Timeline
24 hours; Winter, 2025
Role
Product Manager
Team
FE Engineer, BE Engineer, UI/UX Designer (1x)
Tags
Arduino, Hackathon, Slouch Detection
slouchii
about
Slouchii is an anti-slouching solution that blends hardware and software. It pairs a clean, distraction-free Pomodoro timer with a wearable that uses spatial tracking to monitor your posture and gently buzzes when you start to slouch so you can stay productive pain-free.
Made in a team of 4, we were able to build this in a 24 hour time for NWhack's annual hackathon.
problem
According to an article published by Harvard Health, the average time spent sitting down within a day is ~10.4 hours. Additionally, 70.5% of those respondents complained of musculoskeletal discomfort, particularly in the neck (86.4%), lower back (75.9%), and right & left shoulders (76.2%) due to poor posture.
There’s a vicious feedback loop at play: people sit longer to boost productivity, but this leads to poor posture, which actually reduces productivity. The cycle repeats—at the cost of long-term well-being.
How do we bridge the gap between alleviating poor posture while enhancing productivity?
the why
Why Poor Posture Is Increasing
More desk-based jobs and university students spending long hours seated.
Remote/hybrid work with non-ergonomic setups.
Rising screen time from work, study, and entertainment.
Productivity culture encouraging longer sitting sessions.
Digital meetings and multitasking at desks keeping people stationary, especially after the pandemic.
Why It Matters Now
Musculoskeletal issues becoming common at younger ages.
Increased signs of long-term health risks like chronic pain and reduced mobility.
Ergonomic solutions remain costly or inaccessible for many.
solution design
Based on user research, competitor analysis, surveys, and data insights, we designed Slouchii as a focused, distraction-free productivity tool that corrects posture while helping users stay on task:
Simple, clutter-free interface – Competitor products often rely on gamification, ads, or outdated designs, which disrupt focus. Slouchii’s UI is minimal and elegant, keeping attention where it matters.
Reliable, comfortable hardware – Users needed accuracy without feeling monitored. Cameras were ruled out due to lighting variability and inconsistent quality. Instead, we integrated an accelerometer and gyroscope for precise spatial localization, ensuring comfort, affordability, and effectiveness – that can be harnessed by the user.
Seamless workflow – The experience is low-friction and intuitive, so posture correction amplifies productivity instead of interrupting it.
Proven productivity method – Slouchii uses the Pomodoro technique with customizable timers, allowing users to work in focused intervals at their own pace.
