A research team from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and other Saudi universities has succeeded in innovating and developing “smart chips” to monitor people’s postures and alert them to avoid neck and back pain.
Studies indicate that people crane their necks at a 45-degree angle when texting on their phones, placing an enormous amount of strain on the spinal ligaments and other muscles. For many office workers, the gradual onset of neck or back pain eventually reminds them to readjust and stretch.
To overcome the chronic problem, a KAUST team was formed of KAUST Faculty including Dr. Tareq Al-Naffouri, a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Dr. Ahmed Bader, a KAUST research fellow with a track record in commercializing new technologies, and Dr. Ali Muqaibel from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, along with other young researchers who had previously received training programs at KAUST and are currently working at King Abdulaziz University.
Using Artificial Intelligence
Al-Naffouri said: “The idea of the project dates back to 2018 when I, and Dr. Muqaibel, thought of developing a smart model for head covers equipped with sensors to monitor back and neck vertebrates and alert people through a mobile application to change their posture before they feel any pain. Given the large size of the smart head cover and accessories, and the difficulty of wearing it on the job and on the move, we collaborated with Dr. Bader and a number of researchers on the development of the project and then applied it to the “Impact Acceleration” grant from KAUST, which helped us reach the prototype into a smart, small, plastered and concealable tag in the oqal (headwear), scarf, glasses or even headphones.”
Bader added that the team members were quite attached to their original design, but it was too costly and bulky to take to market; they had to do a lot of hardcore electronics to shrink it. The device has a sensor that monitors the angle and duration of head tilt and sends this data to a mobile app, which uses AI to assess the user’s posture. If it is unhealthy, the app alerts the wearer and provides relevant exercises to help alleviate pain and reduce the risk of future injuries.
Within two years, the young trio was leading the project and in 2021 they launched a start-up called Qawam – an Arabic word signifying a healthy composure – to commercialize their product in the society, such as employees, drivers, people with office work, and e-games fans, in addition to all people seeking practical means to preserve their health and avoid neck and back pains.
SPA