Jumpy Cat - a free, inclusive Fitness Coach app that designs personalised workouts

Hi Silvia, I will give this app a try! Thank you.

Amazing! This app might just as well be exactly what I need! :)
I downloaded it and took a quick glans, and so far this app looks really promissing!
Ionly wish this app would be able to sync workout data to Apple Health... By a quick look within the app I couldn't find any setting to do that. It's very nice to be able to have all my health goals populate at the same place and to keep track of my activity in the health app both from my Apple Watch and from other workout apps. But perhaps that will come in a future update.
I'm looking forwards to testing this app out tomorrow! If the time wasn't past 11 o'clock in the evening right now here in norway and my kids weren't asleep, I'd jump right on it and do a workout session at once, but then I have something to look forwards to tomorrow :)

Hi Silvia, I am still very interested but I did not have good success after downloading this app. I chose my workout, the video came up, but nothing happened. I'm sure it must be operator error. So any suggestions would be welcome. I went in to my settings but the app didn't show there. Thank you for any suggestions. Still very interested.

This is an awesome idea. I really hope to see more instructions on how to do some of the exercises mentioned, even a section listing them with brief audio or text descriptions of how to do each would be really helpful.

I am absolutely a fan of this and look forward to further updates. I love the versatility in the types of fitness, length of time, etc etc.

Thanks for this and I hope you get more good feedback!

I just took a look at the app and created a workout. That went fine, and the workout started. My issue was, it does not describe the exercises, and I must admit, I have no idea what a clam shell or a boxer shuffle is. And, those were low impact and level one exercises. What happens when they get more difficult? I guess my point is, either the exercises need to be described, or like was previously mentioned, there aught to be a list of the exercises so one can read the text of how to do them. I do like the idea though and would be interested in seeing this app be developed further.

I love this concept! I was just thinking I would love an audio described quick HIIT workout, and I saw this post!

I see in the above comments that you are already working on describing the exercises, so that takes care of my first recommendation. A separate section describing them would work, but it would be even better directly in the workout. In the one workout I tried, there was plenty of dead air to fit it in. Since I assume you have tons of moves, and there's no way to know which moves will be in a workout, it would be hard to know which ones to go look up in advance. Speaking of that, it might be nice to have a place that lists the moves in a workout so we would know what to expect. That way I could change the workout without having to do the whole thing first. For example, the one workout I made was a 10 minute HIIT, and it seemed like it just alternated 2 moves over and over. Because I was just testing it out, I didn't listen to the whole thing, but I wouldn't want that workout. Next time I will increase the difficulty level to see what else I get, but it will be annoying to have to listen to the whole thing first to know what I'm getting.

One other recommendation is to add a beat to the background to know the tempo of the workout. I had no idea what pace I should be going.

I will leave a review on the app store and tell my friends about the app, but not just yet since currently the app isn't fully usable for me. I look forward to updates soon!

Hi not only did I try this app but I also paid for the in app purchase. I’m really enjoying this and I look forward to the descriptions of exercises I will be leaving a review on the App Store. For someone who has arthritis, I love the versatility of these workouts. Again thank you

I think this app has potential, but as I review it, I can see some major weaknesses.

On the plus side, the app is indeed very accessible. The interface is clean and uncluttered.

It sounds like your working on how to describe the exercises, so you're already addressing that concern.

But, Houston, we have a problem.

Your use of a text to speech voice to guide the user during the workouts lacks the engagement I'd expect from a personal fitness trainer. The prompts sound cold, dry and impersonal, and I'd likely lose interest after a while. Even though the words might be motivating, the voice puts me to sleep. Also, some of the prompts need to be checked for clarity. One of them says something like, "You're at the half point." Did you mean halfway point?

I'm not sure that having a single voice for all workouts is a good idea in the long term. Right now, you have the same voice regardless of the type of workout.

You might wish to find some voice artists who can make the workouts more personal and engaging, and maybe vary it up depending on the type of workout. Also, please add music, since as of this release, there's too much dead space between the prompts.

Thanks for hearing me out.

I was saying that I can't see how music and a synthesized voice would match up in a workout environment. That's why I feel that voice talent is so critical to the long-term success of this app. Thanks.

I'm pleased you've reached out to this forum, but if you haven't done so, I'd get in touch with the RNIB, since they might be able to help you find ways to describe the exercises. I'd also get in touch with a university or something like a community college to find fitness instructors and students who know how to train people.

Please understand that in my view, voice talent is critical for making these workouts engaging. Since I can't see the trainer, I need to hear encouragement or reassurance in the trainer's voice, and with any synthesized voice, I'm not getting it. I'm just getting words, and after reviewing some of these workouts, the voice started to sound flat. So I'd urge you to think seriously about finding someone who can record prompts for you at little or no cost, but in the long term, please don't stay with the text to speech voice. I understand some people are trying to find ways to make text to speech voices more expressive, but I doubt they're going to be able to do so for a few more years. You could try to program these voices, but I don't think it's going to sound the same. Plus, even if you gave the voice a name, I'm not sure I could relate to it. Any attempt to do that in this environment can still come off as fake, and I'd see through it.

Bottom line: Even if you tried to make the synthesized voice try to sound expressive, I'm not sure everyone will be convinced. I realize you're using it in the short term, but voice talent will be more effective in the long term for making this app more engaging for an audience who depends on voice.

Also, I'd look at that university or community college for any musicians who can write workout music for you. Someone noted that pacing the workout without music is challenging.

And that's also why I'm serious about encouraging you to find voice talent. Upbeat music with a cold synthesized voice is not a good match.

Please pardon me, but I feel this is important for you to think about. It might take some funding, which is why I might suggest finding a sponsor who can help you with that. But whatever you do, please seek out help. Thanks.

Thanks for your reply. Based on what I've seen, I'd encourage you to work on the following.

Work with RNIB and any other blindness organizations for guidance on how to describe the exercises. Also, get in touch with some of those fitness instructors at a university, community college, or local fitness center. I know you're working on that, so please keep doing it.

I can't emphasize enough the importance of finding voice talents. As I said in my last message, using the same electronic voice throughout the app turned me off. I'd encourage you to find both male and female voices to create variety and hold interest. Your audience needs to hear someone who can motivate and encourage them, which is why voice talent is so important. That's why I think fitness instructors could be a resource, whether at a university, community college or local fitness center. These people know some things about how to train people, so they know how to motivate and encourage them.

Someone noted that without music, they can't really pace the workouts. Please find someone to write the music for you. And remember that upbeat music combined with a voice that lacks emotion is bound to send the wrong messages to an audience who depends on voice.

If you need funds, please look for someone to sponsor you. Maybe the RNIB could be a sponsor for you, so I'd talk with them over Zoom or some other conference call app to explain your concept to them. They might also be able to hook you up with some blind/visually impaired musicians.

Finally, keep working on health app integration.

I think your app has potential, but with these suggestions, I think the app will go over much better. I'll be checking this forum for updates and hearing what others think. Thanks, and good luck.

Hi.

I gave this a try too, and I really like it. As someone who's written my own workout system in Shortcuts, I always find the different ways people do this interesting.

First, I don't actually mind the electronic voice, my own system does this through Voiceover, the problem for me is that you can't seem to adjust it. For example, I could use the speed to be a bit faster. I agree with the music suggestion, my own method which is to play something else at the same time I'm having Voiceover read my workout moves obviously doesn't work here, since you can't play more than one audio track at once. It's an interesting puzzle, since I imagine you'd have to add the music server side when you create the workout.

The descriptions are an interesting problem too, since I'm imagining the more you used the app, the more the same moves would come up, particularly if you replayed a workout you'd already generated. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't need the description the tenth time I'd done the same exercise.

I'm going to give this a try for my next workout and see how I go doing not just listening.

It sounds like we're bound to run into some complications, and I can't help feel that we might have a disconnect somewhere.

Based on the feedback we've all been giving, I just can't see how you can use an electronic voice and make if as adaptable through these workouts without compromising the intelligibility. These voices just aren't as adaptable in terms of pacing, because once you've set it, you have to go back in and change it. So if the voice is client side, the only way for the user to change it is to stop the workout, that is, unless there was some programming in there to make it possible for the voice to adapt on the fly. If the voice is server side, the programmer would have to control its pacing. Face it, as it is now, the voice is too slow, and while it's possible to speed it up, how would you do that without sacrificing intelligibility? Also, you have to be careful not to cut off prompts.

Bottom line: The current crop of electronic voices just isn't organic enough to take the place of voice talents. Also, since the tone of the voice you're using doesn't vary, it still feels strange. I especially feel this, since all your workouts right now are cardio or strength. There's no yoga or meditation programs, and since the voice sounds exactly the same, how is someone to tell the difference just on the voice alone? It just seems like we have a disconnect somewhere.

If you do add music server side, you'd need to have enough so it's not too predictable. Also, you'd want the music to fade when the app needs to read out a prompt. Also, I'd suggest that the music be instrumental.

It sounds like you have a lot of challenges you need to deal with, so I'd add some people in the gaming community to your resource list.

I'm not sure how you'll be able to add descriptions, but the only way I can see that was if you added a kind of "learn the exercises" section to the app. .

I'd also add a Settings tab to the app to do such things as clearing your history, choosing between audio and audio/video, and other controls.

Bottom line: You have your work cut out for you. Thanks.

Hi Sylvia
Having tried out a few workouts, this app really does show some promise - especially for blind people. As someone who is totally blind, I’m looking forward to further improvements with more audio, especially some description on exactly what & how each movement should be performed I.e. what is a “Monster Munch Walk”?!! Since its pretty clear that the workout programs have a set time to perform each exercise, personally I think it would be useful either to have some music or beat or Perhaps more of a heads up when each movement is shortly to end. Not knowing exactly what some of the movements involved and with no rhythms to work with, I floundered a bit In the silence between each movement.
I had to mention a Apple rival ie Amazon Alexa, but on there it has “The Body Coach Workout” with more audio driven instructions about how exactly each movement should be performed.
On the positive, I found the app very easy to navigate with voice-over and the selection to choose from is really good, even on the free version. It was really lovely being able to select the type of exercise I wanted & duration. If the audio description surrounding the actual exercises can be expanded on - maybe very descriptive for level 1 and reducing as levels get higher, then I reckon this will definitely turn into a 5* app!!
It’s staying on my phone, hoping for further updates and I would definitely consider buying the pro version if the audio can be enhanced further.
Well done with how much you’ve achieved so far & thank you for remembering us blind folk.

I'm getting the impression that many people on this forum like the app. As I have stated before, thre app has a good deal of potential, but it also needs some work.

From my chair here, I think the biggest concerns seem to be finding some way to describe the exercises concisely and precisely so a blind/visually impaired exerciser can follow the movements. This has always been a challenge for which there is no easy solution. I know one solution would be to stop the workout to describe the next exercise. This makes me wonder: If there's a rest between exercises, can that period be used to give the descriptions? And what about a sort of "learn the exercises," section of the app?

Since there is a set time for each exercise, I'm wondering if anyone in the gaming community can work with our app developers to come up with ways to create music that matches the various types of workouts. Even in the days of classic video games, right up to now, that's what they do. While this app isn't a video game, I believe the gaming community has a lot to teach us in this environment.

Finally, the use of voice talent is, from my perspective, the best way to make the prompts feel and sound organic. I can't emphasize this too strongly, since if you tried to find ways to speed up or slow down the synthesized voices if they're server side, I'm not sure how it would work. I've seen some people try that with audio description, and it still sounds somewhat awkward.

I realize that voice talent costs money, but unless these electronic voices are able to adapt, I just don't see any other way. Maybe it might be a good idea to consult not only with the resources I've suggested, but maybe to partner up with Tyler Meren, founder of Revision Training here in the States. He's working on something similar, though it doesn't involve the artificial intelligence component. And don't forget about the usual crowd funding resources.

I think your idea of using artificial intelligence to design workouts is what makes your app stand out in this space, but finding ways to add audio description, the use of voice talents and the addition of music, not just a beat, but upbeat instrumental music, will go a long way to making this app shine. Thanks, and good luck.

It never fails. Just when you think you've said everything, another observation comes to mind.

While none of your workout programs seems to run longer than a half hour, I can imagine what could happen if you ever go to a full hour. Using the single voice as you are now, I see a danger of the exerciser eventually losing interest and the voice almost fading into the background, especially if it sounds as flat as it is now. It makes me wonder about the possibility of all workouts having at least two voices, but if they're as detached as we have it now, I still feel uneasy. I've seen training programs where two hosts guide the workout if only to help the audience stay interested. But as I've stated before, doing it with two electronic voices just won't cut it if the aim is to motivate the exerciser.

I think this explains why it's easier to create a workout and package it up. Done that way, it's easier to record everything and give the exerciser a package of moves they can learn.

What you've done is unique, since the workout is designed on the fly. However, the people designing these electronic voices have a lot of catching up to do before we get the same on-the-fly adaptability we get from having voice talents in the studio. That's why I've been so vocal. If you're attempting to re-create the feeling of a personal trainer, the electronic voice just doesn't give me that feeling at all.

Another comenter said that when they tried to do a workout, they had trouble pacing it without some kind of a beat. I could also see this, and I'm not sure if having the computer generate music is a good way to go. Plus, if you feel tempted to use so-called chip music, I'd be careful about that. I've heard a bit of chip music, such as the music found in older video games, and most of it leaves me cold.

If anyone can't wait, the only workable solution I see right now if you want to use this app in its current state would be if you have another device, whether it be a digital talking book player or another smart phone or tablet. You could create a few playlists and use one device to play your playlist while you use Jumpy Cat on the other. However, it could be a challenge if you wish to get the timing just right. That's why, from my chair, this is more a stop gap measurer until music is integrated into the app.

Also, if anyone on this forum is a blind/visually impaired musician, maybe you can get in touch with the developer and discuss this with them.

Whatever happens, I encourage the developer not to go it alone. If you try to go it alone, the result could be a mixed bag. That's why I've been suggesting resources so the developer can get help, advice and guidance. This is also why I've been running tests and helping the developer to see potential pitfalls and flaws in their plan.

Bottom Line: I believe this app has potential, but it could be better. Thanks, and good luck.

To Tina: I really like all your suggestions and hope they happen with this app. To Chris: The same crashing happened to me. So I deleted the app. I too chose my workout, my phone went in to landscape mode, and then nothing. But I will keep a watch on this app. And try it out again later on.

I'm pleased that you explained why you're asking for reviews.

Like one of your latest commenters, I have said all along that using a single TTS engine to narrate the workouts is not a good idea in the long run, because it lacks the emotional engagement from a human fitness trainer, whether live or pre-recorded.

It sounds like someone is offering to record narrations for the workout programs. If this means the person is sitting in the studio with a script in front of them and speaking it into a professional mike, that's what I'm after.

Having said that, I thought it would be good to think a minute about the role of the artificial intelligence technology being used to generate the workouts. I get the impression the AI is used to design the workout. I'm also somewhat curious about the prompts, since in my evaluations, I sometimes heard a prompt more than once during a workout. If the AI is drawing from a library of exercises, prompts and phrases, that makes me think it's possible to have prompts, guidance and announcements pre-recorded, and the software could draw on that library to play the right messages. If the AI is actually generating prompts on the fly, that's a different story. But if the AI is drawing from a library of prompts, I believe that the AI could still be used to design the workouts and grab the right recorded messages to keep the program flowing.

This, by the way, is why I suggested the developer talk with the gaming community. Many complex games let the player make moves and respond based on what the player does. A lot of them likely use music for the different worlds and based on the character the player controls.

It sounds like you're releasing the exercise descriptions this week. I think that's good to hear. So I'd suggest the next thing should be finding some people to record the prompts and write music for you. I'd also find someone to sponsor you and help you with funding, even if that funding is meant to pay for the recording. Thanks, and good luck.

First of all, I love the concept of this app. Here goes my thoughts about it.
1: I'd like the voice thing to be optional. I don't feel the need to pretend I'm on the gym with someone guiding me, exercising at home is a lot more like meditation for me. It leads us to my second suggestion.
2: I guess there aren't too much exercises on the app's database, so why not make a system where you mark exercises as learned? I.E:
Today's workout has lunges, squats, planks, jumping jacks and burpees. Squats and lunges are on my learned exercises list so they aren't described anymore.
3: there's a Tabata paid app which uses some different clicks to warn you that the active time is ending and also the resting time is ending. That's a solution you could use.

I enjoy the Fitness Coach app very much. Lots of variety in exercises, and options for length, area of body to work, etc. Routines start easy enough but I have worked a good sweat by the end.

I also applaud the developer(s). I use large text and initially the "Choose Workout" page was quite garbled due to letters overlapping. I reported this to JumpyCat and after a bit the problem was corrected nicely. Very responsive! I expect if others have feedback it will be considered and handled quickly.

Check it out!

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I'm having a lot of fun with the app. One thing I'm missing is an option to add longer pauses between exercise groups.

Hello I’ve tried your fitness app it’s accessible with VoiceOver so far having completed the first session today it looks promising can’t wait to see where future developments take this app

Hello, I don't think I've replied here yet. But this is a great idea. I have worked out at the local YMCA with a few people, and prior to that I worked with a few personal trainers at a local park district fitness center. I had to stop due to the pandemic, but will certainly check out your app. I already have a handful of 3rd-party apps on my phone, and wasn't sure I could fit another one on there. But I'll definitely give your app a go. The website is very nice.