KEY SKILLS

KEY SKILLS

In order to get stronger gym-goers lift weights, a combination of body and artificial weights that activate their muscles, on completing a routine, the muscles are rested and in turn repair and grow (hypertrophy), forming a loop.

An individual's physical strength is determined by two factors; the cross-sectional area of muscle fibers recruited to generate force and the intensity of the recruitment.

However, the wearables of today do not measure this strength. Therefore a need exists to gain insights on muscles.

In order to get stronger gym-goers lift weights, a combination of body and artificial weights that activate their muscles, on completing a routine, the muscles are rested and in turn repair and grow (hypertrophy), forming a loop.

An individual's physical strength is determined by two factors; the cross-sectional area of muscle fibers recruited to generate force and the intensity of the recruitment.

However, the wearables of today do not measure this strength. Therefore a need exists to gain insights on muscles.

The Solution

The Solution

Strong is conveniently and compactly packaged in the form of two garments - a shirt and a short for your upper body and lower body. The garments consist of a housing that form a magnetic electrical connection with the Strong sensor known as the Nucleus. The garments consist of a network of sensors that get activated when the Nucleus is connected.

Strong is conveniently and compactly packaged in the form of two garments - a shirt and a short for your upper body and lower body. The garments consist of a housing that form a magnetic electrical connection with the Strong sensor known as the Nucleus. The garments consist of a network of sensors that get activated when the Nucleus is connected.

Data that matters forms a complete feedback loop

Data that forms a complete feedback loop (tap to zoom)

Tracks data that matters

Tracks data that matters

This network of sensors measure data that matters giving you insights on muscle activity, heart rate, counts your reps and track the balance of your body as your perform exercises. This is done using Electromyography (EMG) that tracks electrical signals emitted by your muscle groups.. Earlier this technology was only accessible to elite athletes but now it is feasible to be used in the mass consumer industry.

This network of sensors measure data that matters giving you insights on muscle activity, heart rate, counts your reps and track the balance of your body as your perform exercises. This is done using Electromyography (EMG) that tracks electrical signals emitted by your muscle groups.. Earlier this technology was only accessible to elite athletes but now it is feasible to be used in the mass consumer industry.

The App

The App

This interconnected network of sensors are connected via bluetooth to a Mobile app that allows you to connect and track your fitness progress over time.

This interconnected network of sensors are connected via Bluetooth to a Mobile app that allows you to connect and track your fitness progress over time.

Pairing the Nucleus

Pairing the Nucleus

On opening the app for the first time you are asked to pair the Nucleus with your phone by inserting it into the special housing made in the garments.

On opening the app for the first time you are asked to pair the Nucleus with your phone by inserting it into the special housing made in the garments.

Exercise Selection

Exercise Selection

On having the Strong system set up you can pick from a set of workouts which allows Strong to display a range of real-time stats for you as you perform these exercises, relevant to that specific workout.

On having the Strong system set up you can pick from a set of workouts which allows Strong to display a range of real-time stats for you as you perform these exercises, relevant to that specific workout.

Real-time visualization

Real-time visualization

Scrub through set

Scrub through set

After reviewing the post set data, you can also scrub through your entire set and see how you were performing over the course of the set through the visualization and dynamically changing stats.

After reviewing the post set data, you can also scrub through your entire set and see how you were performing over the course of the set through the visualization and dynamically changing stats.

As you use the Strong system the battery lowers. There is a magnetic induction base which the Nucleus magnetically attaches to. If you have more than one sensor you can daisy chain the second base onto the first rather than plugging it in as well.

As you use the Strong system the battery lowers. There is a magnetic induction base which the Nucleus magnetically attaches to. If you have more than one sensor you can daisy chain the second base onto the first rather than plugging it in as well.

My Process

My Process

No Feedback Loop

No Feedback Loop

I began by evaluating the current system through drawing feedback loops where I found a person who’s goal is to get stronger performs exercises such as lifting weights through a series of exercises that impact their strength levels. These strength levels may be disturbed by factors such as bad form, lack of motivation or info. However, this feedback loop isn’t complete. 

I began by evaluating the current system through drawing feedback loops where I found a person who’s goal is to get stronger performs exercises such as lifting weights through a series of exercises that impact their strength levels. These strength levels may be disturbed by factors such as bad form, lack of motivation or info. However, this feedback loop isn’t complete. 

Incomplete Feedback Loop

Incomplete Feedback Loop (tap to zoom)

Product-Service Ecology

Product-Service Ecology

I found that as part of the larger ecosystem, the strength training individual receives information from a variety of sources - his fitness wearable that is connected to his phone and visualized in an app, online fitness forums, friends and family - all giving their take on this complex system of decision making.

I found that as part of the larger ecosystem, the strength training individual receives information from a variety of sources - his fitness wearable that is connected to his phone and visualized in an app, online fitness forums, friends and family - all giving their take on this complex system of decision making.

Product Service Ecology

Product Service Ecology (tap to zoom)

Testing

Testing

Through my research I found electromyography and proceeded to connect a MyoWare EMG sensor to myself with electrodes and then connected it to an Arduino and was able to see numerical values of the real-time muscle activation of my body. 

I started thinking of ways to take these numbers I was getting from the sensor and provide muscle activation level feedback for the strength-training individual. I went to the gym and asked someone as they lifted weights to connect the LEDs to themselves which lit up showing activation. 

Through my research I found electromyography and proceeded to connect a MyoWare EMG sensor to myself with electrodes and then connected it to an Arduino and was able to see numerical values of the real-time muscle activation of my body. 

I started thinking of ways to take these numbers I was getting from the sensor and provide muscle activation level feedback for the strength-training individual. I went to the gym and asked someone as they lifted weights to connect the LEDs to themselves which lit up showing activation. 

Sketch time!

Sketch time!

Building on my learnings from testing the hardware I was able to start sketching out the accompanying app for these sensors that would display a digital means of representing this activation and feedback.

I created an interactive low fidelity prototype and tested it in the gym, where I got feedback and went through another round of sketching where I showed a Constant body display that doesn't change depending on exercise but is a flat front and backwards representation. I removed rep setting and instead just kept this screen to starting or ending a set.

Building on my learnings from testing the hardware I was able to start sketching out the accompanying app for these sensors that would display a digital means of representing this activation and feedback.

I created an interactive low fidelity prototype and tested it in the gym, where I got feedback and went through another round of sketching where I showed a Constant body display that doesn't change depending on exercise but is a flat front and backwards representation. I removed rep setting and instead just kept this screen to starting or ending a set.

Sketching the App

Sketching the App

Key Learnings & Next Steps

Key Learnings & Next Steps

Expanding from the ecosystem of the individual using these insights to improve themselves, I realized that this technology could be better suited for athletes to be able to use with coaches keeping a track of their data. I would like to explore how I could evolve this product-service ecology to account for this use case instead. 

Testing formed a vital part of my process for this project, through multiple rounds I was able test my ideas and get valuable feedback from people who would actually use this product and understand its real-world limitations.

Expanding from the ecosystem of the individual using these insights to improve themselves, I realized that this technology could be better suited for athletes to be able to use with coaches keeping a track of their data. I would like to explore how I could evolve this product-service ecology to account for this use case instead. 

Testing formed a vital part of my process for this project, through multiple rounds I was able test my ideas and get valuable feedback from people who would actually use this product and understand its real-world limitations.