PaceTank 2.3

Widget, improved algorithm and overall focus on gentle guidance

Improved Exertion Score Algorithm

Our previous exertion score was based on a universal average of heart rate and heart rate variability as well as its standard variations. While that was computationally easier to do, it didn’t take into account the nuances of every individual person’s body and patterns.

As of now, the algorithm will consider your average HR and HRV over the past 30 days, as well as the variation (e.g. standard deviation) of those metrics over the past 30 days. This will allow us to calculate individual exertion scores that are accurate representations of what tires you specifically.

That allows the pacing to be subjective to your own exertion boundaries. Your exertion will be higher if you leave the boundaries of your own usual activity, not to the standards of the average population.

You might notice a bit of a scale change regarding your previous logs, however the algorithm eventually adapts to it.

New Lock Screen Widget

I recently posted on reddit asking how people react to tracking their heart rate and other metrics. You can read it here. As it happened with me, many people started getting anxious because of it. Many people started to viciously track every single change and every pattern, sometimes worsening symptoms. I think at that point that is worse than not having anything at all. Ignorance is bliss sometimes.

In my opinion, healthcare is delicate. Not only physically but mentally. So I wanted to take this approach of making the app as invisible as possible, so that it only comes up when really needed. As a first step, I wanted to create a lock screen widget. For people that are already tired from everything, every action counts. Opening the app, waiting for it to load, answering something. That energy we can’t afford.

My idea was to have pacing at a simple press of the power button, which came through a lock screen widget. This alleviates some of the anxiety that comes with opening the app at all times and allows me to continue my day.

Fixed Bugs and Minor Improvements

• User could save the name as empty

• Notifications would fire multiple times in a short span of time

• Notifications would show incorrect tank percentages

• Removed unused libraries and files

• Simplified test suite for more reliable performance

That is all for this version and as always please contact me for any suggestions or feedback. Stay strong everyone and let’s build something that is truly helpful to people.