In the 1980s “The Clapper” worked with sound to allow lazy people to turn lights on and off without having to get up to do so. Now Crestron is looking to help simply our daily lives in a similar way – but by actually using some motion. Read the rest of this entry »
Mass retailer Sears has tried to redefine itself a few times. The store that is still probably best remembered for tires and its tasty popcorn, offered its “softer side” back in 1994. Now the company is following such retailers as Best Buy, showing that it can help customers get fit as well.
Sears has announced it is introducing its “Fitness Flagship” store-within-a-store at more than 35 sites across the country. These 6,000 sq. feet centers provide new fitness products and floor models. Is this the fitter side of Sears? Press Release after the jump
Apartment Therapy's stylish fitness finds.
The folks over at Apartment Therapy have rounded up nine stylish fitness- and sports-related products that look sleek enough to stand alone as furniture, even if you never actually use them.
As someone who has used one of the products, the Technogym VISIOWEB, I can attest it works as well as it looks. With its large 19-inch display that does TV and iPod/iPhone connectivity, this is one piece of exercise equipment that I absolutely drool over.
[Via Apartment Therapy: Resolution: Admire Good Design … And Workout More]
According to a recent survey of people aged 50 and up in the U.K., one in 25 uses a video game to exercise. Of course, we aren’t talking about the latest Grand Theft Auto or Call of Duty, but the popular Nintendo Wii and its Wii Fit accessories and games. While the survey specifically targets segments of the U.K. population past middle age, the results mirror similar surveys that have been conducted stateside since the Wii Fit exploded onto the scene; the Wii has been a been a hit with casual gamers thanks to the active movements and low learning curve required. And, Microsoft and Sony have recently entered the scene with their Xbox Kinect and PlayStation Move products and fitness-related titles.
As we have pointed out, video games are not a substitute for good-old exercise. However, according to a CNN report, the light intensity is ideal for older adults, particularly with systems that require full-body movements. These movement-based games are also great for those who never engage in any form of exercise. As we have reported in the past, institutions such as schools in Alabama and Iowa are using the Wii as part of their physical education curriculum to get kids active and help fight childhood obesity.
[Via The Huffington Post: More Post 50s Use Video Games To Exercise]
For 2012 you might be able to row to a better and fitter you! The American made Waterrower Rowing Machine offers all the benefits of hitting the Charles River without the need to set foot in Boston! What makes this rowing machine special is the WaterFlywheel that was specifically designed to emulate the exact dynamics of the boat as it sails across the water.
Water is 800 times denser than air and thus this machine requires no mechanical dampening or resistance. Instead the water provides a “natural” feel, and creates just the right rhythm of motion as well and once you get in the rhythm of things you might feel as if you’re gliding on air as much as powering down stream!
Apparently many people have the same idea as we’ve seen numerous attempts at bringing fitness to the office. These have included treadmill desks, elliptical office chairs, an office chair that doubles as a workout machine, and even some desks designed to accommodate a full-sized bicycle. And while all these may allow you to squeeze in a workout while you work, a problem remains… what do you do with the fitness focused desk when you’re not working out?
Here is where the FitDesk Pedal Desk comes in. It is an innovative product that allows a person to exercise comfortably on a stationary bike while using a laptop computer or playing a video game. With the armrest you also use a desktop computer keyboard and set this up front of a regular desk. And when you’re done spinning, the FitDesk has the others beat, because the collapsible design means it can be folded up and put out of sight.
The FitDesk probably isn’t the way you’d spend a full work day, but for those times when you need to squeeze in a ride but can’t get away, you can unfold it and go! Video after the jump
Feeling the burn requires actually working out, and sometimes there just isn’t enough hours in the day to squeeze in everything. But DailyBurn has unveiled its new personalized fitness platform that just might deliver daily custom-designed videos anywhere you go.
The DailyBurn IntelliBurn technology provides streaming HD-quality custom workouts, personal result metrics, and nutrition and healthy living tools directly to a smartphone, computer, tablet or even TV each and every day. The videos bring together a best in-class team of experts from every segment of the fitness industry — including the fitness program design expertise of industry leader Lisa Wheeler; the fitness production expertise of Mason Bendewald, who has produced over 200 workout videos including fitness series P90X with Tony Horton; and a team of elite trainers — DailyBurn has created a personalized workout and nutrition program designed to increase metabolism and deliver better, faster results. Read the rest of this entry »
There is no denying that the Kinect for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 is a hit. It reportedly holds the Guinness World Record for being the best-selling consumer electronics device, and it has done a great job transforming video games into slightly more active activities. No one is going to argue that games will get anyone fit, but getting moving can’t hurt. Microsoft had previously announced it was bringing the Kinect to the PC, and now it seems that all new Xbox games will be required to offer Kinect support – and if rumors are true the Kinect will be built-in on the future Xbox 720. While this could just include voice support, which won’t get anyone off the couch and actually could make matters worse, we can’t help but think that maybe games will help America get back on a fitness track after all!
One of our pet peeves about home fitness is that it shouldn’t overtake the home. But Kettler USA offers a solution with its new foldable treadmills that have arrived in time for the holiday. The Verso TX1 and TX3 treadmills both feature advanced electronics with heart-rate-control programming using a Polar heart rate (HR) chest strap to provide efficient, effective, and beneficial workouts.
These further offer options for goal-oriented routines of distance, time and calories burned, while a heart rate monitor can help users track their cardio rhythm, which takes the guesswork out of balancing fitness and healthy exercise. Once the initial programming controls are set, a one-touch button allows the user to start the next workout at the same preferences, saving time and creates a well-balanced workout regimen. Read the rest of this entry »
No matter what the weather may bring golfers looking to improve their game can get into the stroke with the aboutGolf aG one, a standardized simulator system. The producer of PGA TOUR Simulators and golf performance technology has announced the introduction of this new system.
Suited for more restrictive budgets, the system is known for its “One size, One Week, One Price” solution, and the aG one costs about 30 percent less than the customized aboutGolf PGA Tour Simulator while still offering the same principals of accuracy and reliability.Packaged as a complete simulator system, aG one takes only one week to produce and not only includes aboutGolf’s proprietary 3Trak ball tracking technology, but also the company’s 700 Series Software, nine 3D graphic golf courses, a basic enclosure, and turf stance mats.
“For more than 20 years, aboutGolf has been on the cutting edge of golf simulation and performance improvement technology,” says Bob Ryan, Chairman and CEO, aboutGolf. “aG one is just another example of our dedication to meeting clients’ needs without sacrificing the quality that has become synonymous with ‘aboutGolf.’”
If it is about golf simulators the folks at aboutGolf know it!
The makers of PowerPlate have a new trick up their sleeve, or at least a new piece of workout equipment. The PowerBIKE looks like an attractive spin bike, but the pedal and crank system produces vibrations. These vibrations create muscle stimulation for the legs and glutes as you spin.
Benefits include burning more calories and building more muscle, while the makers say the bike can improve circulation. A stabilization system in the PowerBIKE reduces joint pressure, so you shouldn’t get pain from your workout.
Indoor trainers and spin bikes get boring. You spin your wheels and don’t go anywhere. It’s all you can do to keep on spinning and not fall off the bike sometimes. We’ve found a few trainers that provide more enjoyment whether it’s through better resistance control, the ability to lean, video that shows you where you’re virtually biking, or recreation of rides of the Tour de France. The vibration occurring with the PowerBIKE is another way to do more than just spin.
If the Thanksgiving holiday was a little stressful, and the upcoming holiday season has you feeling like you could punch the walls, consider the Nexersys iPower Trainer, which promises to deliver the adrenaline rush of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) sports training, the interactivity of modern videogaming, and the motivational boost of a personal trainer. For those asking for something more from their fitness equipment, the iPower Trainer provides a professional-grade answer.
The trainer was announced at the UFC 136 Fan Expo earlier this year, and is now ready to let users put it to the test. It can take a punch, a kick and a whole lot more. Additionally, a commercial edition will be available in January 2012 for hospitality businesses, commercial gyms, first responders and the military.
“We think the launch of the Nexersys is the most significant development in fitness equipment in the last 20 years – creating a new category in the personal training market through a 2-way communication, fully interactive experience,” said Nexersys CEO Terry Jones. “The trainer is incredibly easy to use, offers great instruction on form and technique, builds fitness at a pace that other equipment can’t match and is just a blast.” Read the rest of this entry »
(Click image for a closer view)
The run up to the holiday season means that you’d have to be a hardy soul to want to head out doors and run. If winter chills are too much for you there is another option. Johnson Health Tech North America offers a passport to the world of virtual running. This week the company introduced a new breed of consumer treadmills that are equipped with the Passport media player featuring Virtual Active technology, and these deliver high-definition scenery to enhance the workout experience.
These include real destination footage with matching ambient sounds, and display workout data onscreen. The Passport media player further offers wireless connectivity between the treadmill and onscreen visuals that allows for the information onscreen to match speed and elevation.
“The Passport media player lets you begin your workout in your living room and finish in the Italian countryside,” said Andrew Kolman, senior product manager – console technology at Johnson Health Tech North America. “You escape the confines of your regular workout routine, while enjoying a truly dynamic experience.”
The technology is now being introduced to the consumer market and is available this month on the AFG 7.1 AT treadmill and the LIVESTRONG LSPRO2 treadmill. Each machine comes equipped with two programs – the American Southwest and Northern Italy. Individual trails include the Las Vegas Strip, Grand Canyon, Venetian cityscape, Italian countryside and more. Additional programs are also available for purchase online.
