Good posture can be difficult to maintain, but luckily, a new device is here to help you practice throughout the day. Backbone, the creation of Khoa Phan, Dean Nguyen and Eddie Kong, is designed to track your posture during the day and tip you off to when you're slouching.
The product itself looks like the shoulder straps of a backpack without the actual sack. You place them around your shoulders, and you're ready to go. The Backbone app for iOS and Android will let you know how you're doing and when you can make improvements. Any time you slouch, the app will remind you to sit up for better posture. You can also see a visual display of your progress throughout the day as you wear Backbone.
While Backbone may seem like a bit of an intrusive piece of clothing, its creators stress that you can easily cover it up with a jacket or sweater. If you're willing to conceal it (or wear it outright), you'll be able to reap all of the benefits of the app. Backbone comes in small, medium and large sizes to fit virtually any body, and its battery can last more than two months.
If you choose to wear Backbone for eight hours each day, you should be able to go up to two weeks without needing to charge it. Its creators are constantly working on upgrading the device and its app to provide more value to users over time.
The prototypes for Backbone were created and tested in 2015. The Kickstarter campaign for the device was launched this spring, and its creators hope to begin shipping it out in October 2016. As of April 21, Backbone has raised more than $248,000 via Kickstarter, far surpassing its pledge goal of $24,999.
While good posture may be visually pleasing to some, it has mental benefits as well. Research has shown that sitting up straight — specifically while in a chair — can potentially provide a confidence boost. Additionally, you can improve your mood by maintaining good posture during the day.
"Sitting up straight is something you can train yourself to do," said Richard Petty, professor of Psychology at Ohio State University.
