Virtual reality might be the way to those elusive six-pack abs
A German start-up has created a VR machine for a workout through flying and diving, but will ‘gamifying’ exercise trick the brain to do something the body hates?
Tokyo — Johannes Scholl is betting virtual reality (VR) can keep people excited about working out. Scholl’s start-up, Munich-based Icaros, has developed a VR exercise machine that delivers a core workout by making it seem that users are flying and deep-ocean diving. About 200 gyms and entertainment centres from London to Tokyo have installed the machines, which cost about $10,000 including shipping and other costs. A cheaper home version, for about $2,000, is under development and could be unveiled early next year. "There’s no comparable thing you can do at a gym," says Scholl, who co-founded Icaros in 2015 with fellow industrial designer Michael Schmidt. The fitness industry has been trying for decades to make exercise less boring — from TVs embedded in treadmills to apps nudging users to stay on schedule — but technology has yet to find a cure for the monotony of working out. Scholl is part of nascent community that believes the addictive pull of video games combined with the imme...
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