Development of an Invisible Pressure-Sensing Smart Seating System for Non-Intrusive Posture Monitoring and Spinal Health Analysis

"In the modern era, prolonged sedentary behavior among office workers and students has led to a significant rise in chronic spinal disorders and musculoskeletal issues. Traditional posture monitoring solutions often rely on wearable devices, which can be intrusive, uncomfortable for long-term use, and prone to battery limitations. This research proposes the development of a Smart Non-Intrusive Pressure-Sensing Seating System designed for continuous spinal health monitoring. The hardware architecture is built using an Arduino Uno microcontroller integrated with four Force Sensitive Resistor (FSR) sensors, a buzzer for real- time alerts, and an SD card module for data logging. Unlike conventional systems, this project focuses on an 'invisible' integration approach, where sensors are embedded within the chair's cushioning to prevent physical damage and ensure user comfort. The system functions by acquiring real-time pressure data from the seat base and backrest to identify various sitting postures such as balanced sitting, lateral leaning, and slumping. When an improper posture is detected, the system triggers a haptic or audio alert (Buzzer) and sends a notification to the user to 'Sit Straight'. This data is also stored for long- term analysis, which can be highly beneficial for physiotherapy patients and individuals requiring spinal rehabilitation. Experimental results indicate that this non-intrusive method provides a reliable and durable solution for proactive spinal health management, effectively reducing the risk of long- term back injuries." Furthermore, the study introduces the concept of Smart Dress integration. By using flexible textile sensors, the system can monitor spinal alignment even when the user is not seated, providing a comprehensive 24/7 posture health solution.