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Games Controlled By An Exercise Bike
Fidigit writes "I know that most people reading this won't be _that_ interested in exercise, but given there's tech with it ... What do you think about computer games controlled by an exercise bike in your house?
It sounds crazy, but it might just work." Update: 01/14 00:14 GMT by T : An anonymous reader points to another example of the same concept.
Actually, it was for the SNES.
I think this Reebok bike will become a clothes hanger just like any other exercise bike... unless they figure out how to require it for GTA Vice City play.
Even cooler: an excersice bike with an internet terminal. There's nothing like burning calories while reading /.
Back in the Net Bubble, something similar was installed at a gym in my city. Two bikes were rigged up so that you'd have to maintain a speed above a certain threshold. Except it didn't power games, but just a plain old browser. The only problem was that the threshold was too high, and as soon as you were able to get a page, you'd be moving too fast to read or use it at all, and as soon as you slowed to reach for the keyboard and type, the screen would go blank again.
Peh, why not play DDR or something similar? Alot more challenging, and alot better workout. Don't like the high impact? Why not try PPP? Like ddr, only with hand waving and arm movements rather than alot of stomping.
A guy I used to work with (word up, Glen) put sometihng like this together wihle he was doing a master's in CS here at UNB. He rigged up his exercise bike so that as he pedalled it would move him forward and backwards, and he just has a mouse by the handlebars to take care of any other input (turning, shooting, etc)
Definitly the best use of an exercise bike I've ever heard of, but I still prefer the kind that you can use as transportation.
___
Cogito cogito, ergo cogito sum.
I'm sure you all know what Dance Dance Revolution is, the game that combines a dance pad with arrows on the screen that you dance to -- it's spread like wildfire, and even though it's only available for a competitor's platforms, I secretly admit to playing it to keep myself in shape. :) Some of you may also remember the old Nintendo Power Pad as well, even.
Anyhow, Nintendo is taking the integration of physical activity with video games to a whole new level... we're researching motion tracking in 3-D using purely computer vision techniques, and using no sensors worn on the body, like traditional mocap techniques require.
We've got some interesting preliminary prototypes of this technology, such as Swing Swing Revolution, like DDR, except you have to do swing moves, not merely hit the arrows with your feet, and Kung Fu Master, a remake of the venerable NES game, where you guessed it, need to do real punching and kicking.
We look forward to commercializing this and making Nintendo the first and foremost choice of overweight geeks everywhere!
-- Samir Gupta, Ph. D. Head, New Technology Research Group, Nintendo Co. Ltd., Kyoto, Japan.
How about Namco's PropCycle, where you flew this pedal powered ultra-light thing and popped balloons. It came out circa 1995.
Or Downhill Bikers? I could see a row of these at the gym.
Don't forget that Friday is Hawaiian shirt day.
If someone made a quality piece of equipment that could enhance excercising indoors on a trainer, then that would definately be something - for the off-season.
I was thinking about this the other day while pondering a completely immersive VR environment.
Applied to a, MMORPG this sort of idea could eventually lead to a skill advancement system based upon physical reaction time and endurance rather than mathematical formulas derived from levels and attributes. It could also enhance the gaming experience immensely!
Furthermore, if you included exercise benefits, people could ALWAYS find the time to play their favorite game.
More conservatively, using the human physiological responses to a gaming environment (excitement, endorphins, sustained concentration) could allow for intense exercise and fuel the desire to continue to exercise once the novelty has worn off.
In other words, I think it is a *good thing*.
When the only tool you have is a claw hammer every problem starts to look like the back of someone's skull.
Not trying to flame, but I would think that there are plenty of 'us' that -are- into exercise for precisely the reason that we sit in a chair for 8-10+ hours a day.
Initially, it may not be noticable, but after several years, one begins to feel quite unhealthy, if not dull mentally - if they -don't- do something to keep in shape.
Cycling, swimming or a quick walk are the things I look forward to the most after a stressful day. It really helps!
Basically, these stereotypes display ignorance.
IMHO.
CSA/ESSCO made an interface device with 5 PC games quite some time ago. It was a simple photoeye/reflector beam device with two button pads to strap to handlebars. It could be used with any equipment by aiming the light beam at any moving part, as the rate of pulses was all that was was needed for controlling the speed.
Oh, I see there is one on eBay now.
When I was staying in Phoenix (I believe), the hotel we were staying at had a fitness center. We checked it aout and they had two stationary bikes with TVs in front of them. You could use the bikes to explore the different maps. The graphics were very, very low quality (it was an old system), but it was 3D. It took me a while to realize it, but both were networked, so my brother and I raced. Another cool feature was that it had two fans built into the cabinet that would change speed depending on how fast you pedeled and would blow air on you to simulate wind. I thought it was very impressive and would be really cool if was updated. The fans were a great addition in my opinion.
Yeah Prop-Cycle kicks ass, as far as such games go. They've recently begun supporting Prop-Cycle in MAME... With a small bit of code, I'm sure one could make it support these bikes...
in the early 80`s Atari had plans for a "exercise-bike". Look at a picture:
j pg
http://www.atarihq.com/othersec/puffer/puff521.
that was fora 5200 videogame, but Atari intended to make models from the VCS to the 400 and 800 computers.
More info at http://www.atarihq.com/othersec/puffer/
Winter of 1997, I spent a lot of time in the gym at Ft. Carson, Colorado. They had these cycles hooked up to displays, and you could pedal around this little game world. You steered by shifting your weight left and right. It was sadly non-violent, but you could race or just explore. You could even go underwater, but it was a lot harder to pedal.
I don't remember the brand of the cycles, but they were pretty cool.
You want the truthiness? You can't handle the truthiness!
My oldest brother put a car alternator on the back sprocket of an old exercise bike, and connected it to the kit. He connected up the relay in the kit to a couple strands of TV coax-- one to the antenna, one to the TV.
Net result? To watch TV you had to ride the bike. Stop pedaling, and the TV goes to snow. Start pedaling again and the picture returns. It was a great way of forcing exercise... :)
As an over-active 6-year-old, though, I was often the one to get all the exercise while Mom watched her daily soaps. I remember trying to pace myself so I wouldn't miss anything when I was watching my nightly Star Trek--but I was usually dead-tired when it was over... To this day (I'm 23 now) I can't wear shorts because of how large and powerful my thighs are. People just won't stop staring!
And the best part was, this particular experiment didn't even require batteries to power the whole thing! The thing was eventually dismantled, though--mostly because Mom got mad that she couldn't see Days of Our Lives while I was at school! But, theoretically, that switch in the relay would wear out--but relays are pretty cheap anyways...
Um, it's a little more than just 'barely lifting your feet'. People who get into that game rarely stop without breaking a sweat. It'd certainly do me more good than the exercise bicycle that's covered in a protective layer of dust.
DDR is now one of my three forms of exersize. (The other two: A membership to the gym which I use for weightlifting, but can't stand things like the bikes. The other is my wife. *Nudge Nudge, Wink Wink*) It's pretty easy to become a Code Potato, setting there in front of the computer not getting any exersize. Working for a computer related company during the day, and owning a game company at night does bad things for your physique ;-)
Anyway - it's a hell of a lot of exersize, even when you learn how to dance 'optimally'. When you start out, you're jumpin' all over the place, trying to get the beat, etc. Once you've got it, you tone it down a lot, but, you start moving faster and faster, picking more complicated songs to work with. I own my own home setup (modified some Playstation pads for use on the PC, and grabbed StepMania to use with it) rather than dump tons o' quarters into an arcade machine or buy a PS. Plus, and overweight 31 year old white guy tryin' to DDR is NOT a pretty sight. Luckly, it improves the more time you spend on the pads. (IE - less overweight, a little more coordinated. However, I'm still a 31 year old white guy lookin' like a dork ;-)
For anyone who's wondered if it works for weightloss, keeping you in shape, etc... I have no real clue. I assume it does. I work up a hell of a sweat, and have a lot of fun doing it. But I've also got a membership to a gym four blocks from here, so, it's hard to tell what makes the most difference.
But I will say this in general for the idea o' workin' out and how it affects your coding skills - I always feel sharper and can work a lot farther into the night after I've been going to the gym consistently. :-)
Davis Ray Sickmon, Jr - looking for something to read? Check out my three free novels at MidnightRyder.org
I don't understand why there hasn't been a sequel. That was one of the most ingenious arcade games ever made. I'd love to have a home version of it.
Free Hans!