The two fastest grown industries in America, and the world, are the fitness industry and the technology industry.
With obesity at an all time high engineers are finding more creative ways to help us lose weight and more exercisers are seeing new additions to the gym in the form of virtual exercise machines.
Equipment like virtual reality equip gym bikes have been around for years but most gym owners didn't believe the cost (about $4,000 per bike) was worth the mediocre graphics.
A few years later, technology is soaring and computer imaging and graphics are eerily close to the real thing, enticing fitness centers to look into the virtual reality workout.
Some of the popular new equipment includes: The Spark Bike- Made by Expresso Fitness, this seems to be a traditional stationary bike but it includes a video screen located above the handlebars where the rider can see and make the appropriate adjustments to navigate one of over 20 routes.
Spark bike adjust from easy to hard depending on if the course is on a hill or winding and allows you to include a companion rider or someone to race with on your course.
This is a great way to work out, lose weight and still get the gym environment.
Kilowatt - Made by Powergrid Fitness, this machine is being tailor as a home exer-tainment machine.
It plugs into several home gaming consoles and includes a four foot tall, giant joy stick which you push, pull and manipulate to move your character on the screen.
The Kilowatt also has the capability to go online so that players can compete against each other in real time.
Dance Dance Revolution- Made by Konami, this sweat inducing game is available at home, the gym or the arcade.
Players groove to a set of designated foot motions that they must duplicate on the footpad underneath them.
Wii Fit- Made by Nintendo, Wii Fit comes with a balance board and a variety of games that help the player work on strength and balance.
Wii Fit is a enjoyable alternative to going to the gym and provides activities that range from sports to yoga.
EyeToy- Made by Sony, the paramount in virtual exercise, uses digital camera sensors to capture the player's every move.
With 12 games to chose from, the user must run in place, jump and make appropriate motions to move their avatar inside the game.
All of the above are advancements in technological fitness and there will be more to come.
This new spin will give users a fun and gripping new way to work out and lose weight.