Exercise facility and method

Abstract

An exercise facility provides a physical space allowing unconstrained user movement in a low light level. The low light level improves the perceived user satisfaction with exercising, and may improve duration, frequency, and quality of the exercise. The room in which the physical space is located may have characteristics that reduce inhibitions against physical movement. These characteristics may include a dark floor, dark walls with a matte finish, and indirect lighting off of a light-colored ceiling. The environment may also aid in increasing focus of the user on the exercise task, removing distractions that might otherwise divert the attention of the user. The user-friendly environment may also aid the exercise system in following movement of the user within the physical space. For example, the environment surrounding the physical space may provide less interference than prior environments to infrared sensor systems.

1 . A method of providing an exercise environment, the method comprising:
 providing a physical space for a user to make unconstrained physical movement; and   providing a low light level of less than  10  foot-candles in the physical space during exercise.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing the physical space includes providing a physical space in a room with a dark-colored floor. 
   
   
       3 . (canceled) 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the dark-colored floor is black. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing the physical space includes providing a physical space in a room with dark-colored walls. 
   
   
       6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the dark-colored walls are dark blue. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the dark-colored walls have a matte finish, a semi-gloss finish, or an eggshell finish. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the room has a light-colored ceiling. 
   
   
       10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 further comprising directing the unconstrained physical movement in the physical space with an exercise system;   wherein the exercise system includes a sensor and a display; and   further comprising:
 sensing movement of the user within the physical space, using the sensor; and 
   displaying an interactive view to the user.   
   
   
       12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the directing includes interactively directing the user in the unconstrained physical motion using the displaying;   wherein the interactively directing includes directing the user to engage in unplanned unconstrained physical movements; and   wherein the unplanned unconstrained physical movements include changes in height of a center of gravity of the user.   
   
   
       14 - 15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the displaying includes displaying a view of a virtual space that corresponds to the physical space; and   wherein the displaying the view of the virtual space includes displaying a user icon in a virtual location corresponding to a user physical location of the user.   
   
   
       17 - 22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing the low light level includes providing a light level of less than 1 foot-candle in the physical space during exercise. 
   
   
       24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the physical space is in a room; and   further providing one or more additional physical spaces for unconstrained physical movement within the room; and   further comprising:
 providing stationary exercise devices in the room; and 
 providing a relatively high light level at the stationary exercise devices that is bright than the low light level. 
   
   
   
       26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . An exercise facility comprising:
 an exercise system that directs unconstrained physical movement in a physical space of the facility; and   a stationary exercise device;   wherein the physical space is at a relatively low light level, and the stationary exercise device is at a relatively high light level that is brighter than the low light level.   
   
   
       28 . The facility of  claim 27 , wherein the facility has a dark-colored floor. 
   
   
       29 . (canceled) 
   
   
       30 . The facility of  claim 28 , wherein the dark-colored floor is black. 
   
   
       31 . The facility of  claim 27 , wherein the facility has dark-colored walls. 
   
   
       32 . (canceled) 
   
   
       33 . The facility of  claim 31 , wherein the dark-colored walls are dark blue. 
   
   
       34 . The facility of  claim 31 , wherein the dark-colored walls have a matte finish. 
   
   
       35 . The facility of  claim 31 , wherein the facility has a light-colored ceiling. 
   
   
       36 . (canceled) 
   
   
       37 . The facility of  claim 27 , wherein the relatively low light level is less than 10 foot-candles.