The Stony Brook Computing Society (SBCS) developed an innovative app at HackHarvard 2024: Hack 4 Impact Unlocking the Potential of Tech, a hackathon held from October 11-13 at Harvard University.
The team of four SBCS members and computer science majors — sophomore Jamie Calub, senior Ritesh Chavan, junior Sean Erfan and senior Amir Hamza — competed against more than 600 students from around the world and claimed the “Best Healthcare” award for their groundbreaking app, Flexy (and I Know It).
Flexy was designed to make injury recovery more accessible, fun and effective. The inspiration came from the team’s shared experiences with recovery from muscle or joint pain. “It’s often confusing to know how to recover properly after an injury,” said Hamza, the SBCS president. “Even if you have the right exercises, it’s hard to know if you’re doing them correctly. We wanted to change that.”
The app uses pose detection technology to ensure users are performing stretches and exercises with correct form. It also gamifies the recovery process with features like daily streaks and exercise counters, encouraging users to stay consistent with their routines, and allows users to draw shapes and figures with their neck, hand, or shoulder movements.
HackHarvard brought together college students from across the globe. For the SBCS team, it was a 36-hour marathon of coding and collaboration. “We stayed in the building the whole 36 hours, fully immersed in the hackathon, surrounded by 600 other students. We took short naps on the floor and drank a lot of energy drinks to stay awake,” said Hamza.
The competition was judged on four key criteria: innovation, technical complexity, functionality and collaboration. “We really focused on teamwork, and equal contribution, and I think the judges recognized and appreciated that,” added Hamza.
Flexy stood out not only for its technical innovative and intuitive design, but also for its real-world applicability. The app has the potential to make a meaningful impact in the healthcare space, helping people recover from arthritis and muscle injuries more easily.
The SBCS team demonstrates Stony Brook’s commitment to innovative, life-improving ideas that dare to be bold.
— Beth Squire
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