While many tech solutions focus on neck posture, three Computer Engineering students at KNUST have taken a different approach.

Their project, SwayFit, targets the lower back, an often overlooked but crucial area for healthy sitting posture.

The students: Phyllis Adagbe Sefam, Daniel Babereyir Mwinsor, and Daniel Ayim noticed that in office settings, people tend to slouch for hours at a time. This habit causes discomfort and reduces productivity.

To address this, they developed a small wearable device designed to correct lower back posture.

SwayFit uses sensors to monitor the movement of your lower back while you sit. If it detects slouching, it sends a gentle vibration to alert you. The device connects to a smartphone via Bluetooth and provides real-time posture feedback.

The team tested the device in actual office environments. After using it, workers sat upright more frequently upright sitting increased by 30%, while slouching decreased by 40%. Users also reported greater awareness of their posture and an overall improvement in how they felt during the day.

Most posture technologies focus on the upper body, but the SwayFit team chose to concentrate on the lower back, where the spine begins to curve. They believe that correcting posture at this foundational point can positively impact overall body alignment.

The project was supervised by Dr. Eliel Keelson, with additional support from students Mawuenyefia Amenyo Wisdom, William Dadzie-Rhule, and Nero Novor.