So really, there’s no reason why companies shouldn’t use the rewards system of doing things when it comes to trying to get their employees to go greener. That’s 23-year old entrepreneur Ry Morgan’s idea when he came up with PleaseCycle.

Basically, Morgna has created a series of tools and services that will help business organizations start up their own bicycling programs. The latest is the BikeMile, which is like those airline rewards programs that give you some perks and privileges depending on the number of miles you’ve flown. Only in this case, it’s going to be for the number of miles you’ve cycled.

Morgan explains: “PleaseCycle creates digital Cycle Hubs for organizations which allow employees to log miles via Twitter and a mobile app… They can then redeem these BikeMiles for discount vouchers at a variety of retailers and compete against colleagues for additional rewards.”

Morgan adds: “Clients are already using the Hub to incentivise employees with everything from extra holiday time to discounted cycle equipment through our retail partners.  We are essentially creating an Air Miles for bikes.”

The system launched in beta last November. Three hubs (which includes a hotel and a university) are already live, while many more are planned and on the way.

[via Pop Up City]

The FuelBand is the natural evolution of the Sportband, that has been on the market since 2008. The FuelBand can track all of your activities, and boils them down to a simple metric called “NikeFuel”. The band allows users to easily toggle between time, distance, calories burned and “Fuel.”

You can also establish goals for your fitness, and as you accomplish then, the FuelBand LED lights turn from red, yellow to green. It’s made frome durable rubber, plastic, magnesium and stainless steel, and is water-resistant, so it’s fine in the shower or rain (but not safe for the swimming pool, ocean or tub).

The FuelBand comes equipped with built-in USB, an accelerometer and a tracking algorithm.  It syncs wirelessly with your iPhone over Bluetooth, and can track your progress on either an iPhone app or the Nike+ website. You can also share your achievements on Facebook and Twitter.

The Nike FuelBand already sold out of its first batch of pre-orders for $149 (USD), and expects to start shipping in late February.

[via Cool Hunting]

Treadmills have them. So do cross-trainers. And now your next dumbbells might also be able to tell you just how many calories you’re burning – if these C-Ring Dumbbells eventually get picked up and produced, that is.

The C-Ring is a concept design by Wang Zihao. They have a built-in calorie counter that keeps track of calories exhausted with your weight training routine, determined on the basis of the weight being lifted and the number of repetitions detected by movement. To access this information, you can simply sync the dumbbells with your smartphone or PC via USB.

The cool thing about the C-Ring Dumbbells is that you can amp up the intensity of your workout by adding on compatible magnetic weight disks to each end of the dumbbell. Pretty neat, eh?

[via Yanko Design]

To start, you create a weekly “pact” that says how many times you’ll go to the gym, and an amount you’re willing to give up if you don’t. When you get to the gym, you have to stay at least 30 minutes for the workout to count using its check-in feature. If you don’t check-in you have to pay up for not meeting your goals. The upside is that you can get cash rewards (typically about $1 a visit) if you stick to your goals, using the funds paid up by those that didn’t go. Naturally, GymPact takes a chunk of all the money you put in, 3% to be precise.

I guess if you are lazy and cheap, the thought of losing a buck might be enough to get you to go exercise. I would worry about people gaming the system though. What do you think?

If you want to try it, you can download the free GymPact app over at the iTunes App Store.

[via TechCrunch]

This unique “heads-up” display offers color-coded LEDs help you keep track of your heart rate and pace without looking down at a watch or other electronic gadget. The gadget clips onto pretty much any pair of sunglasses, and tucks in neatly along the arm between your ear and lens. Sportiiiis communicates wirelessly with ANT+ compatible devices such as a wrist-worn heart-rate monitor or bike cadence sensor, and provides quick visual feedback, and alert you when you drift outside of your targets.

For instance, a green light in the middle indicates you’re right at the perfect heart rate, while amber or red LEDs to the edges tell you if you’re too high or too low from your ideal heart rate or running pace. Special software for Mac, PC or smartphones will allow you to set up workout profiles for your Sportiiiis to monitor. A small tap on the side of the device will also provide an audible heart-rate cue, and double-tapping lets you flip between multiple paired sensors.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Sportiiiis should be available some time later in November, and will retail for $199 (USD). Sunglasses and remote sensors not included, though.

[via Gizmag via Crave]

The average CD weighs about .15 grams, so the weight adds up nicely and you can make the dumbbell weigh whatever weight you want. Sadly, it’s just a concept right now, but hopefully these become a reality. It would be nice to use those CDs for something besides drink coasters.

[via Yanko Design via Geeky-Gadgets]

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

There are also mini-games that train your reflexes and exercises that are said to help you stay calm in stressful situations. Need some training? The game will arrive on November 8th for the Xbox 360 with Kinect. What do you think? Will this be a good way to train people in the art of self defense or just another poor selling exercise game?

[via 1up via Ubergizmo]

However, if you want to be all sneaky about it (and if you happen to be the fearless type), then you might want to position this scale in a corner of the room or something where a woman’s bound to step on it. Wait and few seconds, and shazam! Her weight will be displayed in bright, bold red LED against the wall, visible for anyone in the vicinity to take a gander.

She won’t be too happy about it, that’s for sure, so try to lay low about the whole thing for the next couple of days.

These Wall Projection Scales are available from Hammacher Schlemmer for $69.95 (USD). Dignity sold separately.

[via Coolest Gadgets]

If this doesn’t make you laugh, then you need to be punched:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The poor thing just keeps on punching. Want more? Of course you do. Thanks Punching Pro! You made my day. I haven’t laughed that hard in weeks. Seriously though, I hope Kris gets the funding and support he needs to turn his invention into a real contender. Then he can build one with legs and voila – robot boxing.

[Punching Pro via Uberreview]

It will collect information about how many calories are burned, steps are taken, and real time physical activity. The software will also keep a log of food consumed throughout the day.

This is a pretty interesting sensor. It uses galvanic skin response and other factors to calculate calorie burn. The Activity Manager means that you log onto the website and input data about your daily food input, etc. For a moment, I thought that the device sensed what food you were eating.

The BodyMedia FIT Armband BW will cost $249 (USD). The Activity Manager costs an extra $13 per year (less with a quarterly or annual commitment).

[via Ubergizmo]

The new Nike+ SportWatch GPS is new and improved in a whole new way. By pairing up with TomToms GPS services, you can rely on your watch for more than just checking the time. The GPS will function with other Nike shoe sensors to improve the data tracking during your run. The face of the watch is touch screen; with the first touch you can activate the backlight, then mark laps during your run. The backlight LED is adjustable so you aren’t sucking up crazy amount of energy by trying to look at it multiple times in the midst of a run.

A USB port has been molded into the watchstrap, and will not only upload your run data, but charge your battery as well. Your watch will also give you an automatic reminder when you have not logged in five days prior. To top it all off, you can go to Nikeplus.com to see your running data, which will include the GPS information, let you set goals, challenge friends and more. If this doesn’t help kick start a good running schedule, I don’t know what will.

Kwon Sunman’s Rug With Scale is a neat-looking scale that looks like a shaggy rug. In addition to looking all warm and fuzzy, the scale will track your weight and can also display your target weight in comparison to your previous weight and goal weight.

I use a scale regularly and wouldn’t mind something like this that’s nice and soft underneath my feet instead of the typical cold metal or glass scales out there. Too bad it’s just a concept design at this point.

[via Yanko Design]

These pictures are from that patent application, and while I don’t know whether or not they actually have much to do with this rumor – or if this rumor will come to fruition at all – it seems to be a safe bet here, adding one and one to come up with a fitness game. One that features you, in a jersey (optional), running around your living room, throwing a controller. Wait, wasn’t throwing the Wii controller bad? Didn’t people break their televisions and sometimes their faces?

Oh well. If EA can figure that one out, there just may be a more active companion to the Madden franchise next year.

[via Joystiq]

To ride in a pair of Chariot Skates, you place your foot in the stirrup and then strap your leg into the top half. Pushing your legs from side to side propels the oversize carbon fiber bicycle wheels, and a small wheel in the back provides added stability. While they’re not intended to go as fast as speed skates, they’re designed for cruising, and gain and maintain speed more quickly than rollerblades, and can also be maneuvered over rough terrain. You can even walk up and down stairs while in motion. Did you notice I said you, not I? The video clip below will give you a better idea of how they work.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

At this point, the makers of the Chariot Skates are still testing them out and making sure that you won’t kill yourself when you get a pair. Heck, they haven’t quite figured out a way to add mechanical brakes yet, so you’ll have to go with one of these more primitive stopping methods…

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Expect the Chariot Skates to be released sometime in the first half of 2010 if all goes well. Pricing is still TBD, but I can pretty much guarantee you that the requisite helmet and knee-pads not included.

[via Likecool]

Talismoon’s Wiitality is a neoprene band that’s designed to hold your Wii-mote in place with no need to hold the controller in your hand. The band is fully adjustable, and fastens to your wrist or bicep using sturdy Velcro straps to ensure the controller stays put while you sweat. Since so many of the exercises in Wii Fit require you to put the controller down, and then pick it back up again, this is a great little idea.

You can find the Wiitality over at Amazon for about $3 (USD) each.

While it’s not clear if the image is from Nintendo or from a 3rd-party accessory maker, it definitely looks like something I could see hooking up to my Wii. The $89.99 controller appears to be a foot-pedal device that’s used to interact with a variety of bike-riding and fitness activities.

My best guess is that the slide was leaked from some sort of Nintendo product focus group, and might not represent a final product. Still, I really love the idea that someday I may be able to participate in the Tour de France in my living room.

It’s actually my life’s ambition to complete a triathlon without ever leaving my couch.

[via Go Nintendo]

Now, you won’t be using the GPS capabilities to map out automotive routes, but it will come in handy for plotting waypoints for exercise and other outdoor activities. The Forerunner 405 contains all the electronics necessary to track speed, distance, pace, calories burned, location and even heart rate (assuming you add the optional heart rate monitor).

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The watch can automatically sync with your computer wirelessly, downloading workout data as well as receiving route data for future outings. You can even beam locations, workouts and course information with your running companions if they happen to also wear the same type of watch.

The Forerunner 405 is slated for a Q1 2008 release and will retail for about $319 USD.

[via NaviGadget]

Instead of the blister-inducing button mashing of the 1980s arcade game, the new Track & Field Challenge actually comes with a two-player foot controller mat that makes you actually work up a sweat when you play.

There are ten different events including the 100m dash, long jump, javelin throw, hurdles and more. The game will even track how many calories you’ve burned when you play.

So if you need to get some exercise, and just can’t wait for Wii Fit to hit shelves early next year, Track & Field Challenge is available from Konami now, and it’s a steal at just under 30 bucks.

Their new Forerunner 50 system automatically synchronizes data from devices you wear to your computer. The devices use a wireless system called ANT+Sport which constantly looks for paired devices within proximity of your PC. There are several devices in the series, with the centerpiece being the Forerunner 50 watch.

In addition to being a fully functional digital watch, it can display other information such as heart rate, speed and distance traveled when paired with optional wireless devices. A wireless “foot pod” monitors your speed, cadence, distance and calories burned. The chest-worn band can accurately monitor your heart rate. The watch itself can track up to seven hours and 100 laps of detail-level data, so you can monitor your progress before you sync up.

Pricing depends on what accessories you purchase. The base Forerunner 50 with the heart rate monitor watch costs just $99, including the USB wireless stick for your PC. $149 buys you the watch and the foot pod, while $199 gets you the watch, foot pod and the heart rate monitor. Garmin also plans to release an add-on for tracking your bicycle workouts too.

The Forerunner 50 system should be available this October.

Gamestop is now listing a pre-order release date of January 1, 2008, along with a $69.99 retail price, including the required Balance Board peripheral. I’m guessing the post-holiday release date is to help us all keep our all-too-often broken New Year’s resolutions.

[UPDATE 5/1/2008: Nintendo has finally confirmed that Wii Fit and the Balance Board will be released on May 19, 2008. The game and controller are priced at $89.95, check Amazon for more product details.]

[via CrunchGear]