User Manual - PiPar

1. Getting Started

1.1 Welcome / Onboarding Flow

The onboarding flow is a multi-page wizard (WelcomeScreen) presented on first launch. Pages are navigated sequentially (swipe is disabled).

The pages are:

Language Selection - Choose your preferred language from: English, Finnish, French, German, Spanish. The selection affects user interfaces and voice calls - these can be changed on settings.
Welcome Page - Introduction to PiPar and what the app does, Tell the application about you, your needs and what you want from AI personas. There is also an option to enable and customize scheduled calls, so that PiPar personas can call you.

Trial Offer - every user gets a 14-day premium trial with 1000 free credits (no credit card needed). After the trial ends the subscription is automatically canceled and a user can either continue as a free user with prepaid credits or start the monthly subscription.

1.1 Google Calendar Sync

Google Calendar sync - Enable Google Calendar sync and select calendar used
App Permissions - The App asks permissions for notifications, calendar access and location services. Special permissions are needed for receiving incoming calls (DND access and full-screen notifications) - these must be set manually.

1.3 Permissions Screen

Requests the following system permissions with individual grant buttons:

Microphone - required for voice calls
Notifications - required for alerts, follow-ups, morning briefings
Storage - required for saving documents and media
Location - required for location-aware AI features
Alarms & Reminders - required for android alert service use
DND / Do Not Disturb Access - required for calls when android do not disturb is enabled
Full Screen Notifications & Appear on Top - required for call and alert notifications

2. Home Screen

The main hub of the app after onboarding, displaying the active persona and providing navigation to all features.

2.1 Persona Display

Two layout modes (configurable in Settings > Appearance):

Single / Carousel - Shows one persona at a time, swipe horizontally to browse
Grid - Shows all personas in a grid layout for quick selection

2.3 Quick Action Buttons

Voice Chat - Start a voice call with the active persona
Text Chat - Open the text chat

2.4 Navigation Buttons

From the landing screen, users can access:

Tasks - task management, projects, kanban
Notes - text notes with attachments and voice recordings (with transcription)
Alerts - alarms, notifications
Calendar - calendar views with time blocks
Files (Documents, Images) - access generated documents and images
Apps - access generated html apps
Box - Mind Wall for your thoughts
Calls (Follow-ups) - manage scheduled calls and create new
Settings - access to settings
Mail box - access user's emails and contacts

Navigation button style can be configured (Settings > Appearance):

Picture buttons - Icon-based tab navigation
Text buttons - Text label-based tab navigation

3. Communicating with PiPar AI personas

The user can communicate with PiPar AI personas either via text chat or during the voice call.

During the text chat or voice call AI persona has lots of tools, which can be used for example:

managing tasks and calendar related events
creating content (notes, documents, apps, images)
scheduling calls and alerts
executing web searches and driving routes (with navigator launch option)
updating and searching from AI persona's memory
reading and sending mails

AI personas can call the user for example for a scheduled follow-up call to remind or inform about important new mail received. The user can alter the notification from call to message with snooze, dismiss and read now options from Call Settings.

3.1 Voice Calls

The voice call with PiPar or other AI persona is turn based and designed to work "hands-free"

In "start speaking" the application monitors audio and automatically switches to "speaking" state when it detects that the user starts speaking. The user can mute microphone if needed.
In "speaking" state the turn is changed when the user stops speaking. There is a short silence detection timeout, which end is indicated with tone, until AI starts responding.
When AI is speaking, the user can interrupt by starting to speak (turn change).

Application automatically selects the audio device used, but the user can also manually override the automatic selection. If the phone is in speaker mode and the phone is placed on the ear, earphone mode is automatically set (convenient for speaking in public places).

Calls can be disconnected either with 'home' button or red 'disconnect' button. If the voice call for disconnects for example due to the network issues, there is a blue 'recall' button on the left bottom corner.

3.2. Text Chat

Text chat allows chatting with AI persona with audio conversion functions enabled on bottom bar:

'blue speaker' enables automatic playback of AI responses
'microphone' starts speech recognition - transcription is added to text input

Top bar contains buttons for

exiting the chat
displaying list of chats (with option for starting new or temporary chat)
compressing long chat (for reduced cost)
controlling automatic memory update after chat (enabled by default)
continuing the chat as a voice call

There is also an option to display the data AI persona has stored its memory

information about user
current events (diary)
received messages (mailbox)
user's future events

Each message has an action menu (accessed from '...') containing functions for

AI response playback and exporting to mp3
Copying and sharing the message content
Editing and deleting user message

Note! the further messages in the chat history are deleted and the chat continues on edited message or first message before deletion point

It is possible to attach to the user message audio and image files, documents (txt, md or pdf), other chats or locations defined to the app from + button

Image sources are camera, application and device gallery
Audio can be recorded, from device file system or from voice notes
Documents can be from file system, application notes or documents stored to app

3. Email Integration (requires subscription)

The PiPar app supports integration to external mail systems (like gmail) and internal messaging between PiPar users. Access to the mailbox appears on the main page top right corner, if the user has a subscription.

Top bar has icons for

opening unread or selected mails to AI assisted analysis (chat with PiPar)
opening contact list
configuring and enabling mail settings

From Settings screen email integration can be enabled. Received emails are indicated with Android native notification and message forwarding from external mail system (gmail) can be activated. Setting screen displays user's pipar mail address

The user can create contacts for either direct messaging using pipar mail address (requires connection between users via invitation) or to external mail address.

AI personas can send and process emails and also send messages directly to linked pipar contacts and/or their AI personas (pipar-pipar communication).

4. Task Management

The task screen contains tools for managing tasks, grouping them to projects and tracking them on the kanban board.

4.1. Task list tab

Task lists tasks for today, tomorrow, next 7 days etc - user can drag and drop to move tasks to the different day and also alter the task order during the day (if manual task sorting is enabled from Tasks settings). The user can filter tasks based on the project and also filter out completed tasks.

For each task user can define lots of attributes

description and image attachments
define due date and scheduled time
project and location
priority and effort required
subtasks
reminder options
control kanban visibility

In the task reading view (middle picture) the user can look at task contents, move it earlier or later and control task state (on top bar): add to kanban, mark as complete, delete and open edit.

4.2. Projects tab

In projects tab use can create or modify projects (name, description, color) and list/manage tasks attached to the project.

4.3. Kanban tab

In the kanban tab, users monitor and modify the state of tasks (drag and drop). Kanban displays only the tasks the user has defined to belong to the kanban board or created on the kanban board.

The user can rename the kanban columns, but the right most column always marks a task completed.

5. Calendar

In the Calendar screen the user can create and manage events and view scheduled tasks in monthly, weekly and daily views. Calendar is synchronized with google calendar (is enabled on Calendar settings).

5.1. Task Management in Daily View

In day view the user can scroll the days, pick tasks from backlog (no due date) to the view (ol left column), allocate a project or task for time block (on right column) and alter order of tasks in the timeline via drag and drop. In a day view there is also a "Ask PiPar" button, which is used to ask PiPar to help ordering days tasks.

5.2. Time Blocking

The user may define time blocks to help ordering and to focus tasks during the day. Timeblock window is accessed on "rectangle" icon on top left of screen (near the sync icon)

6. Notes

In the Notes screen the user can add, read and modify notes. There is a list and a grid view modes (accessed on top right icon), filtering based on note type (plain text, note with image, pdf or voice recording attached) and note owner (user, AI Persona, all) and sorting options.

The user can create a text note with attachments (pdf, image) or a voice recording, which has a transcription option.

7. Files

The files screen contains

tabs for documents and images created
app browser (on top bar folder icon)

7.1 Documents Tab (Docs)

The document tab has a grid and a list views for documents, with sorting option.

There is an action menu containing functions for

Editing and viewing document
Displaying document details
Opening in external application
Sharing and exporting document (Save To Device)
Creating a PDF with device printing tools
Renaming and deleting document

7.2 Images Tab

The images tab displays images created on the app. Short press on image displays image in full screen. Long press on image displays the prompt used for creating image and provides options for exporting image, sharing and deleting image.

There is + button for opening image creation dialog, where the user can create images with selected image model and aspect ratio.

7.3 App Data Browser

App Data Browser contains views for managing ringing tones, background images and app data items.

8. Apps

The apps screen displays the list of apps created on the application. Short press on app starts it. Long press displays the action menu with options for starting app, displaying app info, sharing and removing the app.

There is also an option for importing app from device file system.

9. Box (Mind Wall)

A visual brainstorming board with sticky, quick post-it type notes.

User can create, delete and move the notes in the screen (drag and drop).

11. Calls

The calls screen contains a list of active calls scheduled with AI personas. The user can manually create new scheduled calls and control the state of scheduled call.

There is also a history tab for viewing past calls and a button for triggering morning briefing.

11. Alerts

The Alerts screen contains functions for creating and managing alerts.

Alert system uses Android alert system, supports recurring alerts and displays full screen notifications when triggered with a snooze option. Optional note can be opened from notification.

12. Settings

Main settings hub with sections for

Appearance : color theme, font, language
Alerts and Calendar settings
AI Services : image generation, web search and voice recognition
Call Settings : call style, ringing tones, Do-Not-Disturb
Task Management : morning briefing, proactive reminders etc
User Details : user details, locations
Account : app data and subscription management
Support : contact information, support pages etc

12.1 Appearance

The appearance menu contains settings for

Theme selection: colors, dark mode and is persona specific theme allowed (selected from persona customization screen)
Main view customizations:

persona presentation style: single person or carousel visible
navigation button style: texts or picture buttons

Font type and size (affects only text chat)
User Interface and voice call language selection

12.2 Alerts & Calendar Settings

Alerts and Calendar settings view contains customizations for

Enabling Google Calendar sync, selection for calendar and first day of week
Global alert tone, vibration, background picture and font theme
Control the Time Block start indication tone and Android notification

Tones and pictures can be selected from the device or app gallery. The user can also define alert specific tones and background pictures.

12.3 AI Services

AI Services contains sections for Image generation, search and voice detection services:

Several image generation models are supported and there is aspect ratio selection: 1:1, 16:9 and 9:16
Web search service is available from Open AI and Google
User location service controls, is user's location indicated to AI
Voice Detection contains settings for

Advanced voice activity detector (default)
Is user able to interrupt AI speaking turn by starting speaking
Silence detector timeout - how long user needs to be silent until AI turn starts. You can also end your speaking turn by saying "stop" (in english)

Note! If Advanced Voice Activity detection is disabled, manual voice level measurement is used (use it only in special cases):

Voice Detection Level - if audio volume > threshold, user is speaking
Silence Detection Level - if audio volume < threshold, silence is detected
Automatic Noise Detection - in the start of call app measures background noise level and adjusts the thresholds

12.4 Call Settings

Call Settings screen contains

Call style : is incoming call displayed as a full screen

call notification with answer, call later and answer in chat
message notification with snooze, answer and reject

Selection of ringtones for call and message notification
Turn change tone - played when user or AI turn changed (useful for cases when user is not looking the screen during the voice call)
Do Not Disturb - prevents incoming calls

Quiet hours limits the time when DND is active, for example at night

12.5 Task Management Settings

The task management screen has controls for

morning briefings
task scheduling algorithm
background processes managing user's tasks.

The task scheduling algorithm controls automatically sorting of the tasks based on priority or is manual sorting enabled (drag and drop) on the task list.

Background monitoring is executed one or more times a day and it analyses user's overdue and postponed tasks, future events, calendar events and received mails for proactive notification. If there are calls or alert notifications triggered by the process, they occur during the monitoring period.

12.5.1 Morning Briefings

Morning briefing is a background process, which triggers once a day in user defined time. Briefing process collects user's unread mails, calendar events and tasks planned for day. Collected information is processed by selected AI persona and morning briefing material is created. The user can also define web searches and custom instructions to be included in Morning Briefing preparation.

The user can select is briefing material sent to user's selected mailbox (either to gmail or to user's PiPar mailbox) and the notification method when briefing material is ready:

Selected AI person calls to user
Android native notification is triggered and user can take the morning briefing call by clicking the notification
No notification

It is also possible to manually trigger morning briefing from the Call window.

12.5.2 Check-in Call

A check-in call from PiPar to the user can be enabled to trigger, if the user does not chat or call any of PiPar personas for X days. Its purpose is to provide support in cases where the user is stressed up or too exhausted to manage daily tasks and would need a gentle push but does not have energy to be active. The check-in call is made during the Background monitoring range and not if DND is enabled from call settings.

12.5.3 Task Monitoring

Task monitoring is executed in the background and if some tasks are overdue, PiPar can remind the user either by calling or triggering alert notification. Call is used for notifying critical tasks, high and normal priority tasks trigger an alert.

12.5.4 Postpone Reminder

Postpone reminder triggers if the user continuously postpones a task or task is multiple days overdue. PiPar will call the user, if a critical task is postponed multiple times and try to find out if there is anything PiPar can do to help or motivate the user to start the task, which seems to be hard to start. An Alert is triggered for high and normal priority tasks postponed. The user can define the amount of days required for triggering a reminder for critical, high and normal priority tasks. Low priority tasks newer trigger reminder.

12.5.5 Proactive Reminders

Proactive reminder is triggered by background processing to notify the user about future events or tasks requiring preparation time before the deadline.

For proactive reminders, the app logs the future events containing events or tasks the user has discussed with AI persona, analyses received mails in addition to tasks and calendar events. During the background processing cycle AI personas process these items and call the user if there seems to be a need to notify the user about events that might have not been noticed.

The user can define how many weeks in advance are included to the analysis and give custom instructions (for example what things should be reminded most eagerly).

12.6 User Details

The User Details screen contains action for defining global user information, which is told to every AI persona about user: name and any other information the user wants to tell.

There is also an operation for managing user's locations, which can be included to chat, tasks or calendar events. The user can define name, address and add a picture to location. There is also an option to get navigation information from the phone's location service using "get current".

12.7 Account Settings

Account Settings contains

Information about user's subscription and credits
Google Account used
Access to subscription management screen
Application data backup and restore functions
Application permission management

Backups are stored to google drive or locally, the application keeps 2 most recent backups.

Account settings contain functions for deleting user's account and/or all application data.

12.8 Subscription Management

Subscription management screen contains functionality for

Managing current subscription
Buying more credits
Analysing the usage breakdown
Redeeming a gift coupon

12.8 Persona Customization

Access the Persona Customization screen by clicking profile picture on the Main screen and select "Customize". Note! The user has more options for Custom persona: name and role, voice vibe / style are customizable.

The user can change the AI persona profile picture (from Gallery), select custom theme (if global theme is disabled in "Appearance" settings, modify the call notification ringtone and background picture. The user can download more profile pictures from piparapp.com web site, from device gallery or ask AI to draw more pictures.

The customization screen has operations for changing the voice used for calls, speaking speed and AI models used for text chat and voice call (in case faster response times or cheaper model is wanted).

AI models are grouped to model families (like Claude, Gemini) and model can be changed by clicking stars (*, ** and *** = most intelligent and expensive)
There are two voice model services (TTS, Text-To-Speech) available both having different voices: Gemini and OpenAI

'Automatic Memory Update' toggle controls, is AI persona's memory automatically updated after each text chat or voice call with new content received.

'Browse Persona Memory' button opens a new window, where the user can browse data AI Persona has stored: User Details, Future Events and Diary entries. The user can edit the contents. 'Revert' button on 'User Details' tab allows the user to return to the older version of the data set (user details, future events and diary).