Exercise with Alexa

Who says you can't get roasted and get in shape at the same time?

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Inspiration

Everyone needs a little demotivational reality check every now and then.

What it does

Alexa becomes your own personal fitness trainer, counts out or times your reps of push-ups, jumping jacks, sit-ups, and planks. She also can't resist throwing in a snide comment or two.

How we built it

AWS Lambda Function and Alexa

Challenges we ran into

Making Alexa count at different paces (or count at all)

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Currently, there is no functionality that allows Alexa to count at different paces, but we were able to accomplish that in our skill. Being able to integrate this functionality in such a fun skill is something that we're really proud of.

What we learned

Some of us had never used Alexa before, so we learned how to write a skill. Others learned how to write a more complicated skill.

What's next for Exercise with Alexa

Integration with a motion sensor app, such as the Amazon Fire Phone, that allows for Alexa to track each exercise in real time. Alexa will respond as she sees fit to every half-hearted pushup or well-done sit-up.

Sample Inputs/Outputs

Alexa, open Personal Trainer.
Welcome to your fitness program. You can ask me for Push-ups, Sit-ups, Jumping Jacks, the Plank, or say help. What will it be?
Sit-ups.
Start counting sit-ups. On a scale from 1 to 10 with 1 being you are weak AF and 10 being you are a savage, what pace do you choose to do your sit-ups?
-5.
We're asking for the number of reps not your IQ. Now how many reps of sit-ups do you want to do?
10.
You said pace 10. How many sit-ups do you want to do?
1000.
WHOA! someone needs a reality check. You are not superman. There is no way you can do that many. Now how many reps of sit-ups do you want to do?
6.
You said 6. Start counting. 1... 2... 3... 4... 5... 6... You are done! I don't even have arms or legs and I bet I could do more than you. OK. What else do you want to do?
Jumping Jacks.
Start counting jumping jacks. On a scale from 1 to 10 with 1 being you are weak AF and 10 being you are a savage, what pace do you choose to do your jumping jacks?
7.
You said pace 7. How many jumping jacks do you want to do?
5.
You said 6. Start counting. 1...... 2...... 3....... 4....... 5...... (much slower compared to pace 10) You are done! I don't even have arms or legs and I bet I could do more than you. OK. What else do you want to do?
Plank.
Start timing the plank. How many seconds do you wish to hold your plank?
40.
You said 40 seconds. Start counting. (...) Did you really do that or am I just counting? (...) Do you want me to stop and order you a pizza while you catch your breath? (...) 20 seconds has passed. You are halfway there. (...) I don't even have arms or legs and I bet I could do more than you. (...) Are you still here or did you sneak off to the fridge to eat a donut? (...) You are done, although it was not impressive at all. Do you want to start another workout?
No.
I figured that you would not be able to last till the end. Well... at least you have a great personality.
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