Get the Burn Without the Boredom

"The marriage of fitness machine and competitive computer games seems a natural, yet the British-made Exertris interactive workout cycle seems to be the first to put them hand in hand.

Debuting in the United States next month at the Club Industry 2002 convention in Chicago, Exertris attempts to beat the often mind-numbing boredom of riding in place by adding a flat-screen computer for video games that are both interactive and physically engaging.

A player's success in any of four programmed games is determined by effort: In "Space Tripper," firing lasers requires persistent pedaling; other weapons in the arsenal demand even more sweat. In "Solitaire," cards are moved depending on how fast you pedal; picking them up increases resistance. "Orbit" offers a multiplayer option so you'll feel the burn when your opponents are toast.

Exertris CEO Gareth Davies says the cycle has been selling in the U.K. since March to "fantastic" response among gym clientele. He expects to begin shipping stateside in November. The Exertris is a commercial-grade product that sells for about $7,800, but the company is "absolutely expecting to develop a home version" within about 18 months (www.exertris.com)." [Chicago Tribune, free registration required]

I'd definitely buy one of these if it was reasonably priced, because I'm getting worse at exercising regularly and this would provide more incentive. Video games are going to [continue to] be such a driving force in our society, spurring technological advances in cell phones, connectivity, and grid computing. The Sims Online will only be the beginning....