Ergonomic Innovation: A Modular Smart Chair for Enhanced Workplace Health and Wellness

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Ergonomics

Background:

• Sedentary lifestyles contribute to global health issues like obesity and cardiovascular disease.
• Prolonged sitting negatively impacts musculoskeletal health and overall well-being.
• There is a need for innovative solutions to mitigate the health risks associated with prolonged sitting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and develop a universal smart chair system to address the health challenges of sedentary behavior.
• To integrate sensing and notification technologies for real-time feedback on sitting habits.
• To create an adaptable and user-friendly system for improving workplace ergonomics.

Main Methods:

• Development of a modular smart chair incorporating pressure sensors, vibration motors, LED indicators, and Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) communication.
• Utilizing an STM32WB55CGU6 microcontroller and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery for system power and control.
• Creation of a mobile application for user customization, activity monitoring, and battery status assessment.

Main Results:

• The smart chair system demonstrated reliable performance, operating for over eight workdays on a single charge.
• A pilot study with 83 students showed 94.78% accuracy in detecting correct posture.
• 97.59% of users adjusted their posture within 3.27 seconds of receiving an alert.

Conclusions:

• The developed smart chair system provides an innovative and cost-effective approach to improving workplace ergonomics and health outcomes.
• The system effectively monitors sitting duration and posture, offering timely interventions.
• Future enhancements could include more advanced posture analysis and personalized feedback mechanisms.