SNOWBERRY
Train Better | Ski Better
Snowberry
Snowberry is a ski posture training system. When skiing, a device mounted on the chest and skis measure the skier’s posture. An LED light attached to the skier’s glove provides real-time feedback signaling incorrect posture and gently encourages the skier to correct their stance. The Snowberry mobile app records sensor data and displays the skier’s performance in a simple interface.
The Snowberry Story
Snowberry was a personal study and exploration project. Efforts were focused on human interaction and ergonomics.
DISCOVER
Brainstorm
Initial brainstorms, a flurry of post-it note scribbles and doodle pages, kick-started this senior design project. The project started with no initial project brief or description. I chose to focus on designing a device that improves performance.
3D Print Bone Repair
3D CT Scan Studies
Personas: Orthopedic surgeons
Purpose: Improve accuracy of bone treatments & healing outcomes, significantly decrease procedure time
Fusion Ski Boot
Ergonomic Study for Ankle Fusions
Personas: Ski athletes and hobbyists, Skiiers with ankle fusions
Purpose: Current ski boots are difficult to put on, better ergonomics and usability for all users
Ski Boot Sensor Insert
Balance Training Study
Personas: Pro and amateur skiers interested in learning and improving technique, physical therapists
Purpose: Provides new set of data & feedback for ski training, visualizes balance and performance
Smart Wrestling Gloves
Blood Oxygen Level Reading Gloves
Personas: Wrestlers, scuba divers, any low oxygen sport or occupation
Purpose: Prevent blackouts & brain damage, coaches & guides can monitor the user’s oxygen health status
Helmet Padding System
Study Head Dimensioning System for Sizing Helmets
Personas: Pro & amateur hockey players, any helmet sports player
Purpose: Dimensioning system based on specific head measurements, improve face mask to be light and nonobstructive
Custom Ice Skates
Foot Form Study
Personas: Pro & amateur hockey players, any sport that requires rigid protective shoes
Purpose: Custom skate exoskeleton for broken bone prevention, custom padding for stability and comfort
Custom Cycling Shoes
Foot Form Study
Personas: Pro & amateur cyclists
Purpose: Custom rigid fit to maximize transfer of power to pedal, study foot measurement points to determine ergonomic fit
Force Sensing Mouth Guard
Concussion Detection
Personas: Pro & amateur boxers, any non-helmet sports player, coaches, sports medicine professionals
Purpose: Measures force and trauma from blows to the head, allows safer practices and better medical attention
Competitive Swimming Snorkel
Personas: Pro & amateur competitive swimmers, leisurely snorkelers
Purpose: Swimmers take time away from stroking to breath every 1 to 3 strokes, swimmers will be able to focus on stroke technique without turning to breath
Go Pro Cover
Protective Cover for Helmets
Personas: Helmet sport athletes & amateurs
Purpose: Protects helmet mounted cameras, makes camera mount more visually appealing
Chosen Concept
The chosen topic is ski performance training. Learning to “lean down the mountain” to maintain balance and control while skiing is challenging for some people. It is difficult to understand mistakes when you cannot evaluate your performance in real-time third-person view. The project goal is to find a solution that would assist skiers in identifying their posture and balance problems.
Market Research
DEFINE
Problems
Proper ski posture maintains balance, control, and stability. A skier with poor posture has difficulty controlling their direction and turns. They also have increased chances of falling. Skiing “in the back seat,” with improper posture, can be dangerous for both the skier and people around them.
Zero Feedback
Stat Gaps
Ergonomics
Ski ergonomics explored through interviews with a former ski patrol professional, studying ski footage, as well as capturing 3D scans of a properly postured skier in full body ski gear.
Product Design
Develop a system that measures posture while skiing. Ski gear and key posture points were taken under consideration when determining where sensors and indicators might be placed.
Interface Design
Develop an app interface that intakes live feedback from the sensor device and displays trail and performance summaries as well as detailed performance breakdowns for the skier to review.
SNOWBERRY
Train Better | Ski Better
Snowberry is a posture training system for skiers. While skiing, the skier’s center of gravity should lean down the mountain. For some people, leaning down a mountain can be challenging. Snowberry measures the angle of the torso and provides live feedback. LED lights on the ski glove communicate the skier’s posture status. The Snowberry app records user performance on each ski run and calculates daily statistics.