Internet Surfing Gains a Toehold at Fitness Centers
WASHINGTON — Americans have found a new way to combine two of their obsessions by installing Internet terminals on exercise machines at fitness centers.
A San Francisco-based Internet company, Netpulse Communications Inc., has installed terminals at 300 fitness centers across the country and is expecting that number to double by the end of the year.
“The three founders of the company were very frustrated with their workout,” Karen Newman, Netpulse marketing director, said in a telephone interview. “They used what they knew about computers to turn working out into a much more enjoyable experience.” “It’s great!” said Bethany Tinsley, 19, while sweating on an exercise bicycle, listening to her Walkman and surfing the Web on a screen installed on her exercise bike at the Tenley Sports & Health Center in Washington.
“It stops working if you stop peddling, so it really pushes you to exercise more, and you can get other things done while you’re exercising,” she said.
The Netpulse monitors, which can be installed for $3,000, have touch screens and are mounted on exercise bikes and stair climbers. Users can surf the Web, send e-mail, listen to music or watch TV while checking how many calories they have burned.
“It’s not even like exercising,” said the Tenley center’s director, Kelley Williamson.
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