Why we're building a privacy-first posture coach

If you spend your days at a desk, you already know the story: you start upright, shoulders back… and a few emails later you’re folded over like a deck chair. It’s not a willpower problem; it’s an awareness problem. Most of us don’t notice we’re slouching until our neck or lower back files a formal complaint.

I wanted help. But I didn’t want another device nagging me, vibrating all day, or - worse - watching me. That tension is the reason this project exists.

The trouble with today’s “smart” posture tools

I tried the usual suspects. Wearables that stick to your back or clip to your shirt can work, but they’re easy to forget, uncomfortable over time, and the constant nagging is either too distracting or turns into background noise. Camera apps are convenient, yet many people (me included) don’t love an always-on webcam - especially in a workplace or home office where privacy matters.

There has to be a middle path between “annoying” and “surveilled”. That’s the path we’re taking.

Our philosophy: health without surveillance

Our simple belief: technology should help you, not watch you.

So we’re building a posture coach that is private by design. No Wi-Fi. No Bluetooth. No cloud accounts. No silent data trickle. It’s a small device that lives on your desk or monitor, gives you clear, gentle feedback in real time, and keeps everything local. If you choose to take your stats elsewhere, you do it intentionally - by scanning a QR code from the screen. That’s it.

The exact parts may evolve as we refine the design, but the principles won’t: local processing, minimal footprint, quiet presence, and zero radios.

Privacy by design

Privacy isn’t an afterthought we patch in with a settings toggle - it’s the architecture.

Air-gapped by default. There’s no wireless hardware to turn on or off. The device can’t connect to a network you didn’t approve because it can’t connect, period.
On-device only. All posture detection runs locally. The camera view never leaves the device.
Human-inspectable export. If you want to keep weekly stats, you scan a QR code on the screen. QR codes are limited, visible, and deliberate - there’s no way for them to smuggle video or sensitive data out. You’re always in the loop.

That combination makes it suitable for home offices and privacy-sensitive workplaces alike.

Coaching that motivates, not nags

Good coaching feels like support, not punishment. We’re baking that into the experience.

Graceful timing. A momentary lean won’t trigger an alert. The device waits for a short, sustained slouch before nudging you - so it’s quieter and more respectful of your focus.
Positive feedback loops. You earn XP for good posture seconds, grow streaks, and unlock light-hearted achievements.
Glanceable UI. The display shows status and progress without shouting. It’s there when you need it and ignorable when you don’t.

The goal isn’t perfection; it’s consistency. Small, steady wins that add up.

A companion, not a cloud

Some people want deeper insights over time. Totally fair. That’s why we’re building an optional companion app.

You’ll be able to scan the device’s QR code to pull in your recent stats, see trends, track streaks, and celebrate milestones. Importantly, this happens on your terms. You decide when to scan and what to keep. No accounts required to use the device. No background sync. The core experience stays offline and complete.

The mission

We’re trying to prove something simple: smart doesn’t have to mean connected. You shouldn’t have to trade your privacy to sit straighter and feel better at work. If we can make a device that helps you build a healthy habit - quietly, reliably, and respectfully - we’ll have done our job.

If this resonates with you - if you’ve been looking for a posture coach that’s actually on your side - we’d love to have you along for the ride.

Join us

We’re sharing progress as we go. If you want early updates or to hear about the first beta units, drop your email. Sit straighter, feel better - and stay private while you do it.