The STOP platform was developed in response to the societal challenges posed by obesity and other related health issues. The team behind the platform conducted a thorough analysis of the requirements to ensure that the platform would effectively address these challenges. Based on the results of this requirement analysis, the general architecture of the STOP platform was carefully specified and visualized. The platform consists of a persistent layer located in the cloud, which includes a structured content repository for scientific content and a knowledge network for knowledge objects. The Content and Knowledge Management (KM-EP) acts as the integration layer and provides a unified platform for applications and services to interact with each other. This allows for the development and integration of various applications and services that can be built upon the KM-EP. By carefully analyzing the requirements and developing a well-designed platform architecture, the STOP platform is poised to effectively tackle the societal challenges of obesity and other related health issues.
The initial version of the STOP platform was demonstrated and evaluated in a feasibility study, which helped the team determine areas for improvement. Based on the results of the study, a second, improved version of the platform was developed. This new version introduced new features to the platform's web application, such as a mobile application that allowed users to interact with the STOP portal using their smartphones. The STOP Fitness Manager mobile app makes it easier for users to manage their progress and fitness data, providing a quick and convenient way to stay on top of their health goals. The partners were also working closely with each other to implement shared authentication and authorization and to ensure that users have access to their own databases. The collaboration has been instrumental in integrating all independent systems and services under one architecture and user interface. This has created a more unified and streamlined platform that provides users with a consistent experience across all of its features and services.
Furthermore, the platform uses machine learning algorithms to analyze the imported fitness data and offer personalized health recommendations through a chatbot interface. In the second release, users don’t need to be redirected to the chatbot platform to start the conversation with the AI bot. They can interact with the bot directly through a pop-up window. The chatbot, in collaboration with healthcare professionals, provides users with customized nutrition and exercise plans to help them reach their fitness goals. With these enhanced features and functionalities, the STOP portal serves as an all-in-one platform for individuals to manage their fitness data and improve their overall health and wellness.
Finally, gamification is applied to avoid dropout from activities and to perform a correct lifestyle and its conservation. The gamification app was designed and developed with the goal of providing visual feedback to users on their progress in developing healthy habits that impact their health and reduce weight problems. The development process followed several phases, starting with the ideation of the app's features. In the second phase, the app was developed as a first prototype using the Stelt framework and included features such as visualizing the user's progress through an evolving picture and providing goals for the user on parameters like water intake, steps taken, calories burned, and consumed. The app also included an educational game to rank foods based on their calorie content. In the third phase, the app was developed with the Flutter framework, connected to the backend services, and included different forms of the original game aimed at educating the user on macronutrients in a healthy diet. With these improvements, the STOP platform is well-positioned to help individuals with obesity achieve their health goals and live healthier lives.
