What it does
Proper form during resistance training is crucial for targeted muscle growth and injury prevention. HapticTech is an exercise device that gives real-time feedback through vibrational, guiding users through proprioceptive pressure to the correct posture.
Your inspiration
When I started going to the gym, I knew next to nothing about working out. It was only when I started going with my friend that she would correct my grip or tell me to adjust my posture. Instantly, I would feel a difference in holding the same equipment. Most gym-goers are incorrectly performing weight based exercises. From deadlifts to sit-ups, 2 in 3 people do not know proper form leading to injuries. Haptic feedback is one solution that isn’t over straining and complements visual sensations. It can remove the need for a constant trainer. HapticTech is set out to increase performance by improving technique and engagement.
How it works
HapticTech is a wearable that can be placed near any joint in the body such as around the elbow or knee. If the user is doing a rowing exercise, it begins with a calibration stage, capturing the user’s initial body measurements like wingspan and elbow location through a Bluetooth microcontroller and gyroscope. Next, the brace is embedded with vibrators and as the user begins the exercise, it vibrates to inform any adjustments. It vibrates with different patterns and frequencies. The collectin of vibrators can create a gradient. Although rowing involves pulling, it actually uses back muscles, a crucial detail many beginners do not realize. The aim of the device is to use the data to distinguish when in fact the back muscles are being used. It can vibrate to remind to tuck in the elbows, for example. The material of the brace is made from silicone. The data is processed in a software application that converts the raw gyroscope values to position and acceleration.
Design process
After experience the initial problem, we set out to interviewed people to determine if our issue was relevant and research current solutions to understand how people cope currently and give us a broad range of user perspectives. 15 interviews were conducted among young adult gym-goers, both beginners and advanced. Our first designs consisted of different brace designs such as those similar to roller blade protection gear, using velcro straps or buckles. We then established our parameters such as what position values are relevant to each exercise and decided to narrow down to one exercise and the main joints and limbs involved. In rowing, users must sinch in their elbows to ensure they are using their back muscles more. This allowed us to prototype around the elbow. The electrical prototype consists of a transistor and diode as the coin vibrators draw different amounts of power than the gyroscope, ultimately creating a tradeoff.
How it is different
This haptic device is designed to be a stand alone device that detects motion without any help from camera motion capture or comprehensive environment set up. Thus it’s functional without setting up reference coordinate. Meanwhile, the haptic motors embedded in the device offer real-time feedback to user that is strong enough to distinguish vibration pattern and subtle enough to not cause any external disturbance to surrounding environment. Such instant feedback, relying only through touch, is also much more intuitive for physical training exercise compare to verbal or visual cues.
Future plans
The next step is to find a mathematical solution that provides precise position in 3D coordinate in real time. We plan to partner with university sports and rehabilitation center for first round user testing. Our goal is to gather user feedback under close supervision of personal trainers and physicians. See where can we improve the product’s user experience, and gauge its potential with training professionals. We hope to provide robust training devices that help individual user to train with optimal range of motion to achieve their exercise goal safer and more efficient, whether it be muscle growth, strength, or rehabilitation.
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