Throughout much of human history, exercise has been primarily a communal activity, whether taking place outdoors or within fitness facilities like gyms and sports centers. However, the advent of the internet and digital technologies has allowed businesses to transform this experience into one that can be enjoyed from the comfort of home. This shift offers significant benefits, especially for office workers who may prefer the convenience of exercising at home after a long commute rather than heading to the gym.
The shift also caters to older adults, many of whom may face mobility challenges that make traditional gym visits less appealing. This growing need for accessible home workouts has given rise to various fitness programs, video tutorials, and online classes. Although these advancements improved access to fitness, personalisation remained a largely overlooked area—until recently.
AI’s Impact on Home Workouts
The emergence of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in late 2022 has brought newfound attention to the field, but AI’s influence on daily life has been evident for much longer. From smartphones to sophisticated algorithms in various applications, technologies like predictive analytics, rule-based AI, and machine learning have been ingrained in everyday software.
AI integration into home fitness has been gradual. Wearable devices such as Fitbit and Apple Watch provide users with valuable insights into their daily activity levels, enabling them to tailor their workouts for maximum benefit—setting the stage for greater personalisation.
Despite this progress, many home workout solutions were lacking expert guidance on workout types, proper form, and customised routine development, a gap that businesses sought to close during the COVID-19 pandemic when many people were confined indoors.
Equipment like the Carol Bike 2.0 and OxeFit’s XP1 began to introduce AI personalisation to the home gym market, primarily catering to consumers in Western countries. Recognising a significant gap in the Indian market, Hyderabad-based startup Portl launched its smart mirror-based AI home workout system, known as Portl Studio.
Gadgets 360 spoke with Indraneel Gupta, Founder and CEO of Portl, to explore the technology behind Portl Studio and its use of AI to provide a personalised health and fitness experience.
The Concept Behind Portl Studio
Founded in 2021, Portl set out to tackle the issue of personalisation for individuals who prefer exercising at home. Gupta noted, “A common challenge for many is the one-size-fits-all approach typical in gyms and fitness centers.”
Portl Studio
Photo Credit: Portl
The company targets individuals aged 35 and older, understanding that convenience and engagement are critical factors for their fitness journey. The proposed solution? A large smart mirror that acts as both a reflective surface and a display for tailored workout routines and motivational guidance. But how does it function?
The Technology Behind Portl Studio
The Portl Studio is a robust 32kg device, measuring 5.8 x 2 x 0.1 feet, necessitating professional installation on a wall or stand. While this may deter some potential users, it serves as an effective alternative for those reluctant to go to the gym. The device aims to incorporate all essentials to fulfil fitness needs without requiring access to a social setting.
The smart mirror hosts a variety of sensors to monitor user posture in real-time. Equipped with biosensors akin to those found in smartwatches, it measures health metrics and integrates several cameras to accurately assess these parameters.
Portl Studio operates with two pivotal components: a system-on-chip powered by Snapdragon chipsets, which provides the necessary computational capabilities, and a multi-touch display coated with a nano protection layer for enhanced durability. The device also features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for users to connect their headphones or stream music via services like Spotify.
“The objective has always been to create a situation where the program continuously evolves based on the user’s minimal performance level. We developed a system that considers various data points, including sleep patterns and recovery rates, to inform the next workout,” Gupta explained.
The system prioritises real-time data processing to tailor workout intensity efficiently, with heavy processing handled by the onboard AI algorithms.
AI Functionality in Portl Studio
Gupta stated that data collection and AI processing is conducted directly on the device, ensuring that no personal user information is transmitted off-site. To manage the complexities of real-time analytics, Portl employs several AI-driven processes.
Importantly, no generative AI tools are utilised. Instead, rule-based algorithms serve to analyse and predict user actions. Gupta highlighted this choice, emphasising that fitness science and body mechanics are well-established and do not frequently change.
Similar to generative AI frameworks, these algorithms operate on foundational principles to assess user performance metrics. Additionally, user input adds an extra layer of customisation.
Portl Studio AI Interface
Photo Credit: Portl
Gupta further illustrated the process: “During onboarding, a user provides information about their lifestyle, health conditions, and any injuries. These details guide the development of a tailored workout plan. Following that, a quick 45-second health scan assesses vital signs such as blood pressure and heart rate.”
This scan establishes a baseline for the individual, while the cameras gather data on functional movements, including balance and mobility. Such information helps shape the user’s starting point and informs a custom workout regimen that accommodates their capabilities.
Use Cases for Portl Studio
The Portl Studio offers 15 distinct workout formats, with an emphasis on calisthenics. Unlike many fitness devices, it does not include weight training, focusing instead on cardio and bodyweight exercises. The device also features yoga, meditation, and skill-based training options like Muay Thai and kickboxing.
Currently, all provided workout formats and instructional videos are included without subscription fees, granting access to users with over 1,000 active participants each month, despite the premium price tag of Rs. 1,25,000.
Even though Portl Studio excels in personalisation and variety, its exclusion of strength-training workouts presents a significant limitation. Acknowledging this, Gupta revealed that the company has introduced a new product, the Ultragym, designed to fill this gap.
Introducing Portl Ultragym
The Ultragym is a compact smart fitness device occupying 2.4 square feet and weighing 12 kg. It comprises a board, cables, accessories, and a bench, offering users the versatility to perform 150 different exercises. Rather than traditional weight plates, the cables employ a motor to provide resistance.
Portl Ultragym
Photo Credit: Portl
Each cable allows a maximum resistance of 35 kg, enabling workouts of up to 70 kg requiring both hands. This device is accompanied by an app that monitors activity and formulates customised workout routines. The Ultragym is priced at Rs. 59,990.
To ensure user safety during heavy lifting, Gupta shared that the device is equipped with safety features, allowing automatic adjustment of weight in cases of struggle or imbalance, ensuring a safer workout experience.
The Prospects for Smart Home Workouts
The landscape of smart home workout technology has evolved significantly, yet there are still numerous challenges to address. Although personalised routines and fitness monitoring allow users to make progress at home, many existing devices lack portability, making them impractical for frequent travelers.
Moreover, current technologies often focus on basic fitness, with insufficient solutions for those with competitive aspirations or advanced fitness goals. Additionally, motivation—an essential component for consistent exercise—is frequently overlooked by existing tech solutions.
As businesses continue to innovate and address these shortcomings, it remains to be seen whether at-home workouts will fully replace traditional fitness environments like gyms and studios, or if such social spaces will continue to hold importance in the fitness community.
