Development of an android fitness and gym usage application

This research and development special project entitled: DEVELOPMENT OF AN ANDROID FITNESS AND GYM USAGE APPLICATION prepared and submitted by Minh Ba Hoang in partial fulfillment of the

A Special Project Presented to the Faculty of Institute of Graduate Studies and Research

Manuel S Enverga University Foundation

This research and development special project entitled:

DEVELOPMENT OF AN ANDROID FITNESS AND GYM USAGE APPLICATION

prepared and submitted by Minh Ba Hoang in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree

of Master in Information Technology (MIT) had been presented and passed the oral and software

Accepted and approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master in

Information Technology (MIT)

BENILDA N VILLENAS, PhD

Dean, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research

ABSTRACT

The primary objective of this research revolves around trying to educate individuals on

the proper way to exercise safely and effectively The project designed and developed a system

which runs on a cell phone with Android environment The physical fitness application gives

information about what to do for exercise that will allow people to see and track their fitness

progress through the application’s calendar

Before an individual begins to exercise, the application will suggest that the user

calculate their Body Mass Index (BMI) The BMI feature allows the user to see the ratio

between height and weight Following an index, the application will suggest choices of the

corresponding exercises

The secondary aim of this study is to suggest possible nutrition to stay healthy throughout

the use of the fitness application based on height, weight, age, exercise levels and target weight

and use these data to suggest a sensible daily calorie intake

In the application, there are a number of exercises with pictures and clear instructions on

how to perform them There are also several android applications for fitness and health but

Fitness and Gym Usage is a new mobile application composed of various functions that contain

BMI calculator, heart tracker, gym training, and health and nutrition tips The application helps

users perform safe and proper exercise to maintain fitness

Key words: Fitness, health and nutrition, android application, fitness app

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to all the people who offered help and

support to this study This study would not have been possible without their assistance and

suggestions

To my beloved parents whose boundless love inspires me every day of my life, they

always pray and wish all the best things for me even though they are not with me all the time;

To my thesis adviser, Dean Rodrigo C Belleza Jr., for his patience in reviewing and

editing the contents of this study and for his valuable suggestions;

To the oral defense panel, Dr Benilda N Villenas, Prof Leah T Salas and Prof

Raymond S Bermudez for the suggestions and comments they have given to the further

improvement of this study;

To Dr Benilda N Villenas for her suggestions in improving the documentation format

and style and for helping me focus my findings, conclusions and recommendations

M.B.H

DEDICATION

To my beloved parents

To my brother and sister

To my friends, classmates, students, and colleagues

To the Information Technology and Communications University

To my country – Vietnam

I Background of the Information Technology Project

II Review of Related Literature, Studies and Systems

III System/Software Development Methodology, Models, Technologies and Tools

IV System/Software Development Process

LIST OF FIGURES

20 BMI history sequence diagram 61

29 Respondents’ evaluation on the functional suitability of the system 71

30 Respondents’ evaluation on the performance efficiency of the system 72

LIST OF TABLES

CHAPTER I BACKGROUND OF THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROJECT

Overview of the Current State of Technology

Technology is growing every day and its use has become more widespread increasingly permeating many human activities including the monitoring of fitness and health Technology has become an essential part of our lives that it has become easier, cheaper and more convenient

to monitor fitness and health through the use of apps in mobile devices Devices such as

smartphones, tablets, and wearable have potential to create fitness and health monitors designed

to improve well-being Today, the use of technology in tracking the state of fitness and health has become more pervasive than ever

Health information technology and fitness technology (e.g., heart rate monitors, step counters, health portals and fitness and gym usage) are positively impacting health care users by receiving higher quality of care and increased access to health information Fitness and health technology has the ability to not only improve users’ physical activities level, but also the

potential to transform healthcare

Technological advancement has led to a dramatic increase in mobile devices worldwide

It has also developed many ways of attaining and monitoring health and fitness Mobile devices with internet connection improve users’ information on methods that stimulate fitness and health Wireless technology is increasingly being used for enabling information access and improving

the content of fitness and health methodology With mobile apps, it is easier to motivate users to

pay attention to their fitness and health regimen

Technology presents endless possibilities when it comes to marrying fitness and

healthcare in mobile devices There are literally thousands of smartphone apps to help track and

monitor individual fitness and health Thus, smartphone technology has become a handy device

to maintain healthy lifestyle

One of the biggest technologies is smartphones with Android operating system There are

tens of thousands of apps, over 30,000 for Android alone, dedicated to fitness and health Most

are devoted to specific aspects of fitness such as tracking and monitoring workout and exercises

and gymnastics Most apps feature specific aspects of health such as counting one’s steps,

tracking weight, and monitoring a diet or calories intake However, the combination of fitness

and health is the trend in information development and software applications that are included in

fitness and gym usage application

The benefits of keeping track of one’s fitness and health by using smartphone app cannot

be underestimated Statistics show that 46% of people who have taken to tracking their fitness

and health change their overall approach to their fitness and health In fact, 40% of those tracking

their fitness and health have sought advice from others, and 34% even took the important

decision to treat an illness or health condition based on their tracking (Pew Research Center,

2015)

Monitoring fitness and health is the biggest feature of most fitness and health apps By

using Android fitness and gym usage application, users can break bad habits and follow good

ones, leading to a path of better health, increased fitness and better nutrition They can also help

users lose weight to avoid chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease

Project Context

The researcher examined Android fitness and gym usage applications to determine how

such mobile applications can be made more efficient and suitable for users who aim to start an

exercise regimen that will help them attain their goal of physical fitness safely The fitness

application needs to support users’ objective to know the best the exercises they can do for

specific parts of the body like the neck, shoulders, biceps, triceps, forearms, back, chest,

abdomen, thigh, and calves

The apps should also take into consideration the users’ busy life where they need to insert

fitness as an essential activity to preserve their health and wellness and at the same time strike a

balance between work and exercise in their lives It is not easy to attain the goal of health and

wellness unless one has a workable and viable program One of the easiest and most viable

programs is through gym and fitness and even nutrition apps that one can follow at one’s own

pace every day

Using apps on mobile phones, the fitness enthusiast is empowered to do his own regimen

to improve his life They can choose a specific program of fitness that is most convenient or even

inspiring, educational and entertaining for the users so that they can sustain the program they

have set for themselves They do not need to hire their personal trainer or coach since a fitness

and gym usage application can be the perfect substitute

This project developed a dual mobile-based system and web server The mobile device

supports the client while the web server supports the server On the client side, the application

has a number of features that totally helps the users reach and use the application in an easy way

On the server side, the web server records database, log user’s information, push new fitness,

video and tips while supporting the application

There are many essential features of the application significant to fitness and health

monitoring Using a heart rate monitor will improve running more quickly than simply relying

on how one feels A heart rate monitor is like having a coach along for every workout It ensures

that the user trains at an appropriate intensity, neither too hard nor too easy When it is time to

work a bit harder, the user will check the heart rate on the application to track the tolerance of the

heart The user can rely on it to keep under control A heart rate monitor makes achieving the

right intensity of fitness much easier to determine After checking the heart rate monitor, it will

show information like numbers; then the user needs a reference point, a heart rate unique to the

user at a given of intensity Depending on the heart rate number, the user can decide what fitness

and health regimen to take

Running, for many, is hard work It might be due to the fact that running is a motivation

thing and maybe a physical thing, too Whatever it is, exercise is equated with pain Using a

running tracker however can make the user track his pace to avoid pain This is simply tracking

steps or basic movement The user gets proper tracking of his workout and helps him determine

what training plan (lose weight, train for a race, or just get started) and what levels of workout to

follow Furthermore, if he is interested in finding out the distance of a route, trail, or other places

as he runs, the mobile device can track it as it is internet-connected, allowing the user to use

Google Maps Currently the distance tracker supports the following functionalities – jump

directly to a location via the address search, create dynamic routes by clicking on the map, and

view route distances

Healthy eating is not easy but it is one of the keys to living healthy and getting in shape

The diet plan weight loss tracks calories effectively, or gets a little deeper and analyzes fats or

carbs The diet plan is like a personal food coach that guides the user to eat healthy The user

may choose from different diets like vegetarian, healthy lifestyle, and high protein intake even as

the diet assistant lays out a daily plan that gets the user on the right track to get healthier

The focus is clear, which enables users to avail the services in all facilities and

establishments using touchscreen on an Android mobile phone The combination of smartphone

and Internet service was utilized in the information development and software applications

The Need to Develop the System

Today, health is one of the biggest concerns of the World Health Organization (WHO)

WHO aims to help people attain the best health Health is a state of complete physical, mental

and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity The enjoyment of the

highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being

without distinction of race, religion, economic or social condition The health of all people is

fundamental to the attainment of peace and security and is dependent upon the fullest

co-operation of individuals

The importance of physical fitness could not be described enough In today’s society

physical fitness is moving towards a more sedentary and unhealthy lifestyle There are greater

needs than ever to increase the daily activity level to conserve both cardiovascular fitness and

body weight Starting activity means keeping your body functioning at a high level Regular

fitness will conserve the performance of your lung and heart to more efficiently burn off excess

calories and keep your weight under control Fitness will also improve muscle strength, joint

flexibility and endurance

When it comes to fitness improvement, every little effort counts Thus, the application

created a fitness application that helps users start tracking their physical activity effortlessly by

becoming more active and motivated The user can set a program and monitor fitness goals based

on activity levels shown in the calendar It is a great tool to discover how active a person is while

monitoring fitness and health, living healthier, and staying motivated with one’s fitness goals

Actually, the user can check in just about anywhere, including one’s phone or tablet

Most people at one time or another use computers and guidebooks Other people also rely

on instructions written on a piece of paper and the experiences using these helping “tools” are

divided This opens a window to a new market using handheld and mobile devices, a typical

illustration being the android mobile phone-based guiding application called “Fitness and Gym

Usage.” The introduction of smartphones has made a significant impact on the lives of people

leading to major improvements in mobile application developments Using this application

people do not need to register for fitness membership and do not need to buy a guidebook They

do not need a personal tutor or trainer and most especially they do not have to pay for the

installed application that is easy to carry and use With the advancement of technology, mobile

devices have made it easier to access information anytime, anywhere Generally, the best

important need of developing this application is enhancement of health and fitness knowledge

The paradigm of the need to develop the system in shown on page 8

 Stressful day due to sedentary

RAD

Goals and Objectives of the Project

The project developed an Android application for fitness and gym usage application

designed to help users monitor and manage fitness and health The subject application can

enhance fitness and health knowledge, improve skills and provide the most effective workout can

possible to reach specific fitness goals

The following are the specific objectives of the project:

1 to identify the ideal features and requirements of the proposed mobile applications

based on a review of related systems

2 to design the proposed android-based fitness application based on identified features

and requirements;

3 to develop the mobile application by using the Rapid Application Development

methodology and technologies such as Android SDK for the mobile application, and

PHP and MySQL for the web interface of the system;

4 to test and evaluate the developed fitness application through expert and user

feedback based on the ISO 251010 (the new software quality standards) software

evaluation questionnaire

Scopes and Constraints

The project deliverable is a functional prototype of a fitness application built for the

android platform The mobile application should perform the following functionalities such as

body mass index, fitness, health and nutrition Each feature is really necessary for the health

progression

When the user is first running on application, a panel appears and notifies that the user

needs to create a personal profile which includes the user’s information such as height, weight,

sex, and age After that the application proposes the user to calculate the Body Mass Index

(BMI) and to make a decision on what the state of the user is Based on the calculators of BMI,

the application suggests to the user which program to perform After that, the user schedules

what activities they like to do or want to try In order to start creating a day-by-day fitness plan,

the user needs to decide ahead of time what activity plan he has for the week, month or several

months By using the “calendar”, the user can schedule all the weekly activities that can be easily

followed

In choosing the heart tracker, the user can measure their heart rate through the analysis of

the user tip of the index finger using the phone’s camera To monitor heart rate, the user needs to

place their finger tip on the camera lens The application will analyze and track heart rate that

will appear on the screen after some time The result will request health advice and prescribe an

appropriate program for fitness

In choosing gym training, the app displays a list of videos following the order of

categories There are a number of fitness categories that the user can choose from in which they

can proceed at a selected time There are several video tutorials to guide the user functioning as a

personal coach The application will let user know when it is time for the next set and drag up to

show a summary of user current and earlier sessions while working out

The proposed application is a collection of many features significant to fitness and health

monitoring and management By observing other applications that are related to fitness and

health, it is apparent that other applications contain only a few features and this is what the

proposed application addressed The proposed application has other value-added features not

found in other apps as discussed earlier

However, the proposed application also has some constraints It is designed for Android

environment and can only run in a mobile android There are some constraints and knowledge

about features of fitness and health limitation and there a number of features that could have

been performed in the application were it not for the time constraint The time allowed for

developing the application is too short to embed other features into the application Run tracker

would have been an enjoyable feature in that it will test user’s running and the running process

will be timed and the running distance will be saved to be depicted on Google map However,

this feature requires GPS capability Google term and policy precludes it The application does

not completely replace gym equipment It only serves as a personal tutorial which can bring

about fitness and health to the user

Benefits and Impact

“Health is gold” is true in the face of the cost of the medical treatment and maintenance

of such lifestyle diseases as hypertension, diabetes and cancer If a person wants to feel better,

have more energy and perhaps live longer, he does not need to go any further All he needs to do

is maintain his fitness and health The health benefits of regular fitness and physical activities are

hard to ignore On the other hand, the benefits of fitness are for everybody’s taking, regardless of

age, physical abilities and gender

Fitness and Gym Usage is an android application for learning fitness skills and

monitoring healthcare that helps users have more knowledge on monitoring fitness and health

By using this application many useful benefits in bodily movement, weight control and overall

wellbeing can be derived

The following stakeholders will benefit from using the proposed application:

1 Students who need a balanced life while engaged in stressful academic activities can use

the app to become fitter and healthier at no cost

2 Employees who sit all day at work and generally have a sedentary lifestyle can unwind

using the app, enjoy the outdoors, or simply engage in fitness after work hours

3 Coaches and personal trainers in fitness training center can use this application to teach

athletes efficiently

4 Underweight or overweight individuals can use the app to follow a program or regimen to

attain the desired weight through proper nutrition and exercise

5 Elders who need balance in life can use the app to avoid debilitating health conditions

and diseases A fitness and health regimen can help elders manage or prevent health

problems and concerns, including metabolic syndrome, stroke, depression, and certain

types of cancer

The app would be a great help to enhance, motivate and challenge users’ skills in

improving their health and fitness The app promotes health while the users are having fun

Definition of Terms

The following are the terms used by the developer in the course of the project design:

Android Operating System is a mobile operating system based on a modified version of

Linux It was originally developed by a startup company of the same name, Android, Inc In

2005, as part of its strategy to enter the mobile space, Google purchased Android and took over

its development work (as well as its development team)

Java JDK is the Android SDK that makes use of the Java SE Development Kit (JDK) It

can be downloaded from www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html

Android Studio is essentially the community edition of JetBrains’s IntelliJ IDEA with an

Android plugin, the integrated development environment (IDE) for developing on the Android

platform

Android application package file (APK) is the file format used to distribute and install

application software and middleware onto Google's Android operating system APK files are

ZIP file formatted packages based on the JAR file format, with apk file extensions

Smartphone is a mobile phone with advanced computing ability and connectivity

features

Mobile application is an application developed for small handheld devices, such as

mobile phones, smartphones, and PDAs, among others Mobile apps can come preloaded on the

handheld device and can also be downloaded by users from app stores, Google Play or the

Internet

Rapid application development (RAD) is a suite of software development methodology,

techniques used to expedite software application development RAD uses predefined prototyping

techniques and tools to produce software applications It encompasses a graphical user interface

(GUI) development environment, allowing end users to easily drag and drop required software

application components

The Unified Modeling Language (UML) is a graphical language for visualizing,

specifying, constructing, and documenting the artifacts of a software-intensive system The UML

offers a standard way to write a system blueprint, including conceptual things like business

processes and system functions as well as concrete things such as programming language

statements, database schemas, and reusable software components

ISO 251010 is an international software standard It tests the functional suitability,

performance efficiency, compatibility, usability, reliability, security, maintainability and

portability of software

CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE, STUDIES, AND SYSTEMS

This chapter presents a review of related literatures, studies, and systems that helped in

the conceptualization of the project

E-Health and M-Health

Electronic Health (or E-Health) is the transfer of health resources and health care by

electronic means (WTO, 2014) E-Health is the delivery of health information, for health

professionals and health consumers in the field of health care, through the Internet and

telecommunications Using the power of IT and e-commerce to improve public health services,

e.g through the education and training of health workers, E-Health is an emerging field in the

intersection of medical informatics, public health and business, referring to health services and

information delivered or enhanced through the Internet and related technologies such as intranet,

broadcast, video/audio tape, interactive TV

E-Health provides a new method for using health resources such as information, money,

and medicines and the time should help to improve efficient use of these resources The Internet

also provides a new medium information dissemination, and for interaction and collaboration

among institutions, health professionals, health providers Examples of E-Health tools include

electronic health records, health information websites, decision support programs and electronic

prescribing software

Mobile Health (or M-Health) is the application of mobile communications, is

transforming health care delivery by making it more accessible, affordable and available It has

dramatically improved the decision making and production process of health and health care by

ensuring the right information to the right person and at the right time M-Health changes the

traditional delivery of health care, allowing for continuous, pervasive health care anytime,

anywhere With M-Health, providers and caregivers have the opportunity to continuously

monitor health conditions and access information outside of the physician’s office

Distance Healthcare Situated Healthcare

Basically, E-Health and M-Health also refer to healthcare by providing methods to

protect and enhance health Eytan (2010) emphasized that there are not reasons that M-Health is

better than Health, just differences worth nothing However, the main difference between

E-Health and M-E-Health is that more people have access to a mobile while others do not have

desktop web access M-Health apps or services are more convenient to carry and use than web

services, M-Health is more personal than E-Health (because while M-Health consider the usage

of mobile devices in a healthcare process, it is more defined clearly than the idea of E-Health)

Furthermore, mobile phones are a particularly attractive avenue for delivering health

interventions Therefore, the benefits of M-Health are the following:

 It can be accessed anytime in any health information

 It can be accessed anywhere in any health information

 It supports powerfully technical capabilities

 It can be aware of features enabled through sensing and phone based personal

information

Prospect of Mobile Healthcare

The prospect of mobile phone applications in healthcare is defined in various perspectives that may consist of two categories: wearable technology and mobile applications

Wearable Technology

The number of wearable technology devices is predicted to grow from eight million in

2010 to 72 million by 2016 (Kim, 2010) The growth of small, portable devices provides the

fitness and health industries with a great opportunity to excel in the wearable technology market

Wearable technology is transforming the fitness and health industries In 2008, Fitbit Inc

released one of the first activity trackers, a wireless-enabled wearable technology (Fitbit, 2014)

For example, MyFitnessPal, launched in 2005, is a mobile platform that provides users with the

necessary means to track their calories intake and share information with friends By integrating

wearable technology with mobile, MyFitnessPal is participating in both mobile and wearable

technology

Mobile Applications

In 2013 while the overall mobile applications industry grew 115 percent in terms of

average daily usage, the health and fitness category rose to only 49 percent but in 2014 the

growth in health and fitness application usage has been increasing about 62 percent (Simon

Khalaf, 2014) Therefore, the health and fitness applications are looking for innovative ways to

change the impact of mobile application

The developer conceived the innovations in the mobile application in health and fitness

or fill the gap in the market

Design of Mobile Healthcare

Mobile phones have significant impact on consumer’s lifestyle because the phones can

work as small computers Gartner (2012) reported that mobile health monitoring would be

ranked as number 5 of the top 10 consumer mobile applications Mobile healthcare can combine

health and mobile device technology, especially smartphone which includes different

communication technologies like wireless fidelity (WIFI), Bluetooth, dial-up-services, general

packet radio service (GPRS) and virtual private networks (VPN) To understand clearly about

mobile health, understanding the mobile healthcare ecosystem is essentially required These

devices also enable patient system communication with stakeholders system

The model of an interconnected mobile health ecosystem in which mobile technology

addresses the needs of patients, providers and stakeholders alike is the ultimate goal of mobile

healthcare The mobile health ecosystem overlaps several dynamic spheres, consisting of health,

technology and finance The mobile health ecosystem contains M-Health environment, which is

underpinned by the traditional health environment and also supported by M-Health policies,

guidelines and strategies that can affect all spheres throughout the development and use of

mobile health inventions As indicated, the traditional health environment is servicing via

desktop PCs, which enable the service center connect to a major area where this is directly

impacting patient consumer in remote patient monitoring

Mobile Health and Fitness Companion

A mobile health and fitness companion helps users to plan and keep track of their

exercise activities via an interface based mainly on speech input and output The mobile health

and fitness companion runs on a mobile handset e.g., a personal digital assistant (PDA), and is

used during physical exercise e.g., while running or walking to track the distance, pace, duration,

and calories burned using a GPS receiver The data gathered during an exercise is stored in the

device’s record store, and can be used to compare the results to previous runs even if the mobile

internet connection is temporarily unavailable

The health and fitness companion interacts with its user in two main forms: as a physical

home companion to provide general support for a healthy lifestyle, and as a mobile companion to

support the user during physical outdoor activities The home companion interface is a physical

agent that resides in the home of its user, for example, in the kitchen table, where it is natural to

have a conversation before going to work or start a physical activity It is implemented with

WIFI modem The mobile companion runs on smartphone devices and can be used during

outdoor exercise activities such as walking, jogging or cycling It is implemented with WIFI or

3G

When the mobile companion is started, it asks the user whether it should connect to the

home system and download the current plan Such as a plan consists of various tasks that the user

should try to achieve during the day where both companions then suggest a suitable task based

on time of day and the user’s current location

Gamification in Fitness and Health Application

Gamification is defined as “an informal umbrella term for the use of video game elements

in no-gaming systems to improve user experience and user engagement” (O’Hara, Sicart, Dixon,

& Nacke, 2011) One of the most popular utilizations of gamification is called “fitness and health

gamification”

Mobile applications have taken the already popular concepts of using video games for

fitness and health applications and greatly expanded and popularized the concept and usage The

concepts of using video games as tool or means for fitness activity has been recognized and

employed

One of the many characteristics that users enjoy in fitness and health gamification is the

ability to share their workout with online friends The most successful mobile fitness and health

applications feature both a data-tracking component and a social sharing component, which

allow users to post their workout data from their tracking application to their social media

networks that would be materialized with fitness and health gamification

The objective of this perspective is to identify the extent to which gamification is used in

fitness and health application to analyze gamification of fitness and health application as a

potential component of influence on a user’s health behavior

Utilizing Near Field Communications (NFC) in Gym Application

Near Field Communication (NFC) is a set of short-range wireless technologies, typically

requiring a distance of 4cm or less to initiate a connection NFC allows to share small payloads

of data between an NFC tag and an Android-powered device, or between two Android-powered

devices

In gym application utilizing NFC technology, the user would simply swipe his phone

near an NFC tag that would be located on or near exercises equipment already loaded with the

required information; the application would then add the exercises to the phone Users would be

able to go around the gym from one exercise to another then add that workout to the day’s diary

NFC not only serves as a device for recording entries of a gym workout but also a toll which can

be used to improve a gym user’s progress within the gym

Utilizing NFC technology within android will allow the application the ability to be used

on any NFC-enabled phone which currently has the largest market share of phone users

Outcome will be the use case designed system that fits the majority of the gym community’s

ideals for the mobile application and key assumptions will be the ability to get an NFC reader

working on the phone that can read in external NFC tags

NFC can be used for a variety of different services; it is used to pass data from one device

to another as contactless payments, product identification, and advertisements NFC tags are

essentially very small memory device with antennas attached that allows the transmission of data

through wireless

BMI Calculator – Weight Loss

Body Mass Index (BMI) is defined as the body weight divided by the square of the

height It provides a rough guide since the BMI doesn’t take into account a person’s build or the

composition of the body weight With this application, the user can calculate BMI,

Waist-to-Height Ratio, Body Fat Percentage and calorie consumption to find the ideal weight based on age

and gender It can also be used to find healthy weight if the user wants to lose weight or is on

diet

Waist-to-height ratio is defined as the waist circumference divided by the height It

measures abdominal obesity and therefore can be used as a better indicator of health risks than

BMI Body Fat Percentage is defined as the weight of fat divided by the total weight It is

estimated with the “US Navy Circumference Method” which uses the height and circumferences

of the waist, the neck and the hip

The application is the first important app in estimating body shape It is useful for

everyone 7 years and older and could be downloaded from Google’s Play

MyFitnessPal

MyFitnessPal is designed for people who are on the go, want to track their food intake for

purposes of losing weight and for ensuring healthier eating habits MyFitnessPal is completely

free to use; the user is only required to create an account member with the specific information

that will help him manage his own account The application is also easy to use, containing

certain food items that can be scanned right from a mobile device Furthermore, the application

does not require a lot of time because repetitive foods are stored so the user does not have to

keep inputting the same information

MyFitnessPal is a relatively safe application because there are no known adverse effects

in using this application However, due to lack of professional nutritional advice and lack of

knowledge by the member, unrealistic goals can be made This thing can lead to frustration by

the app member

MyFitnessPal markets its efficacy primarily on member certification This is a good

approach because a potential member can get an idea of the usefulness and success of the

application before committing to use it In addition, there is a message board that is constantly

being updated by each member This gives other members feedback on how other members are

doing and also offer tips and recipes that may be helpful to others

MyFitnessPal application can be a beneficial tool when used by someone who is looking

to lose weight or just looking to eat healthier It is free to use and is designed for people with

busy schedules When used correctly, this tool can provide valuable information regarding

nutrient intake and how to modify one’s diet to meet standardized or customized requirements

Although not as complete as some other tools, it is sufficient for those who are on the go and

want to monitor their food intake

30-Day Fitness Challenges

The 30-Day Fitness Challenges application is a one-month course designed to teach you

the essentials of training and implementation It is for anyone who does not know where to

begin It is also for those who think fitness is complicated or intimidating This is fitness made

simple: one day at a time, one challenge at a time Everyone has the right to be fit; the

application will teach the user to work out that right The application can jump start fitness goals

and get the user on track in just 30 days The application provides 19 targeted workout

challenges, which motivates users to achieve specific fitness goals by combining workout

programs that target specific areas of the body

Advantages of the Application

The 30-Day Fitness Challenge application is easy touch interface designed to motivate

users and enhance their experience There are a variety of over 40 workout videos with correct

form The application will also be able to track user progress and share it on Facebook, Twitter,

and Google + In addition, the timer on the application allows users to race against the clock

during workouts such as planks and wall sits, while setting up daily reminders, so there is no

excuse for at least 30 days

The application is a great fit for individuals who have specific fitness goals in mind, need

motivation or want to keep up a workout routine on the go, either because they cannot find time

to make it to the gym, or perhaps have to travel frequently for work reasons

Disadvantages of the Application

The 30-Day Fitness Challenges application is a tool to inspire and get people moving

But the reality is challenges like these are just not smart training They are supposed to be high

risk of injury, limited results, and muscle imbalance Simply trying to put one’s body needs at

least 48 hours to recover from a muscle training session before training the same muscle group

again is difficult Every time a user works out his muscles, he must create small sweats This is a

good thing, but muscles can only get stronger if they are given enough time to repair Thus, this

puts the user at high risk for injury, especially depending on workout history, age and any special

conditions

On the other hand, just work out the abs will not give the user a six-pack The user has to

target specific muscles in specific workouts Furthermore, he needs overall conditioning and

overall fat loss to see the results Only training the abs, for example, and forgetting about

opposing muscles creates muscle imbalance which again can lead to injury and other problems

Fitness-Home & Gym Workouts

The Fitness-Home & Gym Workouts is one of the best Android applications to help

people get in the best shape with Virtualgym Fitness Working out alongside with 3D-animated

personal trainer, it shows exactly how to do each exercise There are over 2000 exercises and

many pre-made workouts which can be done at home or in the gym

The app has several features: (1) full workouts for home and gym; (2) custom workout

routines; (3) clear 3D-animated exercise videos; (4) written exercise instructions; and (5)

workout reminders, earn rewards for exercising

The benefit when using this application is that users get insight about everything: from

burned calories to total minutes user exercised, and distance traveled Users can track progress

over time: weight, waist size, BMI, body fat, number of pushups, arm size, chest size and many

more Virtualgym workout can be done by everyone – men, women, beginners, gym rats,

dumbbell owners and people who have no materials at all Virtualgym is fully integrated with

food: calorie, carb and fat counter

Instant Heart Rate

The Instant Heart Rate application is a tool that can check heart rate anytime, anywhere at

the users’ convenience at or even upon waking up in the morning, after relaxing, after work out

and before going to work This application is relatively based on scientific results; however, the

mobile device must have camera lens and flash to provide information of blood flow on the

fingertip when fingertip holds both camera lens and flash after a second or two to see the graph

drawing the users’ heart rate pulse It will compute heart rate and update the number in mere 5

seconds and it will take more 10 seconds to get an accurate heart rate

The app features are as follows: (1) running application is convenient to use; (2)

immediately calculating results; (3) application records the results to use later; (4) graph pulses

in real-time; and (5) shares data with Twitter or Facebook

Besides taking the users’ heart rate on demand, it can also take a heart rate recovery

fitness test to help measure fitness progress The user gets a heart rate up to 70% of maximum,

and it takes a few readings to see how fast the heart rate recovers towards normal

There are some limitations of heart rate application This application is not a continuous

heart rate monitor, so if the user truly wants instant readings throughout a workout, he needs a

heart rate monitor with a chest strap sensor The cost of this application is far, far cheaper than

any other pulse monitor device It is no substitute for a dedicated heart rate monitor with chest

strap for accurate, continuous heart rate measurement

Summary

These related studies, system and software helped the developer conceptualize the present

study It also described few perspectives by providing ideas on what features should be included

in the system The advantages of existing systems have been analyzed and also provided some

insights on what aspects should be considered The aspects helped developer thinking of what

functionality needs to be included in the real system

CHAPTER III SYSTEM/SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT METHODOLOGY, MODELS,

TECHNOLOGIES AND TOOLS

System/Software Development Method Used

Developing application with Android basis was not an easy task The first need for the

developer was substantial knowledge of Android SDK and Java programming The secondary

need was how to develop an Android application on less time and budget

RAD was used because it has innovations in developing application rather than the

traditional methodology RAD saved development time, possibly at the expense of economy or

product quality; however, it limited the project’s exposure to the forces of change RAD

satisfied the objective and scope of the project very well

Using RAD methodology employed analysis, designing, building and test phases in the

development cycles RAD quickly developed the best Android application at affordable rates It

made sure that all requirements were fulfilled in the shortest possible time It also allowed the

software to write faster and make it easy to change the requirements

RAD was suitable for use in this project because RAD satisfied the creation of a system

modularized in 2-3 months’ time In the RAD model, the components or functions were

developed in parallel ways as in mini projects The model quickly provided feedback on the

delivery and requirements Generally, it was totally designed for faster development and high

quality results

Figure 2.Rapid Application Development methodology

Figure 2 shows the flowchart of building the fitness and gym usage application It

consists of four steps, each with sub-steps: analysis and quick design, build-demonstrate-refine,

testing, and implementation of application at fitness and gym usage Rapid Application

Methodology (RAD) ensured that the project was completed within the given time parameter

Analysis and Quick Design

The first step involved simply searching for requirements The developer gathered

information on how to make the system In order to identify the ideas of features and

requirements of the proposed mobile application, the developer gathered all the images,

documents, videos that may be used in the application To determine the flow of information

between varieties of functions such as user’s profile, body mass index calculator, heart tracker,