Deep Care: Why did you decide to buy Isa after the free 6-week use by your employer?

Bettina Brenneis: I've tried to be more active before but I find that setting my mobile phone to certain times to get more exercise hasn't had the desired effect for me. I was able to test Isa for 6 weeks and realised that I was being nudged to do something.

I think the device is really great and would like employers to distribute it across the board! I am convinced that it will help many people. For example, when they see on Isa how long they haven't moved for, they realise: "Yes, great, I should get up again now."

Deep Care: What was your motivation to use Isa for 6 weeks free of charge through your employer and later even rent it privately for a further 12 months?

Bettina Brenneis: I now work from home more often than I used to and I used to have to walk longer distances in the office and was on the move more. As I said, I had already tried to set a timer on my mobile phone to get me moving, but that didn't work so well. When I saw the offer, I thought it was a great idea and gave it a try.

Deep Care: Why didn't a simple timer on your mobile phone work for you?

Bettina Brenneis: For example, I also have a table that can be raised and I can't set a separate timer for it. Somehow I just find it appealing to have Isa right in front of me and to be reminded again and again, but also that there are exercises for many different areas of the body. I find this so positive that I have now rented it for a year.

Deep Care: Was that (more exercise) then your main need or the main benefit of using Isa?

Bettina Brenneis: Exactly, that you're simply moving more and that you might be better able to convince that inner bastard by her (Isa) saying, for example: "How about you work standing up for a bit?"

Deep Care: What is the context like at work? Do you often have a lot of stress or a lot to do, and does this have a negative impact on your Isa usage?

Bettina Brenneis: I definitely have too much to do at the moment, which is why I find Isa so helpful. In stressful times I tend to not move even more and then Isa helps me with the reminders to move more regularly. When you have less time pressure, I think your attitude is better and you move more on your own than when you have too much work.

Deep Care: What was your first experience with Isa like?

Ines Ritter: There was a co-operation in our company with our health service and a call to register if you would like to test Isa for 6 weeks free of charge and without obligation. I found that interesting, tried it out and really liked it. After the 6 weeks, I really thought about whether I should send it back or keep it. In the end, I decided to send it back. My colleague received an Isa - I think two to three weeks later - and I noticed from his reactions that I sit worse without it, don't stand up, don't move and then realise that I really do behave differently. I then decided to take out a subscription and continue using it. And yes, now the Isa is always next to me. I'm really interested in sitting "properly" and I know that if nobody reminds me, my posture will get worse.

Deep Care: How regularly do you use your Isa?

Ines Ritter: There are always phases when I realise that I'm ignoring the tips - especially the exercises, for example when there's a lot going on at work. But then there are also phases with increased neck pain or when I have the feeling that I need to do more. Then I pay more attention to Isa, don't ignore any cues and notice the difference. So there are ripples, but I always pull myself together and say "you know exactly that you'll feel better if you do something". In those moments, Isa is simply a great helper. I can't manage to keep at it on my own. I always need a nudge and she does that wonderfully.

Deep Care: What do you particularly like about Isa?

Ines Ritter: I like the fact that the exercises only take a minute or two. You can do them really well, for example during a phone call. One minute is over so quickly and yet you've got your musculoskeletal system going again without just sitting and doing nothing; I think that's really good.

Deep Care: What was your original motivation for using Isa through your employer?

Ines Ritter: Well, you know it's good to do more, but actually doing it is something else. I'm aware that I still don't get enough exercise. For example, I should go for a walk in the evening, but I don't always manage that. My thought was that if I can do some of this better while I'm still working at my desk, which is a real benefit.

Deep Care: How long have you been using your Isa, are you using it less now?

Ines Ritter: I think it's been a little over half a year at the moment. I have the feeling that something has been lost in the exercises, at least at the moment. But that could also be due to a personal wave. For example, when things get really stressful again, I realise that I need to take breaks and that they do me good. So in a stressful moment, I take a quick breath and say: I'm going to do something different.

Deep Care: Have you noticed any positive changes over the period of use?

Ines Ritter: I actually believe that the neck pain has become less when I do the exercises regularly. I sit better - I get fewer reminders to "sit down properly". Sitting more consciously has already had an effect.

Deep Care: Are there things about Isa that you don't like?

Ines Ritter: Well, that's whinging on a high level, but if you could set the water units individually, that would be helpful. Sometimes I have a rather large glass and then I always have to think briefly about what I have entered or still need to enter in Isa.

Deep Care: Do you frequently take part in health programmes at your company?

Ines Ritter: It's not that often that I take part in person. I took part in a home check-up once, but I tend not to take up invitations to go for a walk at the weekend, for example.

Deep Care: What decides whether you take part in an offer - the personal benefit or the low threshold?

Ines Ritter: Yes, when you ask questions like that, the first step is actually the low threshold and then comes what the added value is. It makes a big difference if it's easy to take advantage of.

Deep Care: Would you recommend Isa?

Ines Ritter: I would definitely recommend Isa to others because I think it's great support and because I realise that I'm getting something out of it. That's why I've already told a few people that I have her. I've also told friends and acquaintances that I have a little support assistant that helps me to overcome my inner bastard.

Deep Care: What was your first experience with Isa like?

Nicole Schall: I received an email from our health management team that they would like to pilot Isa, and because it sounded interesting, I agreed to try it out for a month. I was very enthusiastic about it because I realised that I was paying more attention to my health.

Deep Care: How long have you been using Isa and do you tend to use it in the office or from home?

Nicole Schall: I got the device in October (2023). I've been using it ever since and am satisfied. In November, I extended the usage time for private use and was able to put my Christmas bonus to good use. It's difficult working from home because I have a tiny desk, so I can only fit the laptop and my keyboard on it, but I actually move around more because there's always something to do. Then I go to the kitchen to get a drink, for example. In the office, everything is always in my place, I have a large thermos flask, I don't have to run and that makes it ideal in the office, of course. I also move around at home, for example by walking down the stairs.

Deep Care: Have you already noticed positive effects, such as more energy, less pain or are you using it more as a preventative measure to avoid problems in the long term?

Nicole Schall: The longevity, yes, the longevity really. I haven't noticed much of a difference in terms of energy, but nutrition and other things also play a big role. For me, the crucial point is actually that I'm only getting older and not younger and not better, and that's why the long term is really important, yes. In other words, because of my neck, because you tend to round quickly, especially when you're tall. The device always helps me to remember "Ok, now I have to straighten my neck again" and at my desk I'm always leaning forwards with my hands on the keyboard. I used to get headaches sometimes even if I had the wrong posture, but that has actually become less of a problem.

Deep Care: Which feature do you like best?

Nicole Schall: The reference to the wrong posture is the best feature. I sometimes forget to drink. But the best feature really is that it tells me immediately if I've been in the wrong posture for 5 minutes, so I can correct myself more quickly and the exercise sessions, as I said, I also like doing them and they help me. We also have our own inactivity programmes, but I haven't really noticed that yet. I'm more interested in my Deep Care programme, which also includes my exercises, and I still haven't done all of them.

Deep Care: Who would you recommend Isa to?

Nicole Schall: Anyone who is interested. No matter what age, but especially those with back pain or other complaints. I think anyone who is interested can benefit from it, because you can see that everyone sits with a hunched back and because it helps you not to get into a rut and to sit down properly again and again.

Deep Care: What did you gain from using the Isa for several weeks?

Carolin Kopp: What stuck with me or initially changed for me was an aha moment, because I realised that the ergonomics at home were pretty bad. In other words, the distance to the desk, keyboard and screen - you should actually know that when you work from home, but it was really disastrously set up and Isa really opened my eyes in terms of ergonomics. The same also applies to sitting time, which Isa points the finger at digitally, so to speak, and has an aha effect: "Well, I should get up or change position more often than once an hour".

Deep Care: Where do you see the main benefits of Isa?

Carolin Kopp: I think that raising awareness of ergonomics (setup) is a very important aspect, especially when working from home. The other aspect, perhaps this aspect even outweighs the other, is motivating people to change their movement behaviour and pointing out that it should increase, because I also notice this with many colleagues.

Deep Care: When would you recommend Isa to a company or user?

Carolin Kopp: In companies, mainly because of two aspects. Firstly, if the target group is difficult to reach and you want to use technology and AI to arouse curiosity. Secondly, in a work organisation where employees really can't take time off work to take part in courses. There are companies where regular courses are offered that are overrun by employees. But there are also those who need a low-threshold offer and the Isa is of course perfect for this. In the private sector, especially for people who often work from home.

Deep Care: In your opinion, what are the differences in the demand for health services in companies?

Carolin Kopp: The challenge with prevention programmes is always that you know there is a need, but how do I get the employees there? There are various reasons for this. If courses are always fully booked, it's because it's a constant factor. It's part of the work culture and you know, for example, that a back course will be offered at a certain time. That is the desirable case. The second case, why it is not accepted, has many reasons, people have no time, too much work or the time is not made available by the employer, for example if I have to cut out to take part in something I think twice about whether I take part. Another aspect is the application, i.e. poor communication, many people simply don't know that there is an offer. Or there is a lack of support from managers in the form of motivation. In other words, the approach in general, but also the work culture.