Inspiration

While reading through the hackathon challenges, I noticed that the problem of bridging the gap between physical and online stores could potentially be solved through wearable technology. Smart rings are becoming increasingly popular, and I was inspired by products like the Oura Ring. I started thinking about how I could expand on that concept by creating a ring that not only tracks fitness data but also creates real-world value for users.

The idea behind Cova is to reward users for achieving their fitness goals while creating a seamless connection between fitness, social interaction, rewards programs, and retail experiences. I wanted to build something that encourages healthy habits while also making it easier to interact with friends and businesses through a simple tap.

What it does

Cova is a fitness-focused smart ring platform that bridges the gap between physical and online stores through a reward system based on a user’s fitness goals.

Users can:

• Track fitness activity through a smart ring
• Earn rewards for reaching personal fitness goals
• Connect with friends by tapping their rings together
• Share workout metrics and progress
• Redeem rewards at participating stores

The long-term vision includes NFC payments, loyalty point integration, AI-powered recommendations, and personalized experiences driven by Gemini.

How we built it

The project was built using Python, Gemini, MongoDB, and smart ring hardware.

I created a backend service that communicates with the ring and stores user data in MongoDB. Gemini was integrated as an AI assistant and connected to the database so it could retrieve information and answer questions about the platform.

A significant portion of the project involved researching smart ring hardware, testing Bluetooth connectivity, retrieving fitness metrics, and exploring how NFC interactions could be incorporated into the user experience.

Challenges we ran into

The biggest challenge was hardware limitations. Several rings that advertised NFC functionality either did not expose usable NFC capabilities or lacked developer documentation, making it impossible to fully implement the tap-to-pay and tap-to-connect features during the hackathon.

Another challenge was evaluating different smart rings and understanding the differences in how each device exposed fitness data. A lot of time was spent testing hardware, reverse engineering functionality, and determining what was actually possible with consumer devices.

I also spent considerable time thinking through how Gemini could provide meaningful value beyond being a simple chatbot. While the current implementation focuses on knowledge retrieval, the larger vision requires deeper integrations with rewards systems, payments, and user activity data.

Accomplishments that we’re proud of

• Successfully connected to and retrieved fitness data from smart ring hardware
• Built a working backend connected to MongoDB
• Integrated Gemini into the application
• Created a proof of concept for a fitness-based rewards ecosystem
• Developed a roadmap that combines wearable technology, AI, social interaction, and retail rewards into a single platform
• Continued building despite hardware limitations and incomplete NFC support

What we learned

This project taught me a lot about wearable technology and the challenges of building applications around consumer hardware. I learned how inconsistent hardware support can be across different devices and how important developer documentation is when integrating physical products.

I also learned more about AI agent architectures, database integrations, and how Gemini can be used to provide intelligent assistance beyond simple question answering.

Most importantly, I learned that building a hardware-adjacent product often requires as much research and experimentation as software development.

What’s next for Cova

The next step is implementing true NFC functionality once compatible hardware is available. I also plan to expand Gemini’s role within the platform so it can provide personalized coaching, rewards recommendations, friend activity insights, and intelligent automation.

Future features include:

• Tap-to-connect friend interactions
• NFC payments using linked cards and rewards points
• Fitness-based loyalty programs
• Store partnerships and reward redemption
• AI-powered fitness recommendations
• Enhanced social and community features

Cova started as a hackathon project, but the goal is to continue developing it into a platform that makes fitness more rewarding, social, and connected to everyday life.

Built With

• ble
• gemini
• mcp
• monogdb
• python
• swift