Smartphone Neck Posture Detection and Alert System
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Solution Overview
Problem
The prolonged use of electronic devices, such as smartphones and laptops, leads to 'tech neck' syndrome due to forward bending of the neck, causing pain and potential long-term injuries, with a need for a real-time prevention system that alerts users to correct their posture.
Innovation Solution
A software-based system that detects neck flexion using a smartphone's gyroscope, accelerometer, and camera, displaying alerts to reposition the neck and pausing the device until optimal posture is achieved, with the option for local or cloud processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If users spend extended time using electronic devices, then device usage duration increases, but neck health deteriorates due to prolonged cervical flexion
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors neck posture using the camera and provides real-time feedback through visual alerts when improper posture is detected. This feedback loop enables users to correct their posture during device usage, allowing extended usage duration without compromising neck health.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical posture correction devices with a software-based system using the device's camera, gyroscope, and accelerometer to detect and monitor neck posture. This substitution enables non-intrusive, continuous monitoring without physical contact or additional mechanical components.
2Reliability
If the system continuously monitors neck posture, then posture correction effectiveness improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system leverages existing multi-functional components of the electronic device (camera for face detection, gyroscope and accelerometer already present for motion sensing) to achieve posture monitoring. This approach avoids adding dedicated monitoring hardware, thereby maintaining simplicity while ensuring reliable continuous monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the device's own existing sensors and processing capabilities to monitor and alert about posture issues. The device essentially monitors itself and its user without requiring external monitoring equipment, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effectiveness.
3Ease of operation
If visual alerts are displayed to correct posture, then user awareness improves, but attention to device content decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system displays visual alerts periodically only when improper posture is detected, rather than continuously. This periodic alerting mechanism maintains user awareness of posture requirements without constantly distracting from device content, thus balancing awareness improvement with usage efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively prevents 'tech neck' syndrome by reminding users to maintain a healthy neck position, reducing the risk of pain and injury through real-time feedback and convenient operation.
Implementation Method 1
The application causes the processor of the device to determine bending or canting angle of the neck of the user to determine flexion
Implementation Method 2
receiving by the application, tilt angle of the smartphone using gyroscope and accelerometer of the smartphone
Implementation Method 3
receiving by the application, the face image of the user; determining an accurate flexion of the neck by calibrating the received flexion with the tilt angle, wherein the flexion is also based on face image of a user
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a computer-implemented system and method for preventing users from bending their necks too far forward or past thirty degrees away from vertical during viewing of a handheld electronic device. The system uses a computer-implemented application installed in the device that determines flexion of the user's neck and compares with a threshold to determine a ‘tech neck’ condition. The application generates an alert displayed on the screen of the device to indicate the ‘tech neck’ condition and further, can pause or hang the display when the ‘tech neck’ condition is continued to be determined. The system and method assist in preventing injuries, strains and disabilities to both children and adults that use electronic devices for extended periods of time.