Tong Lo
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AiDLab
2023-present
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-> Spine health
-> Inclusive Design
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-> Spine health
Use of Artificial Intelligence to improve physical well-being.
AiDLab is a research collaboration between Hong Kong Polytechnical University and the Royal College of Art that explores the potential uses of AI in Design. This project looks at how AI can be leveraged to design inclusive digital health interventions that address preventable posture related back pain.
🔗 AiDLab
🔗 HHCD
Overview
Incorrect posture can lead to back pain that affects people of all ages. As we continue to adopt new modes of working (home, remote and hybrid), this presents challenges for workers to manage their back health. This research aims to develop a personalised health intervention through inclusive design research and innovation in the AI space to help people whilst working.
Research Insights
Back pain can happen regardless of age or ability. We may think that it is only related to the spine, but many other factors play a role. Our experience of back pain is unique. Not only do our bodies have different geometries and personal health differences, how we live is individual too. When working, back pain is typically influenced by the environment, workspace set up, and posture. Alongside this, people establish posture behaviours over time as a result of routines. All these factors could have an effect on back health.
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Some people have spines that are more skewed or curved than others—all perfectly natural—so when it comes to giving posture advice, one size doesn’t fit all.
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We now work in a range of different spaces, not just the office. Cafés, homes, bedrooms and bathrooms all came up in our research. Depending on location and setup, some postures may be better than others. It’s not just about where you sit, how you sit, but also how long you sit—meaning sometimes, positions we’ve traditionally understood as detrimental can actually be positive in the right short doses.
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Depending on your individual needs and motivations, you may want different strategies to map and manage your back pain. So, a personal approach towards back health with tailored solutions across work, life, wellbeing and spine is key to the digital intervention we have created.
Some people have spines that are more skewed or curved than others—all perfectly natural—so when it comes to giving posture advice, one size doesn’t fit all.
We now work in a range of different spaces, not just the office. Cafés, homes, bedrooms and bathrooms all came up in our research. Depending on location and setup, some postures may be better than others. It’s not just about where you sit, how you sit, but also how long you sit—meaning sometimes, positions we’ve traditionally understood as detrimental can actually be positive in the right short doses.
Depending on your individual needs and motivations, you may want different strategies to map and manage your back pain. So, a personal approach towards back health with tailored solutions across work, life, wellbeing and spine is key to the digital intervention we have created.
Methodologies
Expert Interviews ︎︎︎
The qualitative research took advantage of each expert’s specialised knowledge within their field, which all come together to form a holistic view of back health. A divergent approach was adopted at this stage to uncover different philosophies, strategies, attitudes, and understanding of posture-related back health from each perspective.
I engaged with chiropractors, back specialists, ergonomics and workplace well-being advisors. In addition, other experts were included from more diverse fields, such as yoga instructors, fitness specialists, and even a piano teacher. The aim was to gain insights from experts who specialise in explaining body positions.
User Interviews ︎︎︎
These two cohorts were chosen as Lead Users, which are ‘people who make greater demands on a product, system, service or environment and therefore challenge it in ways beyond that of the average, mainstream users’. The idea is to aim for variety and contrast by involving workers with age at extreme ends of the spectrum and exploring the wider range of needs.
Our research with people experiencing back pain is with two cohorts - those under 30 and over 60 years of age. The idea is to aim for variety and contrast by involving workers with age at extreme ends of the spectrum and explore a wider range of needs.
Bespoke conversational tool ︎︎︎
The tool aimed to allow participants to be objective about their experiences. The tool starts by mapping key moments in their experience of back pain in the past, present and future. This timeline allows us to understand where they were, what they’ve tried, what was going on in their life, and how they felt. Once all the information was mapped out it was possible to ask more insightful questions. As a result, we could visualise the individual’s journey of back pain and find out a great depth of information.
Observations ︎︎︎
The observations we have conducted include Workplace observations (work locations and workstation set-ups) and posture observations (Habitual posture behaviours and posture in different locations). The collected photographs inform the research team’s understanding of the realities of behaviours, habits, postures, environments and more
Workshop
Exhibition
Disclaimer
This is an ongoing Inclusive Design Research project. Most of my work is currently confidential. I have finished leading the inclusive design research stage and I am currently responsible for desinging wireframes and interactive prototype for the digital intervention.