Peer-Reviewed rPPG Science & Methodology

Applies To: VitalsMirror Mobile Application (Android & iOS) and Official Website (https://arogyaiq.com/science · https://vitalsmirror.com/science)
Official Support & Scientific Inquiries: [email protected] · [email protected]

1. Video-Based, Contactless Spot Checks Using rPPG

VitalsMirror's contactless wellness spot checks are based on Remote Photoplethysmography (rPPG)—an optical sensing method that measures subtle changes in light absorption on small patches of facial skin caused by pulsatile blood volume changes with each heartbeat.

Every contactless check-in runs 100% locally on your device in 4 simple steps:

Step	Stage	What Happens During Your 60-Second Check-In
Step 01	60-Second Video Selfie at Rest	You sit comfortably at rest facing soft room light and look into the on-screen mirror oval for 60 seconds, guided by voice prompts in English, Telugu (`తెలుగు`), or Hindi (`हिन्दी`).
Step 02	Remote PPG Signal from Small Skin Patches	Using the front camera, the app reads microscopic red, green, and blue (`RGB`) light reflections from small patches of skin on your face, without using any identifiable features such as eyes.
Step 03	Real-Time Signal Processing & SNR Optimization	On-device optical algorithms (POS — Wang et al., 2017 and CHROM — De Haan & Jeanne, 2013) filter out ambient light shifts and micro-movements to maximize the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (`SNR`).
Step 04	On-Device Wellness Summary (`0s` Video Saved)	Your numeric wellness indicators—Resting Heart Rate (`BPM`), Breathing Cadence (`BRPM`), Pulse-Respiration Ratio (`PRQ`), Signal Quality (`SQI`), and Daily Readiness Score—are displayed on your phone. The live camera feed is discarded immediately in real time and is never saved or transferred to any server.

2. What You See vs. What the Camera & Optical Engine See

While you simply see a calm reflection of your face inside the mirror oval, VitalsMirror's on-device optical engine performs four real-time quality and signal checks in volatile memory (RAM):

Precise Skin-Patch Framing (No Identity Capture): Verifies that non-identifiable skin patches on your forehead and cheeks are evenly framed inside the mirror guide without creating facial recognition templates or faceprints.
Even Room Lighting & Low Glare Check: Confirms steady front illumination without harsh spotlight reflections so subtle skin-color variations remain clear across all skin tones.
Micro-Movement & Speech Filtering: Ensures you remain seated, quiet, and still during the 60-second check-in—pausing honestly if movement or dim lighting reduces signal clarity.
Sub-Surface Pulse & Breathing Wave Extraction: Separates the arterial pulse wave and respiratory rhythm from background illumination to calculate your daily wellness summary on-device.

3. Core Daily Wellness Indicators

VitalsMirror focuses on clear, actionable non-medical wellness indicators that help you understand your daily resting pulse and breathing balance:

Indicator	Unit	Typical Resting Adult Range	What It Tells You
Resting Heart Rate	`BPM`	`55 – 85 BPM`	Your resting pulse rate in beats per minute while seated calmly.
Breathing Cadence	`BRPM`	`10 – 18 BRPM`	Your natural resting respiration cadence in breaths per minute.
Pulse-Respiration Ratio (`PRQ`)	`ratio`	`3.5 – 5.0`	The coupling ratio between your resting pulse and breathing rhythm.
Signal Quality (`SQI`)	`%`	`85% – 100%`	Confirms optical clarity and steady skin-patch framing during your check-in.
Daily Readiness Score	`0 – 100` (`Optimal` · `Watch` · `Needs Care`)	`75 – 100` (`Optimal`)	Compares today's check-in against your personal rolling baseline and offers a 1-Minute Guided Box Breathing reset anytime.

4. Peer-Reviewed Scientific References (Apple App Store Guideline 1.4.1)

VitalsMirror's contactless rPPG signal extraction and optical pulse calculations are grounded in published, peer-reviewed biomedical engineering literature:

Plane-Orthogonal-to-Skin (POS) rPPG Algorithm:
Wang, W., den Brinker, A. C., Stuijk, S., & de Haan, G. (2017). "Algorithmic Principles of Remote PPG." IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 64(7), 1479–1491. doi:10.1109/TBME.2016.2609282
Chrominance-Based (CHROM) Motion-Tolerant rPPG:
De Haan, G., & Jeanne, V. (2013). "Robust Pulse Rate From Chrominance-Based rPPG." IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 60(10), 2878–2886. doi:10.1109/TBME.2013.2266196
Contactless Optical Cardiac Pulse Measurement:
Poh, M.-Z., McDuff, D. J., & Picard, R. W. (2010). "Non-contact, automated cardiac pulse measurements using video imaging and blind source separation." Optics Express, 18(10), 10762–10774. doi:10.1364/OE.18.010762

General Wellness & Non-Medical Disclaimer

Effective Date: October 21, 2026
Last Updated: October 22, 2026
Regulatory Scope: General Wellness & Personal Fitness Policy · Apple App Store Guideline 1.4.1 · Google Play Wellness Apps Policy
Official Web Portal: https://arogyaiq.com/disclaimer (https://vitalsmirror.com/disclaimer)
Official Support Email: [email protected] · [email protected]

1. General Wellness Only — Not a Medical Device

VitalsMirror is a contactless general fitness and personal wellness tracking tool. It is NOT a medical device.

VitalsMirror is intended strictly for personal wellness awareness and general fitness reference.
Wellness Metrics Scope (Personal Wellness Insights Only): The application is designed exclusively to promote healthy daily lifestyle habits—such as mindful relaxation, regular rest habits, hydration awareness, and guided breathing—by helping adults observe relative day-to-day trends in their personal wellness metrics (resting Heart Rate (BPM), guided breathing & relaxation cadence, and daily wellness readiness scores). All readings are for general wellness reference only and are not clinically validated measurements.
VitalsMirror does NOT diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent any disease or medical condition, and should not be used for monitoring medical conditions or making medical decisions. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional for any medical advice or concerns.

2. Emergency Medical Warning

🚨 NEVER USE VITALSMIRROR IN AN EMERGENCY:
Do not use VitalsMirror if you are experiencing chest pain, pressure, palpitations, shortness of breath, sudden dizziness, fainting, or any acute symptom.
Call emergency medical services immediately (108 or 112 in India, 911 in the US/Canada, 999 in the UK, or 112 in Europe) or proceed to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Never disregard professional medical advice, delay seeking a physician's evaluation, or stop/alter any prescribed medication because of a personal wellness score (Optimal, Watch, or Needs Care) displayed in VitalsMirror.

3. Video-Based, Contactless Spot Checks Using rPPG (Physical Boundaries)

To provide contactless heart rate (BPM) and personal wellness insights, VitalsMirror uses Remote Photoplethysmography (rPPG), analyzing light reflected from small patches of skin on the face without using any identifiable features such as eyes. That information is processed in real time on your device, is not retained once the check-in ends, and is never transferred to our servers.

While optical rPPG is grounded in peer-reviewed biomedical engineering literature, camera-based optical sensing has inherent physical limitations compared to contact sensors:

Ambient Lighting & Glare Sensitivity: Dim indoor lighting, flickering lights, or direct spotlight glare on the forehead can reduce the optical Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR).
Motion & Speech: Head movement, talking, or smiling shifts facial skin patches across camera frames and introduces motion noise.
Peripheral Skin Factors: Cold room temperatures, heavy foundation makeup, or sunburn can alter cutaneous light reflection.
Honest Signal Pause: When VitalsMirror detects that lighting or movement drops signal clarity below our threshold, the app pauses and guides you to adjust rather than guessing an unreliable number.

4. Meaning of the 3-Band Wellness Readiness Status

VitalsMirror summarizes each valid 60-second check-in into one of three non-diagnostic personal wellness bands:

Readiness Band	Color Token	What It Means for Your Daily Routine
Optimal	Emerald (`#10B981`)	Your resting heart rate and breathing cadence are well-aligned with your personal baseline.
Watch	Amber (`#F59E0B`)	Your resting heart rate or breathing cadence shows mild deviation from your usual baseline (often associated with late sleep, caffeine, dehydration, or daytime busyness). Consider hydration, rest, or a 1-Minute Guided Box Breathing reset.
Needs Care	Coral (`#EF4444`)	Your wellness check-in deviates noticeably from your usual baseline. Prioritize rest and re-check in calm lighting after 15 minutes. If you feel unwell at any time, consult a licensed healthcare professional.

5. Peer-Reviewed Scientific References (Apple Guideline 1.4.1 Disclosure)

Every optical pulse rate algorithm implemented in VitalsMirror is derived from open, peer-reviewed scientific literature:

POS (Plane-Orthogonal-to-Skin) Optical Pulse Extraction:
Wang, W., den Brinker, A. C., Stuijk, S., & de Haan, G. (2017). "Algorithmic Principles of Remote PPG." IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 64(7), 1479–1491. doi:10.1109/TBME.2016.2609282
CHROM (Chrominance-Based Motion-Tolerant rPPG):
De Haan, G., & Jeanne, V. (2013). "Robust Pulse Rate From Chrominance-Based rPPG." IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 60(10), 2878–2886. doi:10.1109/TBME.2013.2266196
Contactless Optical Cardiac Pulse Measurement:
Poh, M.-Z., McDuff, D. J., & Picard, R. W. (2010). "Non-contact, automated cardiac pulse measurements using video imaging and blind source separation." Optics Express, 18(10), 10762–10774. doi:10.1364/OE.18.010762

6. Questions or Support Enquiries

If you have questions about our scientific citations, contactless rPPG methodology, or general wellness disclosures, please contact Mayura Medical Care LLP (VitalsMirror) at [email protected].