Incentivized exercise equipment

Abstract

An incentivized exercise machine comprising an exercise machine including a monitor to monitor the pace of a user of the exercise machine. The monitor is configured to communicate with a processor for controlling the rate of text scrolled onto a visual screen for reading by a user. The text may be scrolled at a rate based on the user's exercise pace to incentivize the user to keep pace. The processor may also, or alternatively, be configured to receive electronically stored print materials to be presented on the screen and scrolling the print material's words at a rate and in a font readable by the user of the exercise machine.

1 . An incentivized exercise machine comprising:
 an exercise machine substrate having at least one manually and repeatably movable part;   a monitor configured to monitor the rate of movement of said at least one manually and repeatably movable part; and   a processor configured to receive a signal from said monitor relating to said rate of movement and providing scrolling text to a visual screen at a predetermined rate based on the rate of movement of said at least one manually moveable part.   
   
   
       2 . The incentivized exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein said processor includes electronically stored literary works for scrolling on said visual screen. 
   
   
       3 . The incentivized exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein said processor includes an input for receiving a memory storage device, said storage device providing a textual work to be scrolled on said screen. 
   
   
       4 . The incentivized exercise machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a control pad including a control key for actuation by a user to control said scrolling text's speed. 
   
   
       5 . The incentivized exercise machine of  claim 4 , further comprising a control key for actuation by a user to pause said scrolling text. 
   
   
       6 . The incentivized exercise machine of  claim 5 , further comprising a control key for actuation by a user to allow a user to repeat previously scrolled text. 
   
   
       7 . The incentivized exercise machine of  claim 6 , further comprising a control key for actuation by a user to allow a user to set a minimum rate of movement of said at least one manually and repeatably movable part necessary to maintain in order to have said processor continue to scroll text on said visual screen. 
   
   
       8 . The incentivized exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein said exercise machine substrate is a stationary bike and said manually and repeatably movable body is a pedal crank case; and wherein said monitor is a speedometer or tachometer. 
   
   
       9 . The incentivized exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein said exercise machine substrate is a treadmill and said manually and repeatably movable body is a roller; and wherein said monitor is a speedometer or tachometer. 
   
   
       10 . The incentivized exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein said exercise machine substrate is a stair stepper and said manually and repeatably movable body is a piston or arm associated with at least one of a pair of steps of said stair stepper; and wherein said monitor is a speedometer. 
   
   
       11 . An incentivized exercise machine comprising:
 an exercise machine substrate;   a visual monitor positioned in an area for viewing by a user of said exercise machine substrate; and   a processor configured to provide scrolling text to said visual screen at a predetermined rate.   
   
   
       12 . The incentivized exercise machine of  claim 11 , wherein said processor provides scrolling text only when a user is performing the exercise machine's intended movements. 
   
   
       13 . The incentivized exercise machine of  claim 11 , wherein said processor is configured to receive an external memory device having electronically stored literary works and displaying said literary works as said scrolling text. 
   
   
       14 . The incentivized exercise machine of  claim 11 , wherein said processor is configured for access to a server containing electronically stored literary works that a user may select for displaying as said scrolling text. 
   
   
       15 . The incentivized exercise machine of  claim 11 , further comprising a control pad configured to allow a user to modify said scrolling text's font size and rate of presentation. 
   
   
       16 . The incentivized exercise machine of  claim 15 , wherein said control pad is configured to be operable as a computer work station. 
   
   
       17 . The incentivized exercise machine of  claim 16 , further including user files containing information related to a user's prior uses of incentivized exercise equipment to provide information related to how much reading and exercising a user has performed. 
   
   
       18 . The incentivized exercise machine of  claim 11 , wherein said exercise machine substrate is a stationary bike. 
   
   
       19 . The incentivized exercise machine of  claim 11 , wherein said exercise machine substrate is a treadmill. 
   
   
       20 . The incentivized exercise machine of  claim 11 , wherein said exercise machine substrate is a stair stepper.