1.2B
Chinese speakers globally
Vast majority native speakers (Ethnologue 2026).
PolyU · School of Design · MedTech Lab
MaiPal 脉伴
Intelligent Traditional Chinese Medicine
Health Companion Agent
An AI wellness companion designed around the logic of 望闻问切.
A warm, trustworthy guide for adults 45–65 navigating sub-health.
Background
A generation reaching the age where prevention matters most.
Chinese-speaking adults aged 45–64, in mainland China, Hong Kong and Chinese communities worldwide, are entering the sub-health stage — and increasingly value preventive care rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
45–64
Target demographic
A rapidly growing segment facing gradual decline in bodily functions and rising health awareness.
30%
of Hong Kong's population
≈ 2,245–2,290 thousand people aged 45–64 (HK Population Projections 2022–2046).
The Problem
Two pressures, one window of opportunity.
Physical decline begins quietly
The 45–64 age group is at a stage where bodily functions gradually decline — slowed metabolism, reduced muscle strength, changes in cardiovascular function.
Without active prevention, these changes accumulate and lead to chronic disease, disability and greater medical demand.
Report of Population Health Survey 2020–22Health awareness turns to anxiety
When physical condition deteriorates, middle-aged individuals often develop stronger health awareness than younger years — but this heightened perception can trigger health anxiety and excessive worry about underlying disease.
The rise in health consciousness creates an opportunity for effective intervention — through empathetic psychological support and lifestyle adjustments rooted in long-term care.
Godino et al., 2014 · Alsenany 2025Our Solution
A digital TCM doctor that slows you down, not funnels you through.
MaiPal brings authentic Traditional Chinese Medicine wisdom into everyday life through an empathetic AI practitioner. Users enjoy warm, natural conversations that quietly deliver the essence of 望闻问切 — without any clinical feel.
A trusted, long-term health friend rather than another medical app.
为了下一个五十年。
For the next 50 years.
脉
Habit Building 习惯养成
Wellness Regulation 调理身心
Prevention 未病先防
Emotional Support 心绪相伴
Tech Accessibility 科技亲和
Quality of Life 生活之美
Product
Digitizing 望闻问切 — the four classical TCM diagnostic methods.
MaiPal replicates TCM's Four Diagnostic Methods (四诊合参) through natural conversation. Each method becomes an unhurried interaction, not a clinical test.
望
Wàng
Inspection
MaiPal gently observes facial complexion, vitality and skin tone via front camera to assess 气血 (qi-blood) and overall spirit.
闻
Wén
Auscultation
MaiPal gently observes facial complexion, vitality and skin tone via front camera to assess 气血 (qi-blood) and overall spirit.
问
Wèn
Inquiry
MaiPal asks warm, contextual questions about sleep, diet, digestion, emotions and lifestyle to uncover holistic patterns.
切
Qiè
Palpation
For users with wearables, MaiPal accesses device-detected heart rate data to approximate pulse insights.
Customized Daily Intervention Planning
个性化每日调理
Generates actionable daily wellness plans tailored to individual constitution and real-time condition.
Integrated Wellness Product Ecosystem
全链路调理生态
Bridges AI-driven recommendations with curated wellness products and services in a closed-loop system.
Longitudinal Personal Health Profiling
长期健康追踪
Continuously builds and updates an evolving personal health and constitution profile over time.
App Preview
A calm consultation, rendered on warm xuan paper.
MaiPal opens with a name, not a logo. The doctor speaks like a kindly grandfather who knows you. Every interaction nudges you toward unhurried, long-term care.
你好，CC
脉医生今天来陪你看看身体
你好呀，今天需要脉医生帮你看一下身体状况吗？
好的，麻烦您。
我先看看您的气色，您正对手机就好。
需要检测
改天再说
请输入您想说的话…
脉医生 · The chat home
An always-quiet doctor on rice paper
- 01Greeting
你好呀
脉医生 greets the user by name with a sentence-final 呀 — soft and never clinical.
你好呀，今天需要脉医生帮你看一下身体状况吗？ - 02Face observation · 望诊
我先看看您的气色
Front camera observes complexion, vitality and skin tone. Hedged readings — never sweeping diagnoses.
我看您今天气色略偏淡。 - 03Voice listening · 闻诊
听听您的声音
MaiPal listens to natural speech rather than asking the user to perform.
声音里能听出一些疲倦。最近睡得好吗？ - 04Daily plan · 调理计划
今天的调理
A 7-day TCM plan with photo check-ins — each grants 10 积分, redeemable in the clinic store.
今天的调理：清晨一杯温水，午后散步三十分钟。
Traction & Progress
From research database to clinical collaboration.
Technical Implementation
AI doctor dialogue
Built on a real TCM knowledge database to simulate authentic consultation.
Real-time speech recognition
User speech is transcribed and the AI reply is synthesized to speech in real time.
Face & tongue recognition
Image-based extraction generates a professional TCM diagnostic report.
User Testing
20+
Participants from mainland China and Hong Kong, across four iterative rounds.
- Round 1 Framework Recognition
- Round 2 Trust Issues
- Round 3 Interaction Experience
- Round 4 Adherence & Long-term Use
Clinical Collaboration
范
Dr. Lian Fan, MD
Director Physician · Doctoral Supervisor
Secured clinical collaboration to validate our TCM-based AI solution and its potential in preventive care — bridging Chinese and Western medicine.
Ecosystem & Roadmap
A three-phase path from Hong Kong outward.
Ecosystem development
1
MVP · 0–6 months
Free MVP
Validate product-market fit in Hong Kong. Core 望闻问切 dialogue and daily plan.
2
Growth · 6–12 months
Hospital & Healthcare
Premium tier opens. Clinic partnerships and verified Chinese-medicine practitioners.
3
Ecosystem · 12–24 months
TCM E-commerce & Education
Closed-loop wellness products, insurance partnerships, education content for long-term care.
Market expansion
2026
Phase 1
Hong Kong as Foundation
Establish product-market fit and operational model in the initial launch market.
2028
Phase 2
Greater Bay Area Expansion
Leverage Hong Kong experience to rapidly expand into major cities of the Pearl River Delta.
2030
Phase 3
Tier 1 & 2 Cities, Mainland China
Replicate the Hong Kong coverage model across mainland Chinese tier-1 and tier-2 cities.
Team
MedTech Lab, School of Design, PolyU.
A multidisciplinary team across design, AI engineering, product and system development — building MaiPal for the next fifty years.
Market Lead
K
Dr. Anthony Kong
Professor, School of Design
Rich experience in Digital Media, Storytelling for Transmedia, Digital Culture and Humanity.
- 2023 RED DOT Award winner
- 2024 Bronze Award, DFA Design for Asia Awards
- 2025 Global Top 10 Award and GDA Winner, HKDA Global Design Awards
AI Engineer
L
Dr. Giovanni Lion
Visiting Lecturer, PolyU
Researcher and developer in the field of generative AI and storytelling. 15+ years experience in multiple languages and platforms.
Product Lead
C
Ziyi Cao
PolyU Master Student
Experience in product operations and user research; strong multimedia and interaction-design foundation.
- 2026 Recycling Fund's 10th Anniversary Design Competition Runner-up
System Engineer
J
Xi Jin
PolyU
Hands-on experience in interactive system productivity and user-tool development. 6-month internship at Xinguodao (tool design & iteration).
- Independent game developer · multiple Game Jam participations
Designer
Y
Linjie Yin
Design and Research Assistant, PolyU Design
Rich experience in human-computer interaction design; international industrial experience in user-interface and experience design.
- 2026 Recycling Fund's 10th Anniversary Design Competition Runner-up