ERGON

In today's world of advancements, nearly 84% of people face neck and back pain at some point in their lives, of which 90% is attributed to bad posture. This leads to cervical and lumbar spondylosis, kyphoscoliosis and paraspinal muscle spasm. Poor posture can lead to more pain along with the degradation of the tissues surrounding our joints.

There is wide spread acceptance now that spine related disorders are caused by sedentary life style and prolonged use of systems or gadgets[1,2]. This became more evident during COVID period when people were subjected to work from home, students gluing to mobile phones and TV or computer system for long durations leading to neck and back discomfort and some landing up in reversible or irreversible spinal diseases.  Sushilowati et al in one of the studies reported Complaints of musculoskeletal origins were recounted by 70.5% of the total respondents, with a majority of the reports said to affect the neck (86.4%), lower back (75.9%), and right and left shoulders (76.2%) in a questionnaire based studies on a population based sample size of 51,472 people [3]. Complaints about the neck were the most discomfort reported by the said community while operating electronic gadgets, as a consequence of the neck posture assumed while staring at screens or monitors during the use of these devices.  Despite widespread acceptance that work related spinal disorders and back pain can be prevented by fixing the posture through ergonomic solutions such as adjustable chairs or other modifications applied to the workstation, there exists very few reliable and accurate methods of continuously monitoring posture in any environment for postural modification. Recently, wearable sensing technologies targeting posture monitoring have been attracting increasing attention, making postural monitoring not restricted to a single location, thus enabling real time measurements and monitoring of posture[4].

Different solutions for monitoring postural activity are reported in the literature, researchers working on such technologies are attempting to integrate wearable computing devices and sensors into textiles for data collection[5] . However, due to the novelty of this field and unavailability of datasets and information on sensor development done by previous researches, most effort is still directed towards development of the measuring method and accuracy. Thus, the integration of the sensors into a complete system as well as aspects like comfort, aesthetics and wearability are undergoing a process of evolution [5,6,7,8].There has been multiple previous work done for the same we have tried out[9-11].

The major cause of health issues secondary to prolonged use of smart phones and gadgets are because of neck position due to prolonged declination. Kennith H reported in one of the studies while the standard weight applied on the spinal cord is normally 10 - 12 lbs. , when the Cervical Spine is colinear with the spinal cord it rises steeply to 60 lbs. , when the user’s neck is declined at 60 degrees from the body’s longitudinal axis [12]. Author used Accelerometer device to ascertain the bend in neck and resulting changes in the pressure [13] .

Ergon is an ai enabled smart wearable device , which primarily functions to alert a user whenever their posture is incorrect , and create a habit for everyone to maintain proper spinal health. 

This solution has gone through many iterations , spanning over 3 years and 4 versions. 

The latest version is equipped with a flex sensor, which is attached to the user's cervical and thoracic spinal region through a comfortable belt. A flex sensor is a variable resistor , which has a conducting ink inside it which spreads , when the sensor is bent, thereby changing the resistance offered and thus the voltage output.

This is used to classify different bending angles and thus different postures accurately (i.e normal and abnormal posture).Once the user wears the device ,they callibrate the device and set a referrence reading about which the deviation in reading is analyzed to classify posture readings.

The belt contains a vibrator module which buzzes and alerts the user through haptic vibrations, to correct their posture and thus helps in habit creation for people of all ages.

Using a bluetooth module , all this data can be sent to the application where one can track their postural status on the go in real time. The app also converts the collected data in forms of graphs and charts , which are directly sent to the user's doctors like neurologists , orthopadeciands and physiotherapists , which can allow early diagnosis of sponylosis , kyphoscoliosis , paraspinal muscle spasm etc. 

Currently the product is being redesigned with the use of an accelerometer , making the system more compact and user friendly , also giving room for more accurate data collection at an affordable price. Primary diagnosis can also be made by the application using an AI based classifier which can classify the symptoms of the user from the collected data to alert the user whether they need medical attention or not. 

A large number of the working population have office jobs that require long hours of sitting, and students spend most of their time on laptops devices leaning forward and these habits lay significant strain on the neck and back. We wanted to access the magnitude of problem and health issues arising from forced work standards and remedies there upon.

The device that we have formulated was based on the idea to reduce chronic pain that results from poor posture which ultimately will help to reduce the stress and pressure on the spine and prevent musculoskeletal disorders and structural deformity of spine.

Benefit To Society

·      Reduce chronic pain that results from poor posture.

·      Decrease the stress and pressure on the spine.

·      Prevent musculoskeletal disorders and structural deformity of spine.

·      Train users to maintain good back posture until it becomes a daily routine.

.  Saves precious man hours at work ,due to reduced neck pain.

. Helps to increase productivity of employees in work areas.

Wearable system

 Design Thinking , Testing And Training

I went through several stages of testing and improvisation and the main changes made were mainly in the sensors and the wearable device’s design. While conducting surveys, many participants said that the innerwear solution was a solution that could easily be integrated into their day to day lives, but many complaints came with respect to washing , reusing it every day etc. Then we came up with a new design , using a cotton sleeve, but  it led to a couple of problems like discomfort , rashes and allergies. So I came up with use of buckles and straps which were thin and comfortable to wear, with which the user can wear the cotton sleeve on their backs. The use of these sleeves would make it easier to remove the sensor module and wash the sleeve at the end of every day and then wear it the next day again.

Ergon began with a careful study of sensors and their integration into a compact design which will be easy to wear, user friendly and comfortable. To detect the variation in posture, we first used infrared sensors . Infrared sensors or IR sensors basically detect the heat radiation (infrared radiation) that changes over time and space due to the movement of people.

This mechanism however gave false positive readings even if the back was in a proper posture (since the natural spinal arch would be detected as an abnormality). IR sensors also gave inaccurate readings in the presence of sunlight and their placement would make the overall device very large and thus would not be comfortable to wear by a user.

We had to thus explore more options, which was when we came across the ‘Flex Sensor’. A Flex Sensor is basically a variable potentiometer , which on bending gives different resistances and thus different voltage drop. This mechanism was far more accurate compared to the initial one since it was now easy to set a particular range of bending angles which would indicate a correct posture , and thus would give more accurate readings. This would also be compact and thus easy to integrate into a smaller system, making it user friendly and thus a more usable version.

To construct our circuit we needed certain key components which include a microcontroller (Arduino Nano), a Vibrator module(Flat 1034 Mobile Phone Vibrator Motor),  a Bluetooth module (Bluetooth HC-05) and a flex sensor. All the components are compact and thus they were easy to integrate into a small circuit.

The data collected was transferred through the Bluetooth module to our application , which would then display the postural status of the user in real time , organisation and tabulation of this data over a time of 1 week would allow us to display weekly posture progress reports, and the app also contains free training links and videos to stay fit and healthy.

CURRENT PROTOTYPE USED

1. 1000 mAh Lipo Battery

2. Arduino Nano

3. HC 05 Bluetooth Module

4. TP4056 Charging Module

5. XL6009 Boost Converter

6. 10X flexsensor

7. Vibrating Module

8. Toggle Switch

9. PCB Board

10. 56K 1W Resistor

11. Connector & Connecting cable

Proposed Value addition

1.I have gone from version 1,to version 2.0 with many modifications,then from 2.0 to version 2.2 I presently feel we ca still make it more compact device and more userfriendly,using biological tapes. 2.Increasing batterylife,making it wireless.

3.With further AI integration,we can enable the application to conduct a prelimnary diagnosis and to alert user of the condition is serious and advice medical examination. 4.Utilization of new sensors to supervise postural orientation of body parts other than spine. 5.Prototype changes using ADXL335 Accelerometer,ATtiny 85 

Ergon is currently under research and developments. Due to this and the waiting period for recieving funds , we havent been able to sell ergon to people yet. However , once on the market , it can connect with thousands and thousands of people and can be a game changer in the medical field for everyday health based devices.

I am applying in SOLVE to get it recognised in a marveous platform and also will get to learn more and any other improvisation or suggestions from other experts in the field of sicence and technology. 

An innovative solution in my opinion is one which is either new in terms of core technology, procedure , application , or one which can impact much more people in different aspects. 

My solution is both , using flex sensors in such a sphere for posture detection in order to diagnose chronic spinal disorders is not just a new procedure , but a very novel application of this principle as well. 

Connecting embedded systems with posture detection was innovative in itself, but the feather in the cap was the awarness that i aim to provide with this technology. Even though spinal disorders are so common in our everyday lives , not many people treat it as an issue , making it neglected. 

Ergon throws light on this problem and thus tackle the root cause of the staggering neck and back pain we all feel , thereby creating a habit in everyone to maintain a good spinal posture and thus a better overall health and well being. 

In the next 5 years, i aim to see ergon at every single pharmacy , hospital , clinic , departmental store and many more outlets , to be available for the masses. I see ergon transforming into a business which , in the next few years will be the need of the hour , considering the rapid shift of all activities from offline to online. 

 By end 2023 i aim to complete product development and market research , to make ergon ready to be launched in the market. By early 2024 , i will launch it into the market through collaboration with medical professionals at hospitals , clinics and pharmacies , to make this available to target the middle aged and elderly population. 

By mid 2024 i aim to market ergon through social media to target the younger populations , to spread awareness about this issue as well as make a market into the teenage and young adult populations , who are more purpose driven , and allow ergon to become a daily wearable for every single person who does sedentary activities. 

In order to assess the progress of ergon , i went to incubation centres , scientists , professors , to see where i stand in terms of production and user friendliness as well as how to improve my currect state in terms of productivity and affordability. 

I sent out google forms and physical response sheets to my near and dear, my schoolmates as well as to patients at hospitals , to analyze the market viability of ergon. Overall i have seen a tremendous progress in ergon as a product , and as a transforming business as well.

Spinal disorders due to bad posture are severely neglected in today's society. It has become a need of the hour for people to not just be aware about spinal disorders , but to bring about a change in their postural status in order to be fit and healthy. 

Many teenagers have stunted growth and hunchbacks due to bad posture , which comes with severe pain , humiliation and in several cases , restrictions from doing day to day activities that one should be able to do. 

Ergon thus impacts the society by providing a one stop solution to bad posture, by introducing a solution which creates a habit and allow early diagnosis and cure of chronic spinal disorders. 

Ergon also is an affordable solution which gives accurate data collection and alerts than anyother device available in the market in today's day. 

The core technology powering ergon is the flex sensor , embedded systems , application tie up and the use of AI classification . Ergon tracks a user's postural status using the sensor collected data , which is then sent to the app through a bluetooth module . An AI classifier can do the primary diagnosis to see if there is any symptoms of chonic spinal disorders , and organises the data collected in form of graphs charts etc which can be sent to a doctor directly. This will thus allow early diagnosis and prevention of spinal disorders. Using a vibrator module , ergon alerts any user if their postural status is abnormal using haptic vibrations , thus making it easy for any user to create a habit to maintain a healthy spine. 

The application necessarily links the entire circuit by being a mode in which one can view their postural health status in real time , making it a tool for people to monitor their postural health like an ecg , but on the go. The collected data , can also be sent to medical professionals for their opinion , so to let any user know if they have chances of spinal disorders. 

My organisation works for people of all class and without any gender, colour, class or ethnicity  bias. I am in the process of recruiting more amd more pepole on my way depending upon the quantum of business and reserch and development needed. 

1. One way to become financially sustainable with posture correction devices would be to develop a high-quality product that meets the needs of customers and is competitively priced. This would require investing in research and development, as well as in marketing and advertising to raise awareness of the product.
2. Another strategy would be to establish partnerships with healthcare providers, such as chiropractors or physical therapists, who could recommend the device to their patients. This could help increase sales and revenue while also providing a valuable service to patients in need of posture correction.
3. Additionally, it may be helpful to offer additional products or services that complement the posture correction device, such as instructional videos or personalized coaching sessions, which could add value for customers and generate additional revenue streams.
4. Ultimately, becoming financially sustainable with posture correction devices would require a combination of effective marketing, high-quality products, and strategic partnerships with healthcare providers, as well as a commitment to ongoing innovation and customer service.
5. Diversify revenue streams: Companies can generate revenue from various sources, such as selling devices, offering subscription services, and partnering with healthcare providers or insurance companies.
6. We can focus on specific markets, such as athletes, office workers, or seniors, and tailor their products and marketing strategies accordingly.

1. Develop a comprehensive business plan: We are planning to create a detailed business plan that outlines the revenue streams, target market, and marketing strategy for the smart posture correction device. This will help to clarify the company's goals and objectives and provide a roadmap for achieving financial sustainability.
2. Partner with health and wellness organizations: Partnering with health and wellness organizations can help to expand the reach of the smart posture correction device. These partnerships can provide additional marketing opportunities and access to potential customers.
3. Exploring different distribution channels: We can explore different distribution channels, such as e-commerce platforms, retail stores, and healthcare providers, to reach a broader audience. The distribution channels selected should align with the target market and the company's business plan.
4. Building a loyal customer base: We will focus on building a loyal customer base by providing excellent customer service and support. Satisfied customers can help to generate positive word-of-mouth marketing and referrals, which can help to increase sales and revenue

As mentioned above , the research and development stage is almost complete, surveys and feedbacks from the commmunity have been collected, and the product will be ready for commercial production and sale. 

I have collaborated with start up Odisha to raise my first round of funding, which i have recieved. I have also brought in partners and have set up production units and have also spoken and collaborated with medical professionals at prestigious hospitals and i am in talk with government hospital doctors as well. 

I aim to implement my remaining decisions once production and sale begins.