Mobile applications for health, fitness and sports

Team: Buttussi F., Chittaro L., Nadalutti D.

Health, fitness and sports are new frontiers in the development of mobile applications. Our Entert(r)ain project aims at using the most recent mobile technologies and mobile interaction techniques to propose innovative applications that mix entertainment and training aspects for improving users' health and wellness. MOPET (MObile PErsonal Trainer) is the first product of the Entert(r)ain project. MOPET uses a GPS device and a 3D accelerometer to monitor user's position and speed during her physical activies and an heart rate monitor to check if the user is exercising at the correct intensity. Moreover, MOPET includes an embodied virtual trainer to provide context-aware exercise demonstrations and user-adapted advice. The current version of MOPET supports outdoor fitness trails and helps users in (i) Navigation: location-aware audio and map-based navigation instructions are provided to allow the user to follow the correct path in the fitness trail, (ii) Motivation: audio and visual feedback of user's speed and heart rate with comments are provided to motivate the user in maintaining an adequate intensity during all the session, (iii) Learning exercises: the embodied virtual trainer adapts fitness exercises to user's fitness condition and demonstrates how to correctly perform them with a 3D animation. We are currently working at integrating additional sensors (e.g, pulsoximeter) and functionalities (e.g., automatic generation and update of fitness plans by considering users' goals).