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What is the purpose of wearable technology if not to improve our lives in a certain way? And why would you dig deep into your pockets if your high-tech clothing doesn’t do much more than make you look good?
And that leads to this rather random question: What if you could get a back massage while you are out and about and it doesn’t involve visiting a therapist or a masseuse?
Well, thanks to a technology start-up company in Singapore, massage on-the-go isn’t as random as it sounds.
Casual in AiraWear #airawear #massage …
Tware has created a device which is essentially a “mobile massage suite” that helps relax your tired back muscles while you’re out and about.
Called AiraWear, the massage hoodie was demoed at CES a few months ago and the product is now live on Kickstarter, already raking in over $39,000 (£27,000) of its $75,000 (£52,000) target.
So the question is: How does it work?
Aira hoodie uses air pressure to produce the sensation of a massage. While the jacket looks like a regular hoodie on the outside, there’s a vest hiding inside the garment containing six inflatable pads with stiffened foam points positioned to coincide with pressure points around the back.
Not only does the hoodie give you a back massage when you need it, it also corrects bad posture by constantly analysing your back position throughout the day using built-in smart sensors and relaying all data through its app on your phone.
So when it senses poor posture, the garment will gently push down and massage the right part of your back to ease you back into the correct position.
A peek into how Aira looks like underneath the …
And because of its posture-correcting features, the massage effect is distinctly stronger when sitting in a chair.
Other features include personalising massages by selecting programmes based on intensity, duration and pain points. And if you are looking for a quick nap, there’s also a sleep option that’s more relaxing and gentle.
“AiraWear works by using specially-designed air pillows to apply pressure on your back, which produces an acupressure and kneading sensation,” AiraWear’s campaign states.
AiraWear – World’s 1st Massaging Hoodie… – AiraWear – World’s 1st Massaging Hoodie | Facebook
“Our smartphone app, connected via Bluetooth, has various massage programmes to relieve the muscle tensions affecting different muscle groups on the back.”
Of course, there’s a chance that wearing the hoodie will make you look like you have lots of lumps on your back, but what can we say, that’s the trade-off for having access to instant massages.
The current prototype lasts for three hours if you are using the jacket continuously and the battery takes about two hours to charge from flat.
Pledges on Kickstarter start at $99 (£69).
