Get Fit With Virtual Reality
By Toni Krasicki
U
nless you have been living under
a rock, you will have heard of the
game-changing Google Glass that
was unveiled last year.
One of the coolest technologies to hit the scene, the sci-fi
looking specs that are collecting apps by the minute is about
to be launched in 2014. The Glass is basically a head mounted
pair of computer glasses that can be used to take photos and
video footage, send music straight to your ear bone, and offers
WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity with the possibility of even
linking the headset to your phone. The superlight looking Glass
frame will fit any face and has an onboard storage of 16GB
with the addition of being synced with Google cloud storage.
There is a growing list of Glass apps and the latest for Glass is
also the newest on the tech-fit market aimed at motivating
couch potatoes. ‘Race Yourself’(www.raceyourself.com),
uses a reality game as a way to motivate users to exercise
with the app allowing users to race against a 3D projection of
themselves with the goal of beating personal-fitness scores.
Using over 30 virtual game modes that are accessed through
the headset, you can race against friends or projections of
professional athletes and if you need a little extra push, fleeing
boulders or outrunning zombies may do the trick.
‘Imagine racing against your own personal best, chasing a
friend you want to beat or even escaping a 400-tonne cargo
train traveling at your target marathon pace,’ company cofounder Alex Foster said in a release. ‘By blending reality with
virtual reality, we can make workouts a lot more interesting
and motivating.’
Like other fitness apps, Race Yourself, keeps track of pace and
burnt calories and the array of games (cyclists will love the
Tour de France) will give users the option to work out on the
ski slopes or on the beach. The motivational key is a type of
reward system and games are only unlocked by completing
workouts, exercising multiple days in a row and burning
calories.
Although it won’t be available until Google Glass is launched,
fitness fans can pre-order the app from the company’s
website.
BREAKING NEWS
“Technogym unveils Google Glass controlled treadmill at Consumer Electronics Show held in Las Vegas”. Visit wnif.com.au for details.
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WHAT’S NEW IN FITNESS - AUTUMN 2014