WatChair: AI-Powered Real-time Monitoring of Sitting Posture and Corrective Suggestions using Wearable Motion Sensor System

Abstract

The majority of the population around the globe spend a considerable portion of their days seated. This fact can be associated with several factors, such as the circumstances of most of the current jobs and the prevalence of the use of computer systems. One could argue that this knowledge indicates that the impacts of maintaining proper posture while sitting can be observed more than before. Therefore, it is critical to be able to observe, correct, and control our sitting posture throughout the day. Monitoring and correcting our short-term and longterm sitting habits over time can lead to significant improvement in our physical well-being. In this work, we propose WatChair, an AI-powered remote subject monitoring system that assists in short-term sitting posture recognition, activity-level tracking, long-term monitoring, and providing corrective suggestions. Our platform consists of a small wearable component, an application, and a cloud-based back-end. Our framework has been evaluated in practice, and the results of empirical validation and the user-friendliness questionnaire points to a simple, accurate, and user-friendly system for remote sitting posture monitoring. This framework also presents an adaptable solution for general dynamic posture recognition and tracking using wearable systems based on motion sensors.