SmartStrap | Ergonomic Backpack System

The Hidden Strain of Student Life

Every day, students carry heavy backpacks across campus, leading to slouching, shoulder imbalance, and chronic back fatigue. This poor posture builds up silently over lectures, commutes, and study sessions, making long-term ergonomic issues worse.

🚶‍♀️ Daily Slouching

Carrying heavy, poorly distributed loads forces students into a slouched posture, causing neck and shoulder pain.

⚖️ Unseen Imbalance

Most users don't realize when their backpack's load is uneven (e.g., a 60/40 split), leading to muscle strain.

⏰ Lack of Awareness

Without real-time feedback, it's impossible to correct poor posture during long study sessions or commutes.

What We Discovered Through Testing

Users misinterpreted weight labels and struggled to find the live posture screen.
Confusing navigation led to frustration and task abandonment.
Real-time feedback like "RIGHT HEAVY!!!" was highly valued and immediately understood.

Our Solution

SmartStrap provides actionable feedback to build better posture habits.

Core SmartStrap Features

Feature	Benefit
Real-time Slouch Detection	Alerts you after more than 15 seconds of poor posture.
Advanced Tracking	An IMU and depth camera work together to monitor posture and load distribution.
Intuitive Feedback	A gentle vibration cue and visual LED prompts guide you to a better position.
Mobile Dashboard	Track summaries, trends, and your "Time to Green" score for motivation.

Why It Works

Clear Visibility: Instantly see your posture status without ambiguity.
Actionable Feedback: Simple alerts empower you to make immediate corrections.
User-Centered Design: Built using heuristic evaluation and iterative usability testing to ensure it's intuitive.

🧠

Intelligent Module

The detachable module features an OLED display and LED ring, giving you at-a-glance feedback on your posture and load.

🤖

AI Coaching Assistant

Our mobile app provides personalized tips, tracks your progress, and offers a "repacking guide" after a vision scan.

⚖️

Load Analysis

A quick vision scan analyzes your backpack's contents and helps you repack for optimal balance and reduced strain.

Built Through Research, Testing & Iteration

From initial concepts to a refined prototype, our process was guided by user feedback.

1

Heuristic Evaluation

Identified and fixed major visibility issues, confusing navigation, and misleading labels in our initial design.

2

Usability Testing

Three participants tested three core tasks, revealing that while they loved clear alerts (“RIGHT HEAVY!!!”), they struggled to find the live posture screen and misinterpreted weight labels.

3

Final Redesign

Implemented clearer labels, added a battery indicator, created quick AI action buttons, and improved the overall information hierarchy for a more intuitive experience.

A Module for Every Need

Choose the SmartStrap module that fits your lifestyle.

Module Type A (OLED Display)

For the data-driven user who wants detailed insights on the go.

5 Screens: Time, load distribution, total load, trip stats, and posture trend.
Physical Controls: A tactile button for easy navigation.
Secure Attachment: A magnetic and mechanical lock keeps it firmly in place.

Module Type B (LED Ring)

For the minimalist who prefers simple, intuitive feedback.

Color-Coded Pulses: Instantly understand your posture status with a glance.
Haptic Feedback: Gentle vibrations for posture and load alerts.
Durable & Discreet: Designed to be tough and blend seamlessly with your backpack.

Your Backpack,
Smarter & Safer.