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A macOS app that blurs your screen when you slouch

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Re: A macOS app that blurs your screen when you slouch

#161

Post by Fnoord »

jaccola wrote: post #124
avalys wrote: post #44

You can measure my productivity by how slouched I am. Sitting up straight at my desk, chair locked, perfect posture? I’m doing nothing, maybe looking through System Preferences to change the system highlight color. Sliding down in my chair like jelly, with my shoulders where my butt should be and my head resting on the lumbar support? I’m building the next iPhone and it’ll be done by 2 AM.

Funny, I’m the same. I also like taking walks to think but I’ve found that I must have my head pointing almost directly down (I.e. looking at my feet). It’s also how I stand thinking in the shower, with the warm water hitting my angled neck. Maybe something beneficial about that position of the neck, or maybe just habit! I will also have conversations in my head during my walk, I’ve done this my whole life and I’m no…

Sing it!

As for the software. I would not want a camera on 24/7 (on any device, a compromise being my doorbell, which isn't cloud connected). It'd defeat the small LED which informs you it is on (since it is always-on), and if the machine is compromised this is a method to receive personal data.

Actually, I'd prefer a hardware killswitch on things like camera and microphone.

Re: A macOS app that blurs your screen when you slouch

#162

Post by tjohnell »

altern8 wrote: post #92

I can't seem to open it. It keeps saying "Apple could not verify “Posturr.app” is free of malware that may harm your Mac or compromise your privacy.". I tried opening by right-cliking on the app file, holding option, etc. I'm on Sequoia 15.7.3 (24G419)

This should no longer be a problem. I am notarizing the app!

Re: A macOS app that blurs your screen when you slouch

#163

Post by brikym »

avalys wrote: post #44

You can measure my productivity by how slouched I am. Sitting up straight at my desk, chair locked, perfect posture? I’m doing nothing, maybe looking through System Preferences to change the system highlight color. Sliding down in my chair like jelly, with my shoulders where my butt should be and my head resting on the lumbar support? I’m building the next iPhone and it’ll be done by 2 AM.

I've found something similar. I can measure my stress by how many coffee mugs are on my desk.

Re: A macOS app that blurs your screen when you slouch

#164

Post by mannanj »

duckruu wrote: post #36
jasonjmcghee wrote: post #21

I'm not sure how you can use a laptop with good posture. An external monitor at the right height seems like a necessity. I'm also optimistic about monitors in the form of glasses- even less effort needed to set yourself up for perfect posture. But the sweet spot problem is still very much a thing from what I've seen- can't wait until it's normal for them to have eye tracking, foveated rendering and streaming, and be…

My Apple Vision Pro has all that, and it’s perfect for posture when using a MacBook.

Do you wonder about the wifi impact so close to your head?

Re: A macOS app that blurs your screen when you slouch

#165

Post by paulmooreparks »

avalys wrote: post #44

You can measure my productivity by how slouched I am. Sitting up straight at my desk, chair locked, perfect posture? I’m doing nothing, maybe looking through System Preferences to change the system highlight color. Sliding down in my chair like jelly, with my shoulders where my butt should be and my head resting on the lumbar support? I’m building the next iPhone and it’ll be done by 2 AM.

Exactly what I came here to say. I've been programming for 40 years, 35 professionally, and I didn't find my ergonomic, no-pain, no-RSI happy place until I stopped following advice to sit up straight. I set my chair with just enough resistance, set the head rest where it puts my eyeline directly on my monitors, which are set considerably higher than average and about a metre from my head. I can work for hours like this now, with no pain.

I could never use an app like this. Maybe I should write one that blurs the screen when I don't slouch.

Re: A macOS app that blurs your screen when you slouch

#166

Post by PlatoIsADisease »

oarfish wrote: post #138

I guess it's technically cool, but one should be aware that there is no such thing as "good posture" or no accepted definition that lends itself to good science. slouching isnt bad, remaining in the same posture for a long time is, or at least it can lead to discomfort. people that sit up straight all the time still get back pain. i slouch all the time and i don't. The popular attachment to specific configurationa of…

Given I can be 2 inches taller if I stand up perfect. That's the one I want.

How to achieve it? Not sure. Years of physical therapy and I know the position, but:

>I can't remember to do it.

>I feel my body is tight and pulls me back, so I'm constantly fighting it.

>It hurts. Both tiring, and I feel pains in other parts of my back

Re: A macOS app that blurs your screen when you slouch

#167

Post by aylmao »

oarfish wrote: post #138

I guess it's technically cool, but one should be aware that there is no such thing as "good posture" or no accepted definition that lends itself to good science. slouching isnt bad, remaining in the same posture for a long time is, or at least it can lead to discomfort. people that sit up straight all the time still get back pain. i slouch all the time and i don't. The popular attachment to specific configurationa of…

Another thing to note: slouching and back pain tend to have more to do with back strength than people realize.

I have suffered back discomfort and pain in periods I haven’t gone to the gym for long enough to lose back muscle.

Re: A macOS app that blurs your screen when you slouch

#168

Post by codersfocus »

rdslw wrote: post #62

Congrats on the app. I'm seeing that "great-ai-unlock" is happening. I see in last month a lot of new software being codeveloped with claude/codex/gemini/you-name it. Before, it was too costly to do sth like the Posture app: here, you would have to know Swift and apple apis to write such tool. Would you be C# (very good) programmer with free weekend, and an idea: no cookie for ya. These days, due to "great-ai-unlock"…

What a stupid thing to call a paradox. When infrastructure is better, you'd expect it to be used more.

Re: A macOS app that blurs your screen when you slouch

#169

Post by fleebee »

rdslw wrote: post #62

Congrats on the app. I'm seeing that "great-ai-unlock" is happening. I see in last month a lot of new software being codeveloped with claude/codex/gemini/you-name it. Before, it was too costly to do sth like the Posture app: here, you would have to know Swift and apple apis to write such tool. Would you be C# (very good) programmer with free weekend, and an idea: no cookie for ya. These days, due to "great-ai-unlock"…

I don't see how the Jevons paradox would apply here. Code being cheaper and faster to produce obviously causes the demand for apps such as this one to grow. That's just supply and demand.

An example of where I think the paradox would apply might be one where LLMs made software engineers more efficient yet the demand for SWEs would grow.

Re: A macOS app that blurs your screen when you slouch

#170

Post by whompyjaw »

jaccola wrote: post #124
avalys wrote: post #44

You can measure my productivity by how slouched I am. Sitting up straight at my desk, chair locked, perfect posture? I’m doing nothing, maybe looking through System Preferences to change the system highlight color. Sliding down in my chair like jelly, with my shoulders where my butt should be and my head resting on the lumbar support? I’m building the next iPhone and it’ll be done by 2 AM.

Funny, I’m the same. I also like taking walks to think but I’ve found that I must have my head pointing almost directly down (I.e. looking at my feet). It’s also how I stand thinking in the shower, with the warm water hitting my angled neck. Maybe something beneficial about that position of the neck, or maybe just habit! I will also have conversations in my head during my walk, I’ve done this my whole life and I’m no…

Uhhh… are you me? No other comment has hit more home. Nice. Mayne there’s something about these physical practices helping mental abilities.
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