In 2000, Purdue University researchers tested a sensing chair on 30 people, achieving 96% posture accuracy. Years later, the project still stands as an early example of pressure-sensing technology envisioned for smarter furniture and cars

Understanding how people sit can provide useful information regarding posture, comfort, and the way humans interact with furniture and machines. In 2000, researchers at Purdue University explored that idea by modifying an office chair with pressure sensors and software capable of finding various sitting positions.

The experiment involved 30 people and achieved an overall accuracy of 96 percent in recognizing whether participants were slouching, leaning in various directions, crossing their legs, or sitting upright. The work provided an early illustration of how pressure-sensing technology could be utilized to interpret human posture.