Oh! Gizmo

By Andrew Liszewski

Stationary exercise bikes have definitely improved over the years, but a company called RealRyder is hoping to take things one step further with the ABF8. In addition to pedaling, which is where most exercise bikes draw the line, the ABF8 allows the rider to steer, lean and most importantly, balance, thanks to its unique articulating frame. So if you use a stationary bike for training purposes, not only will your legs, upper body and core muscle groups get a workout, but you’ll actually be improving your balance all from the comfort of your exercise room. The downside? The ABF8’s $1,995 price tag.

[ RealRyder ABF8 ] VIA [ Uncrate ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Looking for a home exercise solution that’s a bit more affordable than Wii Fit, and a lot more affordable than one of those Bowflex contraptions? Takara Tomy brings you the Minutes Gym Digital Video Trainer which is a simple looking device that can be plugged into any TV or display with a composite video input.

Once you’ve provided it with some personal info and used the integrated body fat sensor to measure your current state of physical fitness (or lack thereof), a small collection of animated avatars will guide you through various fitness routines, which apparently includes over 100,000,000 guided three-minute workouts. And because it’s able to measure your body fat, the Minutes Gym trainer can also keep track of your physical progress over a three month period. It’s available from the Japan Trend Shop for $73, and even though it only includes a Japanese manual, the screenshots seem to indicate you don’t actually need to know how to speak Japanese in order to use it.

[ Minutes Gym Digital Video Trainer ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Tired of being completely destroyed by 15-year-olds everytime you try and play a little Halo or Counterstrike online? (The kids still play that right?) Well the reason you suck may not be because you’re too old, but because your hands are not properly conditioned for maximum controller efficiency. And that’s exactly what the Xtensor hand exerciser promises to fix. But if you’re not convinced by those product shots, I’m sure this blurb of medical mumbo-jumbo will sell you on the idea:

The Xtensor is the only product on the market to perform with true biomechanical correctness, able to stimulate muscles and tendons in the hands, wrists and elbows that have been virtually off limits to all other devices. Repetitive gripping and squeezing of your game-controller or mouse forces extended isometric contractions of the flexor muscles of the hands and fingers producing an unnatural imbalance over time as the hands operate in a mostly closed position. For this reason, patients with hand, wrist and elbow disorders experience unnecessarily long healing times and high reoccurrence rates.

And besides making you a better gamer (supposedly) the Xtensor also serves as an effective treatment for tennis elbow and even arthritis pain. All for just $39.99 from ThinkGeek.

[ Xtensor Gamer Hand Exerciser ] VIA [ The Gadgeteer ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Unless you own one of those little spazz dogs that never stops running around and yapping, your four legged friend needs as much exercise as you do to stay in shape. And to make sure they’re getting that exercise, Takara Tomy has come out with a pedometer created specifically for dogs. It was designed under the supervision and advisement of vets and dog trainers and is able to monitor movement in four legs instead of just two. It’s also got a small sensor that can differentiate between walking, and when the animal is just shaking or moving its head.

The small LCD display provides feedback on your dog’s physical activities via a set of thirty-two different icons like sleeping, running or eating, and since they’re designed to wear the pedometer all day, it also doubles as a digital dog tag. Now I’m not sure where online you can buy one, but if you find a place you can expect it to run about $55.

[ Newlaunches - A Pedometer for dogs so fluffy stays in shape ]

By Andrew Liszewski

I’m proud to say that I’ve found a way to play even the most physically demanding of Wii games while slumped on my couch. Even Wii fit is convinced I’m an Olympic-caliber athlete. (Sucker!) But the ME2 handheld game takes a different approach to physical fitness and video games. Before you can play any titles on the device or the accompanying website, you have to accumulate points by carrying the device with you when you’re out walking, jogging or running. The built-in pedometer keeps track of your steps, and points are awarded depending on how long or how far you traveled.

The ME2 connects to your PC via USB, and your points are uploaded to the website allowing you to play around in their 3D interactive world, or download new titles to the handheld device. At first I wondered if this is something kids would really be into, since they’re essentially being rewarded for going outside and playing, but the price slash on eToys from $34.99 to just $17.50 tells me otherwise. And if any kids happen to have one of these but have lost interest in the whole ‘exercise’ ploy, I have two words for you; paint mixer. Head down to your local Home Depot, have one of the employees tape the ME2 to the outside of the paint mixer, and in just a few minutes you’ll have accumulated enough points to last you a couple of months.

[ ME2 ] VIA [ 7Gadgets ]

By Andrew Liszewski

The Wii Fit balance board provides a surprisingly fun ski experience in the comfort of your living room, but it’s got nothing on this SKIGYM simulator available from Pro-Idee. It was developed in Germany with ski instructors, sport scientists and even physical therapists to provide an accurate recreation of the motions used while skiing, and even appears to include a set of ski poles that somehow interface with the simulator.

The included software, Alpine Ski Racing 2007, is PC-only, so you’ll need to use a laptop or computer instead of a gaming console, but it comes complete with 32 different courses from 18 real life venues including Beaver Lake, Lake Louise and Chamonix. You also have your choice of 6 different disciplines including super G and slaloms, and the ability to adjust the difficulty level from junior to amateur to professional as you get better and better. At about $2,280 it’s considerably more expensive than Wii Fit, but I’d feel more comfortable tackling the real thing after practicing with this, than Nintendo’s offering.

[ SKIGYM Ski Simulator ] VIA [ Random Good Stuff ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Basic step counters are like a dime a dozen these days, so why would you need to spend $99 on the Fitbit when you can usually find one for free inside a box of Special K? Well first of all, the Fitbit features a motion sensor like those found in the Nintendo Wiimote, allowing it to track your motion in 3 dimensions. So besides being able to count how many steps you’ve taken, it can also use that data to accurately calculate how many calories you’ve burned based on the intensity and duration of your physical activities, the distance you’ve traveled and even how long it took you to fall asleep or how often you woke up during the night.

The data collected by the Fitbit can also be uploaded to a free account on the Fitbit website, allowing you to track and see your physical activity or sleep patterns over time. It also comes with a wireless ‘docking’ station that will automatically download the data from the Fitbit whenever it’s in range. According to their website, the Fitbit’s rechargeable battery will last for about 10 days between charges, and it even features a blue OLED display allowing you to keep track of your steps, calories and distance while away from your PC.

The Fitbit is expected to start shipping in the first quarter of 2009, and if it works as well as promised, I think $99 is a steal.

[ Fitbit ] VIA [ DVICE ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Like any decent pedometer, the Taxi Walker will not only keep track of the distance you’ve walked, but also how many calories you’ve burned in the process. And while keeping tabs on the calories you’ve burned is a great incentive for those watching their weight and trying to stay active, the Taxi Walker will also appeal to those who use walking as a cheap alternative to hailing a taxi cab. Not only does the LCD display apparently mimic a real taxi meter (though it looks nothing like the meters used where I live) but it also keeps track of how much a taxi ride would have cost for the same distance you walked.

The meter can be adjusted for fares and rate calculations depending on where you live, and the display will show you how many steps remain until the next fare increase, or you can simply activate an audible alert for every time the fare jumps. There’s also a ‘highway’ or ‘long-haul’ mode if you happen to be tackling a lengthy marathon since taxi charges are often calculated differently for longer trips, and the meter will even keep track of your progress over the past 7 days if you’re curious how you’ve progressed.

The Taxi Walker is available from the Japan Trend Shop for $33.

[ Taxi Walker Pedometer ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Most watches that are capable of monitoring your heart rate look like they’re suited for athletes tackling the most grueling of marathons. They’re big, bulky and feature complicated LCD displays providing all kinds of information. And while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, if you’re trying to monitor your fitness level it’s also important to keep an eye on your resting heart rate when you’re not so physically active. And during those times you’d probably prefer to wear a watch that’s a bit more subtle, like these models from Sportline.

They feature a traditional analog watch face with a secret LED heart-rate display that’s only visible when you want it to be. The heart-rate monitor is also ECG accurate without the need for wearing an uncomfortable chest strap all day long. The watches come in both men’s and women’s designs and depending on the specific model also feature calendar and alarm functions that take advantage of the hidden LED display. They’re available from Sportline directly and range in price from $59.99 up to $159.99.

[ Sportline Heart Rate Watches ] VIA [ I4U News ]