Virtual worlds in the fitness center

During unpleasant weather, many sports enthusiasts switch from open-air activities to a heated fitness center. Equipped with special eyewear, they can run and cycle through virtual three-dimensional landscapes and even race against each other.

Almost a fifth of all people in Germany belong to one of the 6,500 fitness centers and studios across the country. Having fun doing something together adds to the enjoyment of doing good for the body while shaking off the daily stresses and dingy weather outside. A new generation of fitness machines allows users to immerse themselves in virtual worlds. The exercise bike and step machine are equipped with a computer, video goggles and an Internet connection, and the user sees his or her virtual equivalent, called an avatar, training in an animated mountain region. Users can move freely within the interchangeable landscape, explains Henning Hinderer, project manager at the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO. They can also select a circular route or train on the running track. Obstacles add to the enjoyment, so that the otherwise rather monotonous sport of indoor running - usually in front of a simple monitor or a wall mural - is replaced by vigorous dexterity training. The most exciting feature is that the runners and cyclists can meet in the artificial worlds created by the IAO. Headsets allow users to communicate their wish to run together in a group or to compete against one another in a cycle race.
The data is entered using sensors attached to the exercise machine. To measure the distance covered, sensors record the runners speed or the pedal frequency. Users can follow a different route by switch buttons set in the machines handles. An Internet-based platform, which was also developed at the IAO, calculates the users position in the virtual landscape and 3D video goggles give each of the training participants a practically instantaneous panoramic view. Flat display screens represent more cost-saving, yet less spectacular alternatives as the goggles.
The company matrixmove in Kiel markets the entire system. On the companys website (menu item start), potential customers can gain a first impression of the technology. Once access has been cleared, the preview gets underway: In the slimmed down animation, the lone virtual runner follows the mouse pointer guided by the user through the animated landscapes. Admittedly, the animation judders according to the bandwidth of the Internet connection, and its not possible in this case to be part of a group. However, should the virtual runner be allowed to fall off a cliff into the next scene, its a relief to note that broken bones and pulled muscles are exempt from this world.
For further information:,Dipl.-Ing. Henning Hinderer ,Telefon: +49 / 7 11 / 9 70-21 24 ,Fax: +49 / 7 11 / 9 70-22 99 ,E-mail: [e-mail]
Fraunhofer-Institut fur Arbeitswirtschaft und Organisation IAO ,Nobelstra?e 12 c ,D-70569 Stuttgart ,http://www.iao.fraunhofer.de/
Links: ,IAO: Mitteilung 2002 ,http://www.e-business.iao.fhg.de/Aktuelles/#a4
matrixmove ,http://www.matrixmove.com

Countries

Germany