Review: LUMOback

Hello, my name is Michael and I have lousy posture. I have been trying (poorly) to adjust it for ages. Not only does my problem supply me with generous helpings of lower back pain, it makes me look schlumpy. In fact, most of us who sit behind a computer all day tend to slouch all the time, even when we're not working. And we still wonder where the back and neck pain is coming from.

It gently vibrates when you slouch, nagging you to correct your posture. It works whether you're seated, standing, or walking.I have tried numerous "solutions," but think I have found one that finally improves my posture. It's called LUMOback, and it's nothing more than a wafer-thin sensor attached to a belt you wear around your waist. It gently vibrates when you slouch, nagging you to correct your posture. It works whether you're seated, standing, or walking.

The $150 assembly connects via low-energy Bluetooth to an iPhone 4S or 5, or an iPad 3 or later. You calibrate the LUMOback belt through the iOS app. Then, it monitors your posture and gives you real-time feedback in the app, using cute stick figure avatars to show your back’s current position. And seeing just how you hold yourself, even through a stick figure illustration, is a major wake-up call.

The initial calibration exercise has you purposefully slouch as you usually do, and then correct yourself by sitting and standing tall. From there, the LUMOback learns your body shape and becomes your personal, proactive posture policeman – nagging you with a buzz when you start to slouch, even if the sensor chip is not connected to your iOS device.

Created by three Stanford graduates, LUMOback was another Kickstarter success, funded by a crowdsourced parcel of people who obviously recognized that poor posture was a health epidemic due to its associated back pain. While plenty of scientific research demonstrates the correlation between poor posture and spinal pain, the question is: can a device like LUMOback remedy this trend?

I wore the LUMOback band for over a week, and was regularly subjected to its nudge-in-the-back, vibrating reminders. In the beginning, I felt like one of Harry Harlow's rats getting periodic electrical stings. But by day three, I found those nudges were zapping my back less often. But I was on the initial training level – on the intermediate and advanced levels, the vibrating reminders come more often.

Using the device without connecting it to my iPhone, the battery on the band lasts about four days without a recharge. A recharge only takes about 90 minutes. It would be useful if I could see the battery level on the device, and it would also be useful to have an actual power button. The company says the next versions of the product should improve these issues.

By day ten, I was on the advanced level and I was sitting at my desk upright. I have to stay straight, because otherwise I know I'd be getting the annoying buzz every minute. So as long as I'm wearing it, I'm conscious of the buzzing that awaits, so I stay upright. Sure, when I take the band off, I find I still slouch – but I actually catch myself doing it now, and I snap back up.

Hello, my name is Michael and I am a sloucher in recovery.

WIRED Thin waistband monitors and corrects poor posture by emitting nagging vibrations when you slouch. Connects via Bluetooth to iOS devices to calibrate and train your posture positions. Visual feedback is valuable. Works when you're sitting, standing, or walking.

TIRED No power switch, so battery depletes more quickly. No visual display of remaining battery life.