Pallone Announces Winners of 2023 Congressional App Challenge

New Brunswick, NJ - Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced Gauri Kshettry and Twisha Patel, who attend Edison High School, won the 2023 Congressional App Challenge for high school and middle school students in New Jersey’s 6th Congressional District. Their app – TheraPose – leverages AI-powered pose estimation technology — computer vision techniques which involve detecting and tracking the positions and orientations of human body parts in videos – to provide personalized guidance and feedback to patients undergoing physical therapy. As the winning app in the contest, Therapose will be displayed on the Congressional App Challenge Website and on a digital display in the Capitol this year.

TheraPose accurately tracks key joints and limbs for physical therapy patients. The app delivers personalized feedback and guidance to patients, ensuring they maintain optimal form and technique throughout their rehabilitation exercises. This proactive approach minimizes the risk of injury and maximizes the efficacy of therapy sessions. TheraPose also offers a comprehensive database of exercises tailored to various musculoskeletal conditions, allowing for a more customized and efficient rehabilitation program from a health care professional.

“The Congressional App Challenge is an important platform for students to showcase their technical and creative skills. I congratulate Gauri and Twisha for their winning app and applaud this year’s participants for their creativity. Year after year, the Congressional App Challenge never fails to bring out the best, brightest, and most innovative ideas from students across our district,” said Pallone. “I continue to be impressed by the ingenuity displayed by the winning teams each year and would like to thank the judges for their engagement and attention to the contest. As the Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I have seen how innovative technology creates new opportunities for all Americans. I will continue to support investments in STEM education in New Jersey and across the country.”

The Congressional App Challenge is an annual competition that highlights the value of computer science and STEM education by encouraging high school and middle school students to learn how to code through the creation of their own apps. Entries in New Jersey's 6th Congressional District were assessed by a panel of local experts on several criteria, including demonstrated knowledge of coding and programming skills as well as the quality and implementation of their ideas.