The Darma Smart Cushion is designed to help you sit smarter. Sitting is the new smoking, and the Darma Smart Cushion wants to make sure you stay healthy. Here’s our review.
What is the Darma Smart Cushion?
The Darma Smart Cushion, also known simply as Darma, is a smart device that monitors your posture, sitting habits, and stress level, then coaches you on how to sit better.
Darma consists of a cushion with sensors. That cushion pairs with the Darma app. You get alerts through the app that monitor your sitting throughout the day.
If Darma notices you’ve been sitting for a while, for example, then you might get an alert telling you to start moving around.
Or, if Darma detects that you’ve been sitting with poor posture for a while, then you might be told to sit up straighter.
You’ve probably heard that sitting is the new smoking for our generation. Doctors have compared the health problems of sitting for long periods of time with the health problems linked to smoking. The more you sit, the higher your risk of obesity and other serious health problems.
Obviously, those with desk jobs don’t really have the option to stand up all day. Fortunately, research shows that you don’t need to stand all day to avoid the health problems of sitting.
Instead, just getting up to move around every 20 minutes or so can significantly reduce sitting-related health risks.
Benefits of Darma
Darma has sensors in the cushion. These sensors track your positioning and weight distribution on the cushion. Then, Darma uses that information to provide three core features:
- Maintain an Upright Posture: Darma tracks your posture, then suggests stretching exercises that compensate for the strain you’re putting on your body.
- Adopt Healthy Sitting Habits: Darma records your sitting time, then alerts you when it’s time to stand up.
- Manage Your Stress: Darma monitors your heartbeat and respiration rate, then notifies you when your stress levels are too high.
How Does Darma Work?
Darma has sensors embedded in the cushion. These sensors track four main things, including your posture, sitting time, heart beat, and respiration rate. These non-invasive sensors provide the data needed to offer all of the benefits listed above.
After the sensors collect this data, it’s run through a personalized coaching system. This coaching system delivers stand-up reminders, posture advice, tailored stretching routines, and even breathing exercises based on your particular behavior and habits.
All of this information is transmitted through the iPhone or Android app.
One of the nice things about Darma is that you don’t need to wear it on your body. It’s non-invasive monitoring that just requires you to do what you always do: sit on your chair.
If you’re the type of person who doesn’t like to have a wearable device on your wrist or finger, then Darma is a good alternative.
The cushion is also thin and flexible enough to be used on more than just your office chair. Some people place it on their couch or bed, for example.
The fiber optic sensors are just 2mm thick, so they have a smaller form factor than traditional pressure sensors.
The fact that Darma uses fiber optic sensors is important for accuracy, as well: the company claims to detect heartbeat “as accurately as a medical device” while also measuring posture in absolute terms – not relative terms (which is how other pressure sensor systems work).
In a comparison photo, they show that their sensor provides almost identical accuracy to an ECG test.
Darma Pricing
Darma Pro, which is the main Darma product, is priced at $199.
That’s the only product currently listed on the official website. However, you can find the cheaper Darma Cushion (non-pro version) still listed on Amazon for $179.
The app is free to download for iOS or Android. You can connect to Darma via Bluetooth. The device lasts up to 15 days when fully charged.
Darma Tech Specs
- Size: 17.3 x 17.3 x 2.3 inches
- Padding: Custom-made multi-layer premium memory foam
- Sensors: 2mm thin fiber optic sensors
- Battery: Lithium ion battery (lasts 80 to 90 hours of sitting time per charge, or about 2 weeks)
- Connectivity: Bluetooth LE / USB mini port
- Mobile Support: iOS and Android
- Weight: 3.3 pounds
Darma Reviews: What Do Customers Have to Say About It?
Darma is a relatively new product, so there aren’t many reviews available online. Various tech blogs have reviewed Darma, and there are a handful of reviews on Amazon.
Engadget, in their review, mentioned that they were “surprised how sensitive it is, so much so that just a tiny shift in our seats caused a reaction”.
They also praised the cushion’s ability to record heart rate and respiratory patterns in real time.
Meanwhile, Darma has an average rating of 3.9 stars out of 5 on Amazon (although there are only 13 customer reviews so far). Here are some of the pros and cons Amazon reviewers have mentioned:
Pros
- The size of the cushion is good, and it fits most chairs and people quite easily
- Cushion automatically detects when your phone is near, then automatically connects
- Cushion buzzes when it wants you to stand and stretch
- Leaning notifications to let you know when you’re leaning to the right, left, forward, or back
- Stress level and breathing tracking throughout the day is convenient, as you can see what times of the day cause more stress
- Nags you throughout the day to make you a healthier person
Cons
- One customer reported connectivity problems, particularly with Bluetooth
- Sometimes the cushion doesn’t perfectly line up with the chair, so it could sit a little far back on your thighs
- Power cord is a bit short
Who Makes Darma?
The Darma Smart Cushion is made by a company named Darma, Inc.
The world first heard about Darma back in 2014, when the cushion launched on Kickstarter. The company raised over $220,000, smashing through its $40,000 goal.
The company is named after Bodhidharma, the father of Zen and meditation. In the company’s own words, their goal “is to bring wisdom to everyday sitting”.
CEO Dr. Junhao Hu was motivated to create Darma after experiencing back pain first hand. As an engineering student, long nights sitting at school led to pain across his body. He brought together a team of engineers and other professionals to bring Darma to life.
Dr. Hu, by the way, earned his PhD in Optical Communication and Sensor Technology from the National University of Singapore. He created Darma as part of the HAXLR8R accelerator program.
You can get in touch with Darma, Inc. by email at [email protected]. The company is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.
Darma Smart Cushion Review Summary
Darma is a unique smart cushion designed to be used with office chairs, couches, beds, and other places you sit.
The cushion has special sensors inside that track your heart rate, breathing patterns, and posture in a highly-accurate, non-invasive way.
Darma will alert you through the app when it wants you to sit up, stretch, move around, or lean in a different way.
If you sit for long periods of time at work or home, then you already know that sitting isn’t good for your health. With devices like Darma, you can make sure sitting isn’t ruining your health.
