Pep

Product Introduction

1. Pep is a mobile physical therapy assistant designed to help users recover from repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) through AI-guided exercises and real-time form correction. It focuses on wrist and hand rehabilitation, offering personalized routines tailored to individual recovery needs and activity levels. The app uses hand pose detection technology to monitor exercise technique and ensure safe, effective workouts.
2. The core value of Pep lies in transforming rehabilitation into an engaging, adaptive experience by combining AI-driven guidance with gamified motivation. Its AI companion, Buddy, provides real-time feedback, celebrates milestones, and adjusts exercise difficulty based on user progress. This approach reduces the monotony of traditional physical therapy while addressing the growing need for accessible at-home recovery solutions.

Main Features

1. Pep uses AI-powered exercise guidance with real-time form feedback, leveraging device cameras to analyze hand and wrist movements during workouts. The system detects deviations from optimal exercise postures and provides instant corrective instructions through visual or audio cues. This ensures users perform exercises safely and effectively without requiring in-person therapist supervision.
2. The app incorporates advanced hand pose detection technology powered by machine learning algorithms to track joint angles and movement patterns. It validates proper technique for each exercise, flagging errors like incorrect wrist flexion or improper finger positioning. This feature is calibrated specifically for repetitive strain injury recovery, focusing on precision for typing-related musculoskeletal issues.
3. Users receive personalized exercise routines that adapt based on recovery progress, pain thresholds, and daily commitment levels. The algorithm considers factors like exercise completion rates, form accuracy scores, and self-reported discomfort to modify workout intensity. Daily reminders and progress tracking with performance reports help maintain consistent rehabilitation schedules.

Problems Solved

1. Pep addresses the lack of accessible, cost-effective solutions for repetitive strain injuries caused by prolonged typing and mobile device usage. Traditional physical therapy often requires frequent clinic visits that are time-consuming and expensive, creating barriers to consistent recovery. The app provides 24/7 guided rehabilitation through clinically validated exercises.
2. The primary target users are office workers, developers, and mobile-heavy users experiencing early-stage RSIs like carpal tunnel syndrome or tendonitis. Secondary users include remote workers seeking preventive care and individuals recovering from hand/wrist surgeries who need supplemental at-home therapy.
3. Typical scenarios include completing 10-minute rehabilitation sessions during work breaks, performing guided stretches before/after intensive typing periods, and tracking long-term recovery progress through weekly mobility assessments. The app is particularly effective for users needing immediate form correction during exercises like wrist extensions or nerve gliding movements.

Unique Advantages

1. Unlike generic fitness apps, Pep specializes in evidence-based hand and wrist rehabilitation with medical advisory oversight. While competitors offer general exercise tracking, Pep combines computer vision with physical therapy protocols specifically designed for RSI recovery. This specialization ensures exercises meet clinical safety standards for injury rehabilitation.
2. The AI companion Buddy introduces emotional engagement through celebratory animations and adaptive encouragement messages. This gamification layer increases adherence rates by 40% compared to standard therapy apps, according to beta tester feedback. The system also implements "micro-rewards" for completing posture checkpoints during exercises.
3. Competitive advantages include proprietary hand-tracking algorithms optimized for low-light environments and diverse skin tones, ensuring reliable performance across user demographics. The app requires no wearable devices, using standard smartphone cameras to reduce entry barriers. Beta testing data shows 92% accuracy in detecting improper grip positions during therapy exercises.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What devices are compatible with Pep? Pep requires iOS 14 or later on iPhone/iPad or macOS 12 or later on Mac. The hand pose detection feature works best on devices with A12 Bionic chips or newer for real-time processing. Android support is planned for future releases.
2. How does Pep protect user privacy during camera-based tracking? All video processing occurs locally on the device without cloud storage. The app only stores skeletal movement data (joint angles and motion vectors) encrypted via AES-256. Users can disable camera access while retaining manual exercise tracking capabilities.
3. Can Pep replace in-person physical therapy sessions? Pep is designed as a supplemental tool for mild-to-moderate RSIs and post-surgery recovery, not a complete replacement for severe cases. The beta version includes disclaimers advising medical consultation for persistent pain. Clinical validation studies with certified therapists are ongoing.
4. How do I provide feedback on beta features? Users can submit feedback directly through TestFlight by taking screenshots during exercises and using the "Send Beta Feedback" option. Crash reports are automatically submitted with user consent. The development team prioritizes bug reports related to hand-tracking failures or exercise instruction discrepancies.
5. What happens when the TestFlight beta period ends? After 90 days, the beta build expires, requiring installation of the App Store version upon official release. All progress data migrates automatically if users maintain the same Apple ID. In-app purchases made during testing will reset, but premium features remain free throughout the beta phase.