Variable-resistance exercise machine with network communication for smart device control and interactive software applications
A variable-resistance exercise machine with network communication for smart device control and interactive software applications, comprising a network interface that receives input from a user device and provides output to a user device; a plurality of moving surfaces that each provide an independent degree of resistance to movement based on received input, a sensor that detects movement and provides output to a user device based on the movement.
1. A variable-resistance exercise machine with communication for smart device control and interactive software applications, comprising:
a sensor configured to detect movement of a user of the exercise machine;
a plurality of moving surfaces each configured to provide an independent degree of resistance to movement in response to the changes from a network interface;
a network interface configured to communicate with a user device via a network, the network interface being configured to:
receive input from the user device, the input comprising a user interaction received via an interactive software application operating on the user device;
change a degree of resistance of each of a plurality of moving surfaces based on the input;
receive output from the sensor, the output comprising a detected movement of the user of the exercise machine;
provide the output to the user device.
2. The exercise machine of claim 1 , further comprising the user device comprising a memory, a processor, and a plurality of programming instructions stored in the memory which, when operating on the processor, causes the user device to:
receive the output from the network interface; and
change the operation of the interactive software application in response to the output.
3. The exercise machine of claim 2 , wherein the interactive software application is a virtual reality application.
4. The exercise machine of claim 2 , wherein the interactive software application is software configured to enable use of the device for physical therapy.
5. The exercise machine of claim 2 , wherein the user device is a wearable computing device.
6. The exercise machine of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of steps configured to assist a human user in mounting and dismounting the exercise machine safely.
7. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of moving surfaces comprises an integrally-formed textured surface configured to provide adequate purchase when pressure is applied by a portion of the user's body.
8. A method for controlling a variable-resistance exercise machine with communication for smart device control and interactive software applications, comprising:
receiving input from a user device via a network interface, the input comprising at least a user interaction received via an interactive software application operating on the user device;
changing, using the network interface, a degree of resistance of each of a plurality of moving surfaces of a variable-resistance exercise machine based on the input, the variable-resistance exercise machine comprising a plurality of moving surfaces each configured to provide an independent degree of resistance to movement in response to the changes from the network interface;
receiving output from a sensor, the output comprising a detected movement of a user of the exercise machine; and
providing the output to the user device.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the user device comprising a memory, a processor, and a plurality of programming instructions stored in the memory which, when operating on the processor, causes the user device to:
receive the output from the network interface; and
change the operation of the interactive software application in response to the output.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the interactive software application is a virtual reality application.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the interactive software application is software configured to enable use of the device for physical therapy.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the user device is a wearable computing device.
13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of steps configured to assist a human user in mounting and dismounting the exercise machine safely.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of moving surfaces comprises an integrally-formed textured surface configured to provide adequate purchase when pressure is applied by a portion of the user's body.