Treadmill

Attachable stands or (less affordable) devices like the WeBike make it possible to exercise both body and mind while pedaling on the spot, but those pounding away on a treadmill are pretty much limited to listening to music or zoning out in front of a TV screen to keep their minds occupied. That could change with a new system developed by researchers at Purdue University. Called ReadingMate, the system uses head-tracking technology to keep onscreen text bobbing along in unison with the runner’s eyes.  Read More

The Kinectimals video game lets players pet a virtual pet on their TV screen, but Tokyo-based software engineer Taylor Veltrop has gone one step further. By pairing a Kinect sensor, a Wiimote, a treadmill and a Nao humanoid robot together, Veltrop has cobbled together a teleoperation system that allows him to groom his real life feline friend remotely.  Read More

Gone are the days where most houses have large back yards and the family dog can run freely. As outdoor spaces are getting smaller and people are working longer hours, often household dogs struggle to get the exercise they need. I must admit I'm a little uncomfortable with the idea of a super-sized mouse wheel, but for the family pet it may just well be a great solution for keeping active and happy.  Read More

Sometimes exercise can be a real drag…you know it’s good for you but it can be so boring. There’s a lot of high-tech exercise equipment out there but even with an entertainment screen do you still find that your eyes glaze over and your feet slow down? Luckily, advances in technology equate to improvements in gym equipment. Take the Frevola T7A treadmill for example. It offers so many entertainment options you could find yourself working-out all day. It includes a 17-inch LCD touchscreen for playing games, a choice of avatar that moves at your speed, a virtual trainer and the ability to compete in some real-time racing with your online friends.  Read More

Not too dissimilar to the Rollator we featured late last year on Gizmag is the Treadmill Bike, which leaves as much to the imagination as the movie Snakes on a Plane. Unlike the Rollator, the Treadmill Bike has only two wheels, looks a little more robust and lets you take it “off road” according to its designers, though why you wouldn’t just go for a jog has got us puzzled.  Read More

If you like treadmill exercise but are tired of running up and down on the one spot, or find you don’t have enough time to exercise because you’re constantly wanted elsewhere, this piece of equipment could be the answer. Looking more like a cross between a walker and a treadmill, why not "ride" the Rollator to your next appointment? It's is also ideal for people looking for a low impact way to exercise in the great outdoors but don’t fancy themselves as cyclists.  Read More

Jogging on the spot has gone high tech thanks to an omni-directional treadmill that allows you to walk in any direction while staying centered on the treadmill. When coupled with virtual reality (VR) technology it offers the potential for truly natural walking and immersion in virtual environments.  Read More

There are two things that are immediately appealing about the AlterG M300 treadmill. The first is being able to maintain fitness levels whilst nursing an injury, and the second is that you’ll feel as light as a feather whilst working out. The M300 allows people to run or walk at a reduced body weight of up to 80 percent, while the differential air pressure technology assists by applying a comfortable lifting force to the body. By reducing the body weight, there is less impact on the muscles and joints, and people are able to move more naturally and without pain.  Read More

Now here's one of those ideas that leaps out at you with its commercial potential. Climbing offers extreme exercise with a nuclear fun factor and teaches fundamental coordination skills but it can be dangerous and scary with the heights involved, and besides, a climbing wall requires a serious commitment to locate and build. The computer-controlled ClimbStation is like an intelligent vertical treadmill for climbers, so it provides real climbing without the need for a safety harness because you never got more than a metre off the ground. ClimbStation hydraulically tilts between +15 degrees and minus 39 degrees, the holds are interchangeable, and the most significant thing about the ClimbStation is that it can be transported with a normal car trailer, making it an ideal relocatable owner-operator or amusement attraction.  Read More