I’ve got a goal of running a marathon in every state by the time I turn 50. I’ve done 6 and I’m 40, so I’ve got a lot of running in front of me. A few months ago, I told Ross that I wanted to integrate a computer workstation into a treadmill so that I would work while I ran. Part of my training regimen involves walking at a decent pace (3.3 miles / hour) so I want to be able to spend board / conference call time on the Treadputer rather than sitting at my desk or laying on my couch.
We’ve had the Treadputer operational for about 45 days and I love it. I had high expectations for walking, but low expectations for running. It turns out that the Treadputer is highly functional when I’m running, which enables me to do some of my longer runs during the day while I’m on a call rather than having to get up at 5am to get them in before the day starts.
Part of my goal was to have a fully functional workstation that was equivalent to the one on my desk. I’ve used a three monitor setup for the better part of a year (and a two monitor setup for several years before that), so I needed plenty of horsepower. Following is the base system:
- IBM ThinkCenter 3.2GHz PC
- 3 Video cards (ATI Radeons)
- 3 19" NEC Monitors
- A 6 monitor mounting system (we only use 3)
- Bluetooth stereo audio headphones
- Desk microphone
- USB Headset (for voice calls)
- Logitech 2.1 speakers
- Kensington Trackball
As you can see from the picture, this is tightly integrated with my Vision Fitness T9450HRT treadmill. The software is mostly standard stuff build around Microsoft Windows XP Professional and Microsoft Office, with a few exceptions to handle speech and phone.
- Dragon Naturally Speaking (for voice recognition)
- Cisco IP Communicator (for IP Softphone)
- Skype (for other calls)
When we first assembled the Treadputer, Ross was skeptical that I would be able to read the screen while walking and assumed that reading while running would be impossible. While the three monitor setup helps a lot, it was surprisingly easy to read while walking or running. We’re running all three monitors at their standard 1280x1024 resolution and haven’t juiced up the font sizes.
While we thought reading would be difficult, typing seemed like it was going to be a real challenge. We started with a shelf built into the treadmill for the keyboard to sit on. After about five minutes, it was clear that the keyboard needed two controls – both height and tilt. To be really usable, especially while running or walking fast, the keyboard needs to be tilted up at a 45 degree angle and be able to be lifted and lowered to suit the person on the treadmill. All I’ve got at this point is a sweat soaked prototype (build out of a cardboard box) – Ross promises me that a real version is coming soon.
Oh – and the mouse was useless. It’s impossible to control a mouse while walking or running. A big stationary trackball (also tilted up at a 45 degree angle) solved this problem nicely.
I’ve always been fascinated with voice recognition – one of the earliest things I ever did on an Apple II was work with the Scott Instruments VET-2 (“voice entry terminal”) which did very rudimentary voice recognition (but was state of the art back in 1982.) I doubted that Dragon Naturally Speaking would work while I was running, but it performs almost flawlessly after thirty minutes of training. I’m still finding my way around it – although it does remind me (by not recognizing anything) to slow down my running pace if I’m breathing too hard.
Finally, I wanted the phone system to be simple and easy to deal with for several hours at a time. It turns out that the Cisco IP Softphone is trivial to configure (I occasionally use it on my laptop when I’m on the road and I need to make IP calls) and with a headset works great. Since I usually close my door to spare my office mates from the noise (and smell) I make while running, we are trying to get a free standing audio mike to work, although currently it sounds like I’m in the bottom of a tunnel talking into a tin can in a windstorm.
If you wander by my office and see me puffing away, or if you have the misfortune of being on a call while I’m panting, at least you’ll know what the cause is.
Posted in: MarathonsCOMMENTS (24)
I'm just down the road in Boulder. Is there an online signup sheet somewhere? ;-)
Back in the pre MS Windows (DOS/ DesQview), pre-Internet early 90's, I used a similar (for times) system. I use to surf Prodigy, Compuserve, The Source, Dephi and Telnet while riding my stationary bike. I had one of those 15 inch amber CRTs at the edge of a table with the keyboard duck taped to the keyboard. That way I could do an hour of cardio/ email/ surfing all at the same time. My wife thought I was completely insane. My neighbors thought I was from another planet. But it worked great! I have a photo of it somewhere... I must dig out!
I'm totally jealous... ;-)
Very cool!!! My best thoughts always coming to me when I am running - how cool to be able to research and capture them right away!
Good luck at Boston next month - I won't be running, but will be cheering. If you wear a Feld Thoughts T-shirt, your Boston readers might even recogize you and cheer for you.
I assume you've seen articles on Dr. James Levine of the Mayo Clinic - if not here's a 'lens' about him...
http://www.squidoo.com/walkingwhileworking
I'm looking at my own Vision Fitness over in the corner - I'm definitely tempted!
When you start merging nouns together like "TreadPuter" and then proceed to build the merged noun, you are crossing a dangerous line.
Brad - Awesome! I have been working on something similar for my stationary bike. Can't wait to tell my significant other that I'm not the only crazy person who does this!??!!
Yup - the whole thing was inspired by an article I read about Dr. Levine. We originally contacted him to see if we could buy one from him / the Mayo. Their response was to ask us if we were interested in investing in a company that built these.
, March 21, 2006 11:07 AM
That is a sweet setup! I am not a runner but an avid cyclist, so I may take your lead and do something similar w/ my spin bike (maybe I can get some tips from David Henderson).
Lucky!!! Every running CEO deserves one (hint, hint...)
Brad, My hamster would love this, he asked me to build one on his exercise wheel.
And can it power the computer?
Further proof that Yankees are crazy :D
Do you notice any difference in your ability to think abstractly while working on this gadget?
For a time, many years ago, I tried getting some certain abstract math problem in my head before going out on a long ride with the idea I'd spend a couple of hours understanding it.
I gave up after several tries - my conclusion was that most abstract functioning ceased immediately upon mounting up, no matter how I focused. Some other part of the brain was in charge...
Most of the time I spend on the treadputer is on conference calls or board calls. As a result, I'm not really thinking abstractly. However, I find that I actually concentrate better then when I'm sitting at my desk. When I'm walking or running, I actually end up being able to focus all my concentration on the call. When I'm just sitting around, I find my mind wanders more and I end up getting distracted by something else.
, March 21, 2006 9:53 PM
Your site doesn't appear to accept trackbacks. Thought you'd like to know I've referenced you and your treadputer here: http://www.robmillard.com/archives/off-the-wall-insights-88-multitasking-gen-x-style.html
And I thought Microsoft were a little bit ahead of their time with their StepUI application for processing email while dancing steps.
Brad, this reminds me of that scene in Wall Street while Gordon Gecko is running on a treadmill in his office hooked up to an EKG, trading stocks and doing deals all at the same time.
Think I can do this with a Spinning Bike?
Damn, now I know what I want for Christmas. So here's the question:
Why isn't there someplace I can buy these? I'll bet there's a decent-sized market, and based on your post, there's no one serving it!
Ross,
Great work, very nice setup. Is there a cost/performance benefit to running three video cards vice runnning one multi-monitor card?
Thanks for your time.
Fantastic....Now hook this up to FitLinxx to automatically store and track data on what you are doing on the treadmill (it also automatrically tracks weight/strength equipment exercises)and you will be all set..... www.fitlinxx.com
Awesome!!! The answer to all my problems! Now I just need a bank loan to afford it. Very very cool.
, March 30, 2006 1:47 PM
I want one. When do they start production??? :)
Very cool. Ever think about building a USB interface that can measure the speed of the treadmill. Then write a service that takes an inverse proportion of CPU Utilization to User's running speed. The faster you run, the quicker the system. Nothing keeps you going like incentive! Best Regards...
I Started a company not too long ago to make these things and have installed about 40 so far on various cardio equipment. We are located in Denver Colorado and you can check out the website. We use a touchscreen to simplify the keyboard\mouse issues and also an onscreen keyboard if you want to compleatly ditch a hardware based one. We also customize the front-end GUI to simplify commands. We got decent press on this setup as well in Denver Post and Denver Business Journal.
screenshots here: www.fitnessnets.com
This makes me wonder if you need to get a life or if your living the life. Anyways very creative.
Hi from the north side of Boulder,
Do you have any more pictures or movies of you at the treadputer? I'd like to post them at my blog which is devoted to treadputers (aka Treadmill Desks).
Here's the link: http://www.Treadmill-Desk.com/
Thanks,
Jay Buster
Boulder
Treadmill Desk
, June 7, 2007 8:36 AM
Jay - there is one of them on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niUEg81OrTk. You can also give me a shout and come by and take some if you want.
, June 7, 2007 9:53 PM
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