Combination and method for registering and improving the sitting behaviour of a person
The invention relates to a combination for registering and improving the sitting behaviour of a person.
• Chairs are known having in the seat and backrest pressure sensors which register whether the position of the person on the chair is correct. When the pressure on one of the sensors becomes relatively too high, this indicates an incorrect posture and, if this incorrect posture persists, a signal can be given to the person, for instance by a vibration signal in one of the
cushions .
It is however also important that, in addition to having a good sitting posture, a seated person varies his/her position, for instance by leaning backwards, sitting upright and then leaning forward again. A person can improve this sitting
behaviour by doing different exercises. This can be done under the guidance of a professional but involves costs.
With the prior art chair, in which pressure sensors are accommodated in the cushions, it is not possible to register the sitting behaviour of a person sufficiently accurately to enable a more automated guidance of the person on the basis thereof.
It is therefore an object of the invention to reduce, or even obviate, the above stated drawbacks.
This object is achieved according to the invention with a combination which comprises:
- a chair with a seat and a backrest tiltable relative to the seat;
- at least a first motion sensor arranged on the chair for measuring the movement of the backrest relative to the seat;
- a server for collecting and processing the measurements of the first motion sensor;
- a network for connecting the at least one motion sensor to the server; and
- a client device connected via the network to the server for receiving data processed by the server, in particular data for the purpose of improving the sitting behaviour.
The movement of the backrest relative to the seat is registered with the combination according to the invention. In the case of a chair wherein the backrest is tiltable relative to the seat such movements are a good indication of the sitting behaviour of the person on the chair. When the backrest is only tilted forward, the person is sitting too far forward and, when the backrest is tilted only backwards, the person is leaning back too much. It is precisely variation between the different positions which indicates whether the person is displaying an optimal sitting behaviour or not.
By sending the measurements from the motion sensor to a server it becomes possible to evaluate the data, when different motion sensors on different chairs send the data to the same server, it is even possible to do statistical operations on the measurements so as to enable an optimal evaluation of the data. The server can determine on the basis of the incoming measurement data whether the backrest, and thereby the sitting person, is moving sufficiently and thereby displaying an optimal sitting behaviour. The evaluation of the server can subsequently be transmitted to the client device so that the person him/herself can see whether he/she is sitting in correct manner. The server can also give different suggestions for improving the sitting behaviour, and the server can also generate different exercises to the person which the server can then monitor on the basis of the incoming measurement data.
A preferred embodiment of the combination according to the invention comprises a second motion sensor connected via the
network to the server, wherein the first motion sensor is arranged on the backrest and wherein the second motion sensor is arranged on the seat.
The use of two motion sensors allows the movements of the backrest and the seat to be registered separately of each other. A more accurate pattern of movement of the person on the seat can hereby be determined by the server. It is also possible with two sensors to monitor the exercises generated by the server more accurately.
In a further preferred embodiment the first and/or second motion sensor comprises an accelerometer and/or a magnetometer and/or a gyrosensor. It is hereby possible to accurately
determine the spatial position of the backrest and/or seat as well as the orientation of the backrest and the seat. This also contributes toward a more accurate evaluation of the sitting behaviour by the server.
The first and/or second motion sensor preferably further comprises a processing unit for reading the accelerometer and/or magnetometer and/or gyrosensor at high frequency and for
transmitting processed measurement data at low frequency.
when a motion sensor comprises a processing unit, a motion sensor is also referred to as a strap-down system. The processing unit makes it possible to read the accelerometer and/or
magnetometer and/or gyrosensor at a high frequency and for the data to be converted for instance by the processing unit, via integration steps, to a relative change in position and change of angle. These converted values can then be transmitted to the server at a low frequency because the server no longer need perform the integration steps of the measurement data and is already supplied with the processed data as the relative change in position and change in angle of the motion sensor.
The first and/or second motion sensor are preferably
connected wirelessly, for instance via ffiFi or Bluetooth, to the network. It is thus possible in simple manner to provide a random chair with seat and tiltable backrest with the motion sensors without having to install wiring which could interfere with the use of the chair.
In another embodiment of the combination according to the invention the server is provided in the client device.
Although the use of a server at a central location is preferred, it is also possible to provide the functionality of the server in the client device. The client device is here preferably a laptop, desktop computer or smart phone.
Yet another combination according to the invention further comprises pressure sensors connected to the server and arranged in the seat and/or the backrest.
It is hereby possible with the combination according to the invention to monitor the sitting posture as well as the sitting behaviour.
The invention further comprises a method for improving the sitting behaviour of a person, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a combination according to the invention;
- the measurements of the at least first motion sensor being collected by the server;
- evaluating the measurements on the server;
- sending to the client device, on the basis of the
evaluation by the server, evaluated data with suggestions for improving the sitting behaviour.
A preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention further comprises the steps of:
- - a desired mode being selected on the client device by the person;
- sending the desired mode from the client device to the
server;
- the server processing and evaluating the collected measurements on the basis of the desired mode received.
In this embodiment the person sitting on the chair of the combination can for instance indicate, by selecting a desired mode, whether the combination must monitor only the sitting behaviour or whether suggestions for improving the sitting behaviour must be given on the client device. Another mode is possible in which the server gives suggestions via the client device for performing different exercises in order to thus improve the sitting behaviour.
These and other features of the invention are further elucidated with reference to the accompanying figures.
Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the combination according to the invention.
Figure 2 shows a diagram of a motion sensor of the
combination according to figure 1.
Figures 3A and 3B show the chair of the combination
according to figure 1 in two different positions.
Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the method according to the invention-
Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the combination according to the invention. The combination has a chair 2 with a mobile base 3, on which a seat 4 is arranged tiltably. Further arranged on the seat is a backrest 5 which is tiltable relative to seat 4.
A first motion sensor 6 is arranged on backrest 5 and a second motion sensor 7 is arranged on seat 4. Both motion sensors 6, 7 are connected wirelessly to an access point 8 which is connected to a network 9 such as the internet. The wireless connection preferably operates in accordance with a known protocol such as WiFi or Bluetooth.
The measurements of motion sensors 6, 7 are transmitted via the wireless connection, access point 8 and network 9 to a server 10. This server 10 collects the measurements and evaluates these measurements with the purpose of determining the sitting
behaviour of the person on chair 2. Subject to the evaluation, server 10 sends processed data via network 9 to a client device 11 such as a smart phone. The processed data can for instance comprise a score indicative of the sitting behaviour. Server 10 can also give suggestions on the screen of smart phone 11 so that the user can improve his/her sitting behaviour or suggestions for exercises can be given by server 10.
Figure 2 shows a diagram of a motion sensor 6, 7 of the combination according to figure 1. Arranged in motion sensor 6, 7 are an acceleroiteter ACC, magnetometer MAG and gyrosensor GYR which measure respectively accelerations, the direction of the gravitational force and angular accelerations. Further arranged in motion sensor 6, 7 is a processing unit 12 which reads the measurements from accelerometer ACC, magnetometer MAG and gyrosensor GYR at high speed and, by suitable integration steps 13, 14, subsequently processes these measurements to a relative change in position Δν and change in angle Aq, which can then be transmitted at a low frequency to server 10.
Figures 3A and 3B show chair 2 of the combination according to figure 1 in two different positions. As will be apparent from these figures, both seat 4 and backrest 5 of chair 2 can tilt. These changes in the orientation of seat 4 and backrest 5 are registered by the respective motion sensors 6 and 7.
Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the method according to invention. In the first step 20 the measurements of motion sensors 6, 7 are collected by server 10.
In the second step 21 these measurements are evaluated by the server. Taken into account for instance is the variation in
the measurements or the presence of a pattern in the
measurements. On the basis hereof server 10 then reaches a conclusion on the sitting behaviour.
On the basis of the conclusion on the sitting behaviour of the person on chair 2 the server sends suggestions in the third step 22 to a client device 11, so that the person on chair 2 can modify his/her sitting behaviour.
The person can optionally indicate on client device 11 which mode the server must select. It is thus possible for instance to opt for a mode in which server 10 evaluates only the sitting behaviour and for instance feeds back a score. Another possible mode is that in which server 10 assigns specific exercises which are subsequently monitored by server 10 on the basis of the incoming measurements from motion sensors 6, 7.