194. You Don’t Stand Straight But This AI Wearable Will Fix It

The Next Byte Podcast · 1 Oct 2024 · 16m

What this episode covers

Hosts Daniel and Forbode discuss Straight Up, a wearable startup from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) that uses AI and conductive elastic metal alloys to correct posture via haptic feedback. They analyze how the device distinguishes between harmful slouching and normal movement, contrasting it with restrictive braces and less accurate competitors like Upright. The hosts also explore potential applications in sports physiotherapy and the company's upcoming Kickstarter launch.

Mentioned

Companies
Straight Up, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, German Institute for textile and fiber research, Garmin
Products
Upright, Aura Ring

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Embedded.fm · 55m

    65: Resonant Frequency of My Butt

    Dr. Junhao Hu and Sharif Kassatly, founders of Darma, discuss their optical sensor-based smart cushion designed to monitor posture, heart rate, and stress levels. They detail their experience in the Haxlr8r accelerator, the technical challenges of measuring heart rate variability through body movement, and their strategic decision to choose between Kickstarter and Indiegogo for their crowdfunding campaign. The episode also covers their advisory team, including NASA's Dr. Joan Vernikos, and their long-term vision for a 'smart health home.'

  • The Robot Report Podcast · 1h 03m

    Jeremiah Robison from Cionic creates bionic clothing to help patients walk better

    Jeremiah Robison, founder and CEO of Psionic, explains how his daughter’s cerebral palsy diagnosis inspired the creation of the Psionic Neurosleeve, a bionic garment that uses functional electrical stimulation (FES) and surface EMG sensors to augment walking for patients with mobility impairments. Robison details the engineering challenges of replacing bulky exoskeleton motors with a non-invasive, wearable system that reads neural intent and delivers real-time stimulation to four major leg muscle groups. He discusses the company's journey from garage-based prototyping to receiving FDA clearance and selling out its initial founders program, highlighting the therapeutic benefits of reinforcing neural pathways rather than just providing passive assistance.

  • Hard Tech Podcast · 1h 32m

    Alex Villanueva: Asteroid Mining, Virtual Apparel Fitting, Biomimicry Inspired Tech | Hard Tech Podcast #17

    Alex Villanueva, founder and CEO of Eclo, explains how his AI platform reduces apparel returns by predicting shoe fit through a smartphone foot scanner and user preferences. He details the technical challenges of capturing 3D foot data and the business insight that increasing conversion rates is more valuable to retailers than just reducing returns. Villanueva also reflects on his graduate research building biomimetic robotic jellyfish at Virginia Tech and his internship at NASA working on pulse plasma thrusters.

  • Robot Talk · 18m

    Episode 67: Wearable soft robots - Kris Dorsey

    Kris Dorsey, an associate professor at Northeastern University and leader of the PASS research group, discusses wearable soft robots and e-textiles for healthcare and rehabilitation. She explains how programmable stiffness, origami actuators, and soft sensors can create adaptive medical devices like smart compression braces and exoskeletons. The conversation covers the regulatory hurdles for medical wearables, the challenges of power and miniaturization, and the vision for integrating soft robotics into broader bioengineering.

  • Over the Air · 29m

    From Wearables to Insurance: How Kinetic is Revolutionizing Workplace Safety

    Heytham, co-founder and chief strategy officer of Kinetic, explains how the company evolved from designing wearable IoT devices to becoming a workers' compensation insurance provider. He details the hardware development of a belt-mounted sensor using Intel Edison chips to monitor body mechanics and prevent musculoskeletal injuries in frontline workers. Brock describes the strategic pivot to insurance to serve smaller companies, leveraging partnerships with insurers like Nationwide to offer risk-reduction technology alongside coverage. The episode highlights the use of computer vision and mobile apps to identify facility risks, focusing on industries like last-mile delivery and warehousing.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Next Byte Podcast. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.