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The Aussie company with world-first wearable tech preventing back pain in the workplace [VIDEO]

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A smart t-shirt that collects posture data and alerts the wearer when they are not sitting correctly could help Australian employers monitor their workers with innovative wearables technology that also helps correct posture and reduce the billions lost each year in productivity as a result of back pain issues.

“Australia has an out of control back pain problem that is costing employers billions, ruining the lives of employees, and is only set to get worse with our mobile phone addictions,” says CEO & Founder William Choi of Australian company Posture360. “According to Monash University, $4.8bn is spent on management of lower back pain each year, it reduces our GDP by $3.2bn per-annum and is the most common condition keeping older Australians aged 45 – 64 out of the workforce. Furthermore, 50% of Australians suffered from lower back pain in the last month.

“Employers can monitor their workers with garments like Posture360’s PostureWear, preventing workers from sliding into further pain as they become more aware of their daily postural habits and patterns. The garments not only gently remind workers to sit correctly, they also can relay data to employers of workers who may be at risk of developing back problems in the future so preventative measures can be taken. Furthermore, the form fitting stretch fabric is designed to help assist the posture of the worker.

“Saving the company money is one thing, but preventing your workers from a lifetime of back pain is legacy any business owner or CEO should strive for. Posture360 is a world first innovation where the technology has been ‘baked’ in to the t shirt, which then pairs seamlessly to your smart phone to deliver alerts and useful data.”

What is the story behind Posture360?

With offices in Seoul and Melbourne, the Australian-based Posture360 has declared war on back pain with its innovative technology. A back pain sufferer himself, William Choi has been in the posture business for almost a decade and saw a gap in the market. “We’ve sold millions of corrective devices throughout the world and with the advance of technology, I was keen to build a product that combined both. Once we hit on T-Shirts, Posture360 was born.”

PostureWear connects to a smartphone app so you can improve your posture in real-time. Bells and whistles include haptic feedback and Active Posture Technology, which naturally activates rounded shoulders back into alignment. Michael Simonetti, marketer and engineer who has joined the team as CMO says “It is the simplicity of this tech people will love; you wear it, it works”. PostureWear with PostureSense technology will retail at around $150 and has been designed for everyday use, worn as a sports or fashion garment, or easily under work attire.

PostureWear is set to play a role in healthcare too. Discussions with physiotherapists and chiropractors have shown a strong interest allowing practitioners track spine data in the critical times between patient visits. Chiropractor and certified postural neurologist of The American Posture Institute Dr. Barry Kluner reiterates the need for everyone to take a more active role “Our posture is now failing faster than the speed of advancing technologies. Bad posture isn’t always your fault. Not doing something about it is”.

Choi is spearheading the global launch, “Australia is the gateway between Asia and North America for health and wellness, and the base where we will drive global growth”. Early investors like Tim Chapman from Henslow based in Melbourne sees the product as groundbreaking “After using the smart shirt myself, my posture improved and really enjoyed using the app. The category as open as it is, the opportunity in front of this company is enormous”.

Already in discussions with global retailers, insurance, and professional athletes, Posture360 is launching a limited equity crowdfunding campaign to build a community of ambassadors that will help launch PostureWear into the market. To buy into the company and be one of the first to get PostureWear on your back, visit https://www.birchal.com/company/posture360