India techie innovates wearable solution for lower back pain

Almost one in 10 people worldwide suffer from lower back pain and it has now been established that lower back pain accounts for a third of all work-related disabilities.

Vikram started suffering from lower back pain in 2015 and after a forced four months brake from work he decided to do something.
“My body just gave up. I began experiencing severe upper back pain because my muscles had swollen up. I couldn’t type on the keyboard because I felt pain in my shoulders. It was unbearable,” said Vikram.

Vikram created Spiqi, a compact device made of a combination of plastic and rubber that can be fixed to the back of the neck, between the shoulders, using a sticker. It has an advanced sensor that vibrates every time the wearer slouches, reminding him to straighten up. It also monitors the person’s back activity in real time, setting time-based posture goals and advising him/her to take regular breaks.

Spiqi uses AI to calibrate to the person’s back movements automatically and helps wearers to develop a habit of changing posture within a specified timeframe. It has to be charged electronically and runs for up to two-and-a-half days under normal temperature conditions. A mobile app to complement the device has also been developed, and it can be connected to it to track posture goals.

Spiqi won the the second prize at Huddle Kerala, a startup conclave organised by the state government along with the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IMAI).

"One of the challenges I faced making Spiqi was the support for low volume prototype manufacturing. Finding mentorship to take this to a new level was another challenge", Vikram said.

Adapted from: https://www.thebetterindia.com/137737/jai-vikram-singh-verma-jaipur-spiqi-

More info: https://spiqi.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFymihiHRic