New Exercise Paradigm ‘Closing the Loop’: Consumer ...arda.ai/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Closing-the-Loop.pdf · F9: It should also know ... Status measure) in a non-invasive

1 Performance Lab Technologies © Updated August 2017

New Exercise Paradigm ‘Closing the Loop’: Consumer Experience

Performance Lab provides meaning to exercise related fitness, weight loss and health data

• simply and more effectively,

• more cheaply,

• using a device everybody owns, well, at least 1.3 billion of us do!

In the market, current technology has data only travelling one way. (see Figure 1) A graph of your

step count doesn’t provide much value or meaning after the first few views.

If you want to see how Performance Lab can disrupt the exercise market, read on.

Provides Meaning to Exercise More Effectively,….

There are 3 core coaching fundamentals that people with a goal want to

know when they exercise as shown in Figure 2:

• What should I do? (A)

• What did I do? (B)

• How did I do? (C)

These common-sense questions mirror the Deming Cycle or PDCA cycle1

used in manufacturing and management and are the key to delivering

on a goal whether it is landing on the moon or learning to walk.

Performance Lab have 3 technologies (Figure 2) that answer these

questions:

• Adaptive Planner2, (A)

• Activity Detection3 (B) and

• Fitness assessment4. (C)

Figure 1. Traditional ‘Information Age’ Model Used in Wearable Technology Currently.

Figure 2. Performance Lab ‘Intelligence Age’ Model (Self Optimizing ‘Closing the Loop’ Model.)


Why is answering these questions so important? Here are the most important features to exercise

effectively.

Answering ‘what should I do’ question requires that:

F1: A plan should be precisely designed to achieve your goal using the best practices available using

an automated multi algorithmic plan builder if you don’t have a coach or trainer. (not a template)

F2: The Plan must be optimised to your personal experience, ability and current state.

F3: The Plan must fit into your weekly schedule and not be some dumb template.

F4: It should automatically detect your Training Zones to Gauge Effort Correctly. (*=unique to

Performance Lab.)

F5: The Plan should exist on the training device for referral, not back at home on the fridge.

F6: Because your workouts can’t always be done as planned, the plan should be adaptable and

automatically re-optimise itself. *

Answering ‘what did I do’ question requires the ability that:

F7: Different exercises (Training Types) within the workout can be detected automatically. *

F8: It should not be rigid expecting you to do X for 5mins and Y for 15mins, it should let you do the

exercise as you feel, when the circumstances are right and just know what exercise you are doing. *

F9: It should also know what the workout plan is and provide you with progress updates.

F10: It should help you do the exercises planned for the workout. (In-workout guidance)

F11: It should give you coaching advice if it thinks you need some help.

Answering the ‘How did I do’ question requires that:

F12: It should work out whether you are improving, static or fatigued (Day to Day Physiological

Status measure) in a non-invasive way (no test required) automatically while the user is training. *

F13: It should be able to detect fatigue in-workout so you know if the workout needs to be

shortened. *

F14: It should adjust the plan either in real time or in future workouts to optimise the plan to your

needs.

All of the above are improvements on what is available in the market5. Each Feature from the list will

be highlighted through this document (e.g. Feature 1 will be F1 etc)

Performance Lab not only solve each problem but have also designed it work in an integrated

manner.

The significance of this technology is in the sum of the parts; the synergy of the features.

Answering one question does not create much value, a little like having a steering wheel without the

car, it is when all 3 questions and their supporting features work together that things become useful

and valuable.

This is not a future vision, here are the parts.


Adaptive Planner (What Should I Do?): The adaptive planner has 3 parts;

• the plan builder,

• the schedule adjuster and

• the plan updater.

a. The Plan Builder6 – Using world class periodization techniques (F1) , the Plan Builder

creates 6 to 14 week plans without using plan templates. (See Figure 3) Only 6-8

questions need to be answered. See: A Machine That Can Write a Custom Training

Program: Exercise Plan Builder Module.

Figure 3. Cycle Training Plan Example Generated by the Plan Builder

Each plan is individually assembled using different modules (like Lego blocks) meaning

for example that over 90,000 plans are available for running*. (See Figure 4)

The plan is quick to create and events, event date, starting training volumes, experience

level, (F2) and workout days and rest days within the week are all configurable to suit

the user (F3).

User effort is automatically detected using Performance Lab’s effort calibration system

(F4) that needs no invasive test*. Over time it learns the users training zones. (Figure 5C)


Figure 4. Cycle Training Plans of Varying Lengths Generated by the Plan Builder (Note in the example that rather than removing weeks to shorten the plan, the plan builder builds each workout individually.)

180,000 cycling (Figure 4) and walking programs with the same flexibility of design are also

available.

The planner is designed in such a way that many other activity plans could be added to the

software easily in the same way.

Coaches, trainers and experienced athletes can also produce their own manual plans that

can be loaded into the system.

Programs can be composed on the cloud and sent to a smart phone or device or composed

directly on the smart phone or device.

The plan schedule (F5) runs seamlessly on the device. (See Figure 5)

Figure 5. Screen Shots Showing a Running Training Plan on the phone (from left to right) A. Today’s Workout and Start Button, B. Complete Workout Schedule and C. Automatically Calibrated Training Zones Using ARDA Technology.


b. Schedule Adjuster7 – This feature allows users to personally adjust their planned

workouts and training weeks (F6). The system then auto-optimises the new weekly

workout configuration*. (Figures 6 & 7.) See: Making Your Plan Fit into Life: Adaptive

Planner Module.

Figure 6. First Example of a User Adjusting their Running Training Plan Schedule with ARDA’s automated re-optimization of the Training Plan.

Figure 7. Second Example of the same User Further Adjusting their Running Training Plan Schedule with ARDA’s automated re-optimization of the Training Plan.


c. Plan Updater – The patent pending Plan Updater will be explained once other required

features have been discussed later in this document. See: Exercise Plan Updater Module

& Exercise Plan Builder Background/Validation.

Activity Detection (What did I do?): Automatically detecting activity is very difficult due to the complex tangle of interrelationships

between different exercise parameters. (Figure 8) Performance Lab have patented algorithms

that solve this.8

Figure 8. ARDA Running Data Visualizer Showing All the Different Data Parameters Measured and Derived. (Smart Phone and Heart Rate Monitor or Smart Phone, Heart Rate and Footpod.)

Performance Lab Activity Detection breaks into 3 parts:

• Activity Detection

• Compliance Measurement

• Exercise Guidance and Coaching Feedback

a. Activity Detection – embedded in a device (e.g. a smart phone or training monitor

wristwatch) ARDA patented algorithms can identify different types of activity during a

workout session in real time*. (F7)

Many systems use rigid time-based workouts (5mins of this then 10mins of that and 6mins

of…) where problems arise like the user being asked to run faster while climbing a hill

because the plan has speed work scheduled at that point in time.


Performance Lab allow the user to complete the different exercises in their workout when

they feel ready and the conditions are optimal and the system can detect the type of

exercise when it occurs9. (F8) See: Detecting Activity: Contextual Classification Module.

Figure 9. Different Types of Running Activity Detected in Figure 8. (Colour Coded Blocks Represent Different Types of Exercise.)

b. Compliance Measurement – because ARDA can accurately detect Training Type activities, it

can also compare activity compliance to a scheduled workout plan* in real time or post

workout10. (F9) (Figures 10 & 11).

Figure 10. Real time Feedback within a workout for a Runner. ARDA knows that High Effort Reps are Scheduled, knows that this is the Second Repeat, knows the Repeats Went Well and Knows that No More Repeats are Scheduled today answering the 3 key questions; What should I do? What did I do? And How did I do?


Figure 11. Post Workout Feedback within a workout for a Runner. ARDA knows What Exercise Activities were trained in the workout and how many repeats of each Activity occurred.

c. Exercise Guidance and Coaching Advice11 –

i) Exercise Guidance - Guidance (F10) involves (Figures 12 & 13):

• information on compliance progress through the workout,

• methods that help a user to remain in a training zone,

• cumulative and real-time workout progress and

• gamified progress information on ‘winning the goal metric’ for the workout (e.g.

minutes in a training zone, vertical meters climbed, distance covered.)


Figure 12. ARDA Workout Guidance Data for a Cyclist

Figure 13. ARDA Workout Guidance Data for a Cyclist.

ii) Coaching Advice – Coaching advice (F11) requires an extra interpretation layer of logic

where events are detected and coaching recommendations are formulated and

provided to the user as feedback. (Figures 14 & 15) This can be informative, motivational

and friendly designed as if someone was helping and coaching you as you exercisied.

Over 50% of people exercise alone.6 In the Physical Activity Council’s 2017 Participation

Report the main barrier given for not exercising were, having someone to take part with

and having a friend come along.12 The gym company Equinox have taken a similar

approach and say: “People who are going through the chatbot experience are seeing

almost a 40 percent increase in their engagement in subsequent weeks than people who

don’t.”13


Figure 14. ARDA Coaching Advice for a Cyclist.

Figure 15. ARDA Coaching Advice for a Cyclist.

See: Interpreting Exercise Data: Guidance and Coaching Module

Fitness Assessment (How did I do?): Performance Lab’s activity detection means that data from exercise activities grouped and logged

under their classifications (see Figure 8.) can then be interrogated in different ways including

accurate patent pending measures of fitness by comparing ‘like with like’ data. (see Figure 16.)


Figure 16. ARDA Activity Classifications Within a Running Workout where ‘like’ classifications within the same workout or between the current workout and ‘like’ historic data ensures accurate fitness measures.

Fitness assessments14 (F12) occur as both within a workout and between workouts measures.

a) Within Workout Performance

Within a workout, Performance can be assessed either post workout or during the workout in real

time. In each workout, the Performance algorithm measures a user in two ways*; (Figure 17)

• the Cardio Performance Capacity (fitness) or

• the Cardio Performance Endurance (measures endurance and fatigue rate – F13)

Figure 17. Cardio Performance Capacity and Cardio Performance Endurance measures.

b) Between Workout Cardio Performance

Inter-workout Cardio Performance presents two values*, which align with the Two-Factor Theory15

of performance.

Long Term Cardio Performance (slow time course) represents physical fitness, which is relatively

stable over time – it doesn’t vary over minutes or hours, but over weeks and months. (Figure 18A)

Short Term Cardio Performance (fast time course) represents fatigue, psychological overstress, and

illness, and can vary much faster. (Figure 18B)

See: Measuring Performance: Fitness and Fatigue Measures (Cardio Performance Module)


Figure 18. Measures of Short and Long Fitness Measures for a Runner Over Several Months.

Cardio Performance can be mapped onto a matrix measure* (Figure 19) to provide insights on

current physical status. The four quadrants are:

• Recovered (Fitness Improvement and Low Training Load),

• Training (Fitness Improvement and Increased Training Load),

• Overreaching (Deteriorated Physical Status = Fatigue and Increased Training Load) and

• Overtraining (Deteriorated Physical Status = Fatigue and Decreased Training Load)

Larger dots indicate more recent workouts. Physical State ideally should move between Recovered

and Training quadrants depending on the loading and unloading of a training program. (Figure 19)

Figure 19. Matrix of Fitness and Training Load Measures (where larger dots mean a more recent workout) Providing an Indication of the user’s physical state.

Plan Updater Continued: The combination of

• adaptive plan,

• activity detection compliance and

• fitness assessment measures


allows ARDA to understand the user’s strengths, weaknesses and preferred behaviours so it can

automatically update the training plan appropriately.16 (F14)

The Plan updater can reduce or increase the volume in a workout, delete a workout or

reduce/increase/delete the types of training within a workout*. (next future workout or in real

time.)

Performance Lab also have a non heart rate physical status algorithm similar to TrainingPeaks and of

approximately the same accuracy for use in situations where no heart rate value is available.

Closing the Loop = Self Learning/Optimizing The combination of the 3 technologies ‘closes the loop’* (see Figure 2) in that

1. Training plan is provided (How did I go?),

2. The training activities can be tracked automatically (What did I do?) and

3. The fitness is measured with insights on progress (How did I do?) which loops back to 1.

ARDA is the only exercise system in the world currently that truly learns and self optimizes. Each

component is unique in that no other competitor can provide:

• an adaptive planner,

• patented activity detection,

• that can accurately measure fitness day to day,

• and update itself,

• or do this in a self-learning integrated loop.

In terms of effectiveness, ARDA when compared to Polar, Suunto, Timex, Garmin, Strava,

Maymyfitness, Adidas micoach and Nike+ is the most sophisticated and useful system in the world

for people who engage in goal orientated exercise.

….More Cheaply,…. ARDA on a smart phone can be paired to sophisticated training sensors like running footpods, heart

rate transmitters, bike speed and power sensors through ANT+ or BLE or can work with phone

sensors solely.

Competing with US$50 to US$700 purpose built devices, ARDA on a smart phone can offer a more

effective experience for a significantly lower up front cost.

Instead a subscription to the service is offered in line with Strava’s US$8 per month premium

membership or Mapmyfitness’ US$6 per month.

Blood glucose, blood pressure and EKG sensors can also be connected.

….Using A Device Everybody Owns! 1.3 billion people already own a smart phone and with ARDA a user

• can purchase cheap external sensors (e.g. footpod and heart rate) for a sports performance

experience or

• use the phones internal sensors for a recreational exercise experience.

The combination of a


• more effective enhanced experience,

• in a cheaper up front offering,

• on a device that everyone already owns

has the potential is disrupt the outdoor exercise industry.

Notes on the Exercise Industry:

5-10% of people who exercise are coached in gyms17. We’d imagine outdoor coaching would be even

less. Let’s say 95% of people that run (47 million), Trail run (8 million), hike (42 million), cycle (46

million), triathlon (4 million) are not coached18. Walking numbers show it to be the most popular

exercise activity with 30% of the US population walking for exercise.19

In terms of popularity for exercise participation, running is first, hiking is third and cycling is fourth.

Running accounts for 2.6 billion workouts per year with cycling at 1.4 billion and hiking at 445

million.5

See:

• Interpreting Exercise Data: Guidance and Coaching Module

• Exercise Plan Builder Background/Validation

• System for Controlling/Preventing: 1. Hypertension, 2. Type 2 Diabetes

• Measuring Performance: Fitness and Fatigue Measures (Cardio Performance Module)

References:

1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDCA 2 Performance Lab Whitepapers: Performance Lab’s AI Plan Builder User Experience and Performance Lab Adaptive Planner User Experience 3 Performance Lab Whitepapers: Performance Lab Activity Classification IP Summary, Context, Cardiovascular Delay and Comparisons, Performance Lab Data Analysis: Cardiovascular Data 4 Performance Lab Whitepaper: The World’s first Day to Day Cardiovascular Performance Measurement Module 5

6 Performance Lab Whitepaper: Performance Lab’s AI Plan Builder User Experience

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDCA


7 Performance Lab Whitepaper: Performance Lab Adaptive Planner User Experience 8 Performance Lab Whitepaper: Performance Lab Activity Classification IP Summary 9 Performance Lab Whitepaper: Context, Cardiovascular Delay and Comparisons 10 Performance Lab Whitepaper: Performance Lab Data Analysis: Cardiovascular Data 11 Performance Lab Whitepaper: The World’s First True Coaching System: Performance Lab Guidance and Coaching Module 12 http://www.physicalactivitycouncil.com/pdfs/current.pdf 13 https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/they-offered-to-pay-people-to-go-to-the-gym-guess-what-happened/2017/08/01/b6c58704-75fd-11e7-8f39-eeb7d3a2d304_story.html?utm_term=.79fabfce29b4 14 Performance Lab Whitepaper: The World’s first Day to Day Cardiovascular Performance Measurement Module 15 Zatsiorsky V. 1995. Science and Practice of Strength Training. Champaign (IL) U.S.A. Human Kinetics p. 15-18 16 Performance Lab Whitepaper: Performance Lab Dynamic Planner Future Roadmap 17 http://www.ihrsa.org/blog/2010/10/11/personal-training-conversion-rates.html 18 https://outdoorindustry.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/2017-Topline-Report_FINAL.pdf

http://www.physicalactivitycouncil.com/pdfs/current.pdf

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/they-offered-to-pay-people-to-go-to-the-gym-guess-what-happened/2017/08/01/b6c58704-75fd-11e7-8f39-eeb7d3a2d304_story.html?utm_term=.79fabfce29b4

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/they-offered-to-pay-people-to-go-to-the-gym-guess-what-happened/2017/08/01/b6c58704-75fd-11e7-8f39-eeb7d3a2d304_story.html?utm_term=.79fabfce29b4

http://www.ihrsa.org/blog/2010/10/11/personal-training-conversion-rates.html

https://outdoorindustry.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/2017-Topline-Report_FINAL.pdf

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New Exercise Paradigm ‘Closing the Loop’: Consumer ...arda.ai/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Closing-the-Loop.pdf · F9: It should also know ... Status measure) in a non-invasive