Shapa Product Overview
Shapa is an innovative health management system designed to help users achieve their weight and health goals through a unique, stress-free, and motivating approach. Co-founded by social scientist and Duke University professor Dan Ariely, Shapa combines principles of behavioral science, artificial intelligence, and mobile technology to create a holistic health management solution.
Key Product: Shapa Numberless Scale
The core product is the Shapa numberless scale, which eliminates the traditional display of weight numbers. Instead, it provides feedback through a color-coded system via the accompanying Shapa app. This approach is designed to reduce the demotivating effects of daily weight fluctuations and focus users on long-term progress.Key Features and Functionality
1. Color Feedback System
- The Shapa scale uses a color feedback mechanism to indicate weight trends over the past few weeks. Colors such as green, teal/blue, and light gray/dark gray signify maintaining, losing, or gaining weight, respectively. This system helps users understand true weight changes rather than daily fluctuations.
2. AI-Powered App
- The Shapa app integrates with the scale and provides personalized feedback, health-focused missions, and progress tracking. The app uses algorithms to average weigh-ins over the last three weeks, offering a more accurate and motivating view of progress.
3. Personalized Missions
- The app generates daily missions tailored to the user’s habits, personality, and lifestyle. These missions are designed to help users build healthy habits and stay motivated on their weight loss journey.
4. Activity Tracker
- Shapa has introduced an Activity Tracker feature that integrates with Google Fit and Apple Health. This feature provides a daily average of steps taken over the past week, using a similar color-coded feedback system to encourage physical activity.
5. Progress Tracking and Community Support
- Users can track their progress through features like Shapa Age, Weigh-In History, and Mission History. The app also offers community engagement and support, allowing users to connect with others for motivation and encouragement.
6. Customizable Program
- Upon setup, users fill out a questionnaire that helps Shapa understand their habits, personality, and lifestyle. This information is used to build a customized program of missions and feedback.
7. Motivation and Rewards
- The app includes virtual badges for milestone achievements, such as 30-day weigh-in streaks and mission completions, to keep users motivated and engaged.
8. Data Security and HIPAA Compliance
- Shapa ensures data privacy and security with health and medical-industry standard policies, adhering to HIPAA compliance.
Benefits
- Stress-Free Feedback: Shapa’s approach avoids the demotivating effects of daily weight fluctuations, focusing instead on long-term trends and progress.
- Holistic Health Management: The system addresses various factors influencing health, including diet, stress management, and exercise.
- User-Friendly Experience: The display-free scale and intuitive app make it easy for users to incorporate healthy habits into their daily routine.
- Community and Support: Users can connect with a supportive community and receive expert-led guidance to stay motivated and focused on their health goals.
Pricing and Availability
- The Shapa device is available for purchase, with a required subscription to the Shapa program. The device supports up to seven users and is available through the Shapa website and compatible with iOS, Android, and Amazon Alexa.