Posturr: Mac App That Blurs Your Screen When You Slouch
Posturr: The Open‑Source macOS App That Blurs Your Screen When You Slouch
Long hours at the computer can turn a good posture into slouch after slouch. Posturr is a free, privacy‑focused macOS utility that quietly watches your body with the built‑in camera, uses Apple’s Vision framework to detect when you are slouching, and then gradually blurs your display until you stand up straighter.
Why Posturr Exists
- Ergonomic support for developers, writers, and anyone who sits a lot – a subtle visual reminder that is harder to ignore than a pop‑up.
- Fully local – all video processing happens on‑device; no images leave your Mac.
- Open source – built with Swift and Swift Package Manager; anyone can fork, modify, or extend it.
- Simple install – Homebrew tap or direct DMG download.
Key Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Real‑time posture detection | Uses the Vision framework’s body pose and face tracking; measures distance between the nose and shoulders. |
| Progressive blur | Starts with a subtle blur and increases proportionally to how far you are from the “straight” posture baseline. |
| Menu‑bar controls | Quick access to status, enable/disable, calibration, settings, and quit. |
| Multi‑display support | Works seamlessly across all connected monitors. |
| Optional Dock visibility | Show Posturr in the Dock and Cmd+Tab switcher if you wish. |
| No internet needed | Runs offline, with no network connections. |
| Light‑weight | Runs as a background process with minimal CPU and memory usage. |
Installing Posturr
With Homebrew (recommended)
brew tap tldev/tap
brew install --cask posturr
Manual download
- Visit the Releases page.
- Download the latest
Posturr‑vX.X.X.dmg. - Drag
Posturr.appto your Applications folder. - Launch the app – you’ll be prompted for camera access.
Using Posturr
- Launch – After installation, a person icon appears in the menu bar.
- Enable monitoring – Click the icon, then toggle Enabled on.
- Calibrate – When prompted, sit straight, then click Recalibrate to set your baseline.
- Observe – If you start slouching, the screen will blur gradually.
- Undo – Stand up straight again, and the blur clears instantly.
Click the menu icon for Settings to tweak: - Sensitivity – Low to Very High. - Dead‑Zone – Tolerance before blur activates. - Blur when away – Blur the display when the camera can’t see you. - Show in dock – Toggle visibility in the Dock. - Compatibility – Switch to NSVisualEffectView if the native blur isn’t working on your system.
Building from Source
git clone https://github.com/tldev/posturr.git
cd posturr
./build.sh # Standard build
./build.sh --release # Creates Posturr.zip for release
build/Posturr.app.
Contribution Guidelines
Contributions are welcome! The repository follows a standard pull‑request workflow. Check the CONTRIBUTING.md file for details, or use the issues tab to discuss feature ideas or bug reports.
Privacy & Security
- Local processing – All video frames are processed within the app; no data is uploaded or stored.
- Open source code – Anyone can audit the code for privacy assurances.
- MIT license – Free to use, modify, and distribute.
The Tech Stack
- Swift – Modern language with full Xcode/SwiftPM support.
- Vision – Apple’s framework for body pose and face detection.
- CoreGraphics / NSVisualEffectView – For the blur overlay.
- macOS 13+ – Minimum required OS version.
Why This Matters
Ergonomic habits are hard to maintain, especially when deep in code or content. Posturr turns the ubiquitous camera into a gentle coach, nudging you toward better posture without intrusive warnings or alerts. By providing a free, open‑source solution, Posturr encourages a healthier computing experience across the developer community.
Next Steps
- Try it out now and calibrate to your own posture.
- Share your feedback or contribute a new feature, like an optional audio cue.
- If you’re a developer, fork the repo, experiment with the Vision pipeline, or add support for iOS if you find a creative use case.
FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Does the app use the internet? | No. All processing is local, and no data is sent anywhere. |
| Can I install it on older macOS versions? | Minimum supported OS is macOS 13.0 Ventura. |
| Why does the app blur my screen? | The blur is a visual reminder – you can switch it off in Settings if you prefer a different cue. |
| Is the source free to modify? | Yes, under the MIT license – feel free to cherry‑pick or rebrand. |
Enjoy a healthier, posture‑friendly workflow with Posturr – your friendly Mac sidekick for better ergonomics!