flows.
Posture Correction with Alerts
The primary function of correcting posture is achieved through a proximity sensor and a feedback system. When the user slouches and moves closer to the screen, the proximity sensor triggers a light-based alert, notifying the user of their posture.
Break Reminders
To promote regular breaks from screen time, the device includes a reminder system. It alerts the user when it's time to step away, resets after each break lasting more than five minutes, and tracks the number of breaks taken during work hours.
Building the Circuit
Input
Ultrasonic Sensor: Senses the proximity of the user’s face to the screen.
Output
Series of white LEDs: Periodically light up to represent time left for upcoming break.
Red LED: Blinks to indicate incorrect posture.
Power
The components are connected to a set of two rechargeable 3.7V batteries that are attached to a Type-C charging module.
Data Recording
Data is collected and transferred to the cloud using the ESP8266 CH340 WiFi module, where it is subsequently used to display postural insights to the user.
Ultrasonic Sensor
For sensing proximity
Break Reminder
Posture Alert
Prototyping Process
PAUSE
Compact Design
Pause is a smart device designed to enhance your workday by encouraging healthy habits. Mounted on top of your laptop, it provides gentle reminders to correct your posture and take breaks. The goal is to reduce strain and promote a balanced, healthy work routine.
It's portable and small, allowing you to carry it with your laptop wherever you go. The 180-degree hinge lets you fold it back when not in use.
Alert System
You will receive gentle posture alerts highlighted in red and break reminders in white. Two large red lights will blink if you're too close to the screen for over 30 seconds. Three white lights indicate when your next break is due, each representing 20 minutes, helping you plan your work schedule more effectively.
Easy Mounting
Pause can easily be attached and detached from any device using the suction mount. This ensures that it seamlessly works with any device and doesn't damage the surface like an adhesive would.
USB Charging
The in-built battery has a long lifespan, but when it’s running low, it can be quickly recharged using a USB cable connected to your laptop.
Exploded View
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Fused silica
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Light cover
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Light casing
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Top casing
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LED lights
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Tof Lidar sensor
7. Suction mount
8. Lower casing
9. Microprocessor ESP32C
10. Lipo-Batteries
11. 360 hinge
All dimensions are in mm.
52mm x 2.9mm x 1.5mm
