CA2071993A1

CA2071993A1 - Exercise and video game device

Info

Publication number: CA2071993A1
Application number: CA002071993A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Justin Hall-Tipping
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Heartbeat Corp
Priority date: 1989-12-20
Filing date: 1990-12-20
Publication date: 1991-06-21
Also published as: WO1991009374A1; EP0506863A1; EP0506863A4; JPH05505319A

Abstract

An exercise device, such as an exercise bicycle, is connected to a speed sensor indicating activity level, e.g. speed of the bicycle. The activity level signal, along with a heart rate signal, are provided to a video game, such as a Pac-man type video game.
The game monitors the heart rate of the exerciser. If the heart rate falls outside preset minimum or maximum limits (steps 60, 62), a certain action occurs in the game, such as an increase in speed or skill level of the opposition (steps 64, 66). In the Pac-man type game for example, should the heart rate fall below the desired workout rate, the villain (the goblin) would move at a speed faster than the players' speed, putting the player at a disadvantage. The player would respond by increasing his level of physical activity, thereby increasing the heart rate until it exceeds the minimum aerobic level required, at which time the villain's speed would return to its normal level.

Description

WO 91/09374 PCr/U~sO/07579 ~719~

5 ~he pres~3nt in~ention i8 directed to an ex2rcise and video ga~la d~vice, and ~orQ particularly to an a~robic exsrcise and vid~o ga~lQ devic~ to encouragQ pQopl~ to com~ence and continu~ an a$robic ~xerc:ise progr~.

10 It i~ gon~rally acc~pt~d today that aQrobic exercise promot~a cardiovascular ~i~ne~s~. Ex~rci~e increa~es the continuou~ ~lo~ o~ blood ~rough th~ h~a~t and large SkQletal ~IU~Ci6~, incr~a~ing thQir ~fac~iv~ne~s~, ~ore impartantly, exerci~ h~lp~ ht, or prQv~nt, 15 athero~clero~i~ (narrowing of ar~r~s) and coronary hear~:
dis~a~e.

It han bQ~n ~stimatQd that 50~ o~ all peopl~ whn ~tart an ~xerci~e progra~ f~il to kQ~p ~xQrcising beyond three 20 ~or~th Though ther~ c~n be many r~ason~. ~or thi~ drop out ~atQ, a pri~ary r~a~orl 1~ probably the tediou~ natur~ of ex~rs~ pro~a~.

Th~ i~troductio~ ~d rapid acc~ptanco o~ ~ideo ga~ne~ over 2S tho l~t t~ y~ ha~r~, to ~ gr~at ~xtent, alt~red th~
t~adltion~l gala~ marX~t, c~rtainly w~th regard to the young~r g~n~ration~ inh~Atly addictiYe xlature of VidOEo ga~aQ3 ( i . ~ .,, one ha~ to play rQp~atedly to gain su~ici~nt ~kills to progr~ss through all thQ leval3 o~

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2~ 93 P(T/US90/07579 P1aY3 ha3 PrObab1Y CaU. 0d thOtil2 that P1aY them tO shun the traditiOna1 bOard ga~e~O

The pre~Qnt invention int~grate~ th~ ap~ation o~ a video 5 galaQ with an ~xerci~la pro~ra~, in the hop6~ that tho8e WhO
USe ~i~ inVentiOn W~ 1nd that ~h~ addiCtiVe natUre Of tl~2 Vid~O ga~ Wi11 k~P th~ VO1V~d 1~rIqe~
ex~rci~ pr~ra~20 1Q VideO game~ arQ U~11a11Y COn~trUC:ted W~ U1tiP1Q 1eVe1~, eaCh 1Ç~re1 b~irSg PrOgr~88iVe1Y hard~r tO COmP1~t~ than thQ
PreViOU~ On~- FOr prO~CQ~E18 tO OCCUr khrOugh a11 t~8 1~VQïB
Of the ga~, th6l ga~lQ pl yQr 21U~ 1earn hi~ ~ray thEOUgh thQ
ga~. T~1~ O1~t~I r~qUir~3 r~Peated tr1e~ at eaCh 1e~e1, 15 with a ~coring ~y~ recordiJlg ~he prog~ achi~ved.
E:f~ctiY~ ~itne~s routin~ ha~ many of the charactsri~ti~ of ~i~oo game~ . Not only i~ f itn~s~
achiaved t:hrough repaat~d exerei$e, but onc~a the ~xarciser g~t~ us~d to ~ particular l~ al o~ OE~C~rc~, further 20 incr-a~as in t:h~ 19~al 0~ ~itnl~ ar2 achiev~d only i~ the workout lav~l ~3eco~ progr~si~ly h~Lrder and ~h~a ws:~rXs:~ut tis~ hard~r l~v~l i8 '~ nCriE~a~Qd. T~ art3c~ss conti~u~s until th8 ~x~rcis~r r3ach~ the d~ ir~d ~tandard ~ fitn~s~n.
For ~xaDIplo~ it wollîd be ve~ u~liX~ly, and also imprudent, for an in~$Yidual ~ho ~8 not ~it to atte!~pt a ~arathon on .; ~- , - , ,. , . .:; . :, , ; . . . . . .. ... . . .

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3 2~ 9~3 th~ rst day of a ~itnes8 program. 8i~ilarly, it is nearly impo~ible for an inexperienced video player to atte~pt the ultimate l~vel o~ experti~ at his f irs~
attempt at th2 game. Both the exercis~ progra~ and the 5 video ga~ play must b~ progre~sed through layered levels o~ increa~ing di~ic~lty, each one taking perhaps a longer period o~ ti~, so that ~ach l~rel i8 p~rfected 37e~ore th~
next lev~l is atte~pt~d.

10 Combining ex~rci~ing progra~s and video ga~lllQ playin~a, with th~ heart rat~ o~ ~he ga~s piaye!!r controlling the speed of ~lQ vid~o game, would not only ~aake exerci~ing 1~3~33 tedious, ~ut would ~n~ur~ that ~ exerci~ar does not over-Qxert hila~el~.

Va~riou~ patent~ haY~ att~pted to int~grats vid~o ga~e3 with ~x~rc:i~e ~quip~nt~ pri~ ocll~ o~ th~a pat~nt~
being to ~n~ur~ that t}le routirlQ of ~xerc:~se is made les onQrou~.

U.S~ ~at~n~ No. ~o720~789 to Hector di clo~e~ a video gam~, or ar~ ~xarci~ sy~t~ utilizing a vid~o di~play, wh~ch i~
played by laovement og thQ gaD~13 playor's ~t. Th~ ~pp2lxen~
ob~ ~ctiv~ ~ 5 'to requir~ th~ y~m~ play~r tQ exerci~ while 25 playing th~ gaDIEa by movin~ hiE~ ~eat. ~obrQver, the game play~r i~ rQquir~d to mov~ at th~ ga~n~ ' 3 ~peed. The game WO 9ItO9374 PCI'/US9~/0757~
~7~3 4 11l no way alter~ to con~oxm to the individual ' g ~itness 1~1 .

U.S. Patent No. 4,711,447 o Man field integrate~ an 5 exercis~ snachina with a video 5~am2. ~0 play the game, the opera~or 13 r~quir~d to DIOV~ a re iBtanca creating a3~a~1y, and in doing 80, exereisQ3. A with th~ prevlou~
pat:ent, no atte~pt i5 ~ade to ad~ust the video g;~ne to the play~r ' s~ fltn~s level .

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U.S. Patent No. 4,278,095 to Iap~yre di clo$~ an exercis~
d~2v~cla conn~cted to a vldeo Dlachine. Tha ape~d o~
exercl3e d~vice, and th~ accompanying ~rideo di~play, i~
controll~d by th~ ex~ is~r. A~ th~ exerci~r ~ al~ an 15 iner~a~e in ~p~d to ths ~x~rci~e d~vice, an acco~panying ~ignal i~ ~ent to the video machirle, 80 that tha ~xerciser i~ pr~ atad with a Vi8U21l dispîay o~ 'che increa~ in ~p~ed. Th~ ~xerci~er ' 8 he~rt rat~ nitored and di~played a T.V. ~onitor.
IJ.8. Pat~nt No. 4,512,56? to Phillips i3 direct~d to an ~c~r~:is~ ~ cycle u~d go op~at~ a ~ridec gam~. The ga~
pl~yer r~caiva~ ~xer~ise wh~ 1Q o~a~r~ting t~ ~icycl~, and at ~ tian~ 0ving thQ han~l~b~r3. The vld~o ga~ne 25 op~at~ at a pre~t sp~d, ~au~ ng no allowancQ for of t~OE player.

4 5 PC~/US~tO7579 2 ~
U.5. PatQnt No. 4,630,817 to Buckley i~ directed to an ex~rc:is~ ~achine which allows ~or ~o~re2n~nt o~ . control rod, e.g. a handlebar, to provide two dlsgreee o~ ~r~edcm to a controllabl~ charact~r in a Yideo di~play. R~si~tance is

5 provide to th8 handlebar ts ensur~ t phy ical exertion i required by the u~er.

U.S. Patent No. 4,709,917 to YansJ di~clo~es an exerci~e de~ricQ whlch $~ furniqh~3d with an ~ troni~ display or a 10 D~chanical bQlt for ~mulating road con~itlons~. A
~icroproce~sor control~ position o~ the exerci~e bicycle wit~ respect ~o t~ ~c13n~ baing di~play~d and t}~
~unning ~p~d o~ the xoad condition ~imul~tion.

15 Th~ int~nt ole all the~ p~t6~nts i8 to int~grateJ ex~:rcis~
wi~ vid~o di~play. ~o~ve~rt ~3xcept ~or thQ Lap~ a UoS~
Patent No. 4,278,095 which d.~lpl~y8 th~ heart rate, non~ of ~e~ ~uggQs~t Dlonitoring thQ hoart rat2 o~ th~ ex~rai~r.
Furth~nno~" non~ o~ th~ a~pa~ to di~ lo.e any ~æan~ ror 20 altQring tho ~p~d or .ak~ll lav~l o~ the oppo~tion in a vid~o d~play in ro~pon~e to thQ output level o~ tha ~X~ d~icQ ~alli~g outsid~ a pres~t rans~a., : :; '' . , : , ~ ,,. .. ' . , ' ,' .. ,, ~ 1 ", ', ':' "

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WO 91/09374 ~ ,t~ PCI/VS90/07S79 ~ L~
- In accordanc~ with 'che pre ~nt inYent:ion, a co~nbinat~on ~xercise de~tice and gam~ apparatu~ i!3 provided.
~he apparatus according to the invention co~prises an S eXerCi8Q d~vice ~or aeroblc activity and ~nea~ ~or ~ensing th~ aeroblc actiYity lev~l of a user of said exerci~e d~vic~ and ~or outputting an ctivity level ~ignal having a char~ct~rl~tic ~ndlcatiYe o~ 3ald act~vity lavel. The apparatu~ ~urther co~pri~es a vid~o gamQ having at lea~t 10 one u~er op~rat~d control ~or conl:rolling the ac:tiorl3 Or at l~a8t one player, r~gulating m~an~ for r~gulatlng the relative action~ o~ ~3aid on~ player and ona o~ an oppositi3n pi~c~ or obstacl~, diE~play ~n~ for di~playing Q OnQ play~r and th~ on~ o~ said opposi;t~ on piece or lS ob3tacl~ and whe~o~n said regulat~ng Daean~ rend~r~ ~he ~id~o ga~ aor~ di~icult for th~ on~ player relativll3 to l:ho oppo~i~ion pi~c~ or obstac:l~ in respon~ to acti~rity indic:at~d by the activity l~vel ~ignal cha~act~ tic, ~alling below ~ ~ir~t pr~dQtQrDIin~d l~r~l.

$h~ ox~rci~ d~c~ can b~ an ~x~rci~e bicycle, tread~ill or sta~r cli~ing d~YiC~, ~or ex~mpl~ mean~ for ~en~ing l:h~ aerobic activity l~Yel can be ~ezm~ ~or ~erl~ing ~5 ~el he2lrl: ratQ o~ t:ha u~r o~ x~rci230 d~vice, or car be ~ anQ ~or ~ensing th~ output o~ thQ ~x~rci~e devica-.. .

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WO 91~0937~ PCr/US90/07579 7 2 ~ 3 q h~ regulating mean~ may further increa~ the speed of the oppo~sition piQCQ or ob~tacle relat~v~ to th~ QnQ player in r~pons~ to the heart rate Or the u~er ~alling b~low the fir t predet~rmined l~v~l. ThQ fir~t prQdeter~ined level 5 D~ay c:orra~pond to the ~ini~u;~ a~ro~ c activity level for the user, which can b~ ~lect~d according to the userls age. The regulatirlg meanY ~ay prefera}~ly render the video ga~e le~s difficult to the ona player ln re~pon~e to the activity level exce~ding a ~econd pred~termined level, 10 wher~ thff ~econd predetermined l~rel i~3 greater t:han said ~-~
first pred~te~mined l~tel. I~ho ~econd predetermin~d level pref2ra~1y corresponds to the ~axi~ h~arl: rate o~ the u~er in an opti~um ~robic ~x~rcis~ rangQ, 15 I~ th~ r~lating Dl~n~ 1~ r~ponsi~r~ to th~ u~er ' ~ heart rat~ and tha ~ or s~nsing al~o sen.e~ th~ output o~
x~rcisQ d~avic~, the apparatu~ may b~ arranged ~o that tA~ sp~ed o~ ~o player and t~3~ oppo~ition pi~ce or o~ tacl2 bot2~ iras:rsa~e or do6~a~, r~sp~cti~r~ly, in 20 ~e~pon~ to tha lncr~ sr d~cr~ e, r~3p~ tiYely, o~ the ou~put o~ th~ e~XQ~Ci~ da~ic~ di3play m~ ay di~play th~ hQi!lrt: rat~ o~ ~ Ui3~Q:r, and/or th~ output level o~ th~ ex~rci~ d~v~ca.

~5 Accor~ing to anoth~r asp~ct o~ in~ent~on, a game apparatu~ u~eablQ with an ~xQrc$s~ d~vic~ i~ provi~ed . . . :,:
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WO g~/09374 PCr/US~OtO7579 compris~ng ~eans ~or sens~ing t~se aerobic as:tivity level o~
a u~r of asl ~xarciao davic~ and ~eor outputtlng an activity level ~ignal having a charact~ri~tic indi~atlY~ of said activi~y lev~l, and a video ga~e having at lea~t one u~er 5 op2rated control ~or controlling 1:h~ action~ o~ at l~ast ona player, display means or displayi~g th~ one player ar~d th~ one o~ ~aid oppo~ition pieca o~ ob~tac~, and wh~rein ~aid regulating mean~ rend~r~ the video ~a~e fflor~ di~icult for thQ one player relatlve to th~ oppo~ltion piece or lo obstacl~ in ~esponse to activity levs~l, as ir~dicatsd by the activil:y le~rel ~ignal characteri~tic, ~allirlg belsw first predater~ined l~el.

Acco~ding to anothcr a~p~ct Or ~a inv~ntion, an ~xercis~
15 motivation app~ratu~ i~ provid~d which i~ us~z~lo with an ~x~rc:i3~ d~vic~ and a vld~o ga~ ha~ing at l~a~t one us~r opQrated oontro,l ~or c:ontrolling th~ a~ion~ oP at lQas~
ona player, and which control~s the r~lative action~ said o~ pl ay~r an~l o~ one of an oppo~itiLon pi~ Q or sbstacl~, 20 an~ which display~ th~ on~ playar and t~l3 on~ oP ~aid oppol~ition p~ac~ or obstacl~, co~apr~ing ~an Por s~nsing t~ a~robi~: acti~ity lev~l of a u~ of a;~ exerc~s& device, and for outputti~g an ~CtiYity 1~Y~1 ~ignal hav~ ng a chara¢taristic indicat~ VQ OE ~aid activity l~v~l ~nd 25 r~gulalt~ ng m~an~ for r2ndsring thQ vid~o gam~ more di~ficult ~or th~ on~ player relat~v~ ~co th~ oppo~ition p~c~ or obE~tacl~ in re~pon~ to activity l~v~l, a3 ., - . . , :. . - . .. .,;
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9 2 ~ 3 lndic:ated by the activity leYel ~ignal characteri3tic falling b~low a f'ir~t pred~termin~d level.

In accordanc~ with one ~onn o~ the pre~ent i~vention, a 5 con~oller, with three inputs, ia integrated with a video ga~e. The fir~t input i~ ~rc~ a ~pl3ed sen~or connected to an ~x~xci~ ~achinQ. Th~ ~p~d ~en~bc~r ~ea~5ure the sE~eed with which an ex2rci~e machinQ i~ ~eing u~ed. Th~ ~econd input is fro~ a h~a3~: rat~ ~onitor that i~ attached to the 10 p~r~on u~ing th~ ox~r~ achineO ~el ~:hird inpu~ ro~
.
a ~oystick that is op~r~t~d by th~ ~xerci er.

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In ~ tanda~d ~orm~t o~ a ~id~o g~, a ga~ play~r, u~ing ~o~ fo~ o~ ~oy~tic~ uv~r~ a play~r or playing 15 pi~c~ in ~ ~orm e3~ an ob~ct (the ~ource) through the ga~ne, ent:ountering on~ or ;llore opposition piecla~ and/or variotls o}l~t~cles 801112ti~ e5 called villa~ns to hi~ progress ~long the way. lPn~ obg~tacl~as are u~ually de~gned to deE~troy th~ gaDI~ pl~y~r'~ pi~c~. l~e 80urce and villains' 2 0 spQ~d ~ pr~t in the ga~ co~put~r ~ourcQ code . I~ach g~ continu~ un'cil all th~ g~ pl~yer's ~ 3 h~va bQ~n u~ p. ~ point c:oun~ing ~y~t~ Dl~a~ur~s th~2 gaDI~
play~ progrQ~ through th~ g~ u~d h~rein ~he t~r~ play~r ref~rs to th~ playing pi~c~ control~:~d by the 25 6~xerci~r, and can b~ an ob~t o~ ~vea~ a weapon a~ ~hown on tIlB Yid~o display. ~h~ ter~ oppo~ition or obstac:le any playing pi~c~ which ~QnrQs a~ an obfi~acle, - . ., ~ . . . -. .
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, WO 91/09374 PCrtUS9~/07579 2.~ 10 oE~pO8 on or adv~r~ary to ths play~r and s:an be a target playe~r i3 a weapon. Of cour~e, th3 player can be a . taxget, in Which ca e th~ oppo~i~ion may ba or m~y hava a waapon.

In thi8 invention, the D~echa3lics o~ vid~o gamQ ar~
alt~red to integ~at2 an ind~.vidual~ ~axerci5a routineO The speQd ~e 80urc@~ lIlOVefil 'I n the~ vid~o ga~ det~r~in~d by t~ sp~d that th~ exercis~r i~3 u~ing the exerci~

10 ~quip~nt. Thi~ i8 ~a~a3u~d~ by the ~p~ed ~e~or.
.. . .
Directional ~ov~m~nt Or the ~ourc~ ~ay 3:~ contxolled u~ing a standard ~ oy3tick. ThQ 3p~d o~ villain i~
d~terminQd according to the gaDIQ player ~ 8 pul~a, recorded with the~ hQart rate morlitorl, :
:-An Qx~r~i~ar, prtor to co~ncinq a workout~ inputs hi.
agR, and th~ pr~l~err~d durat~ on o~ hi~ ~a~-up and work-o~t . Accordi~g to a pr~Qt ~o~ ula ~ the c:ontroller sets upper and low~ h~ar~ r~t~ ~o~ dur~l;iorl of th~3 20 ~ci~e ~o~tin~. ThlB8~ h~rt r~te~ Dlay b~ ~v~rridden by u~r input. Onc~ x~rcis~r comDl~nce~ thQ Qx~2rciss ~eou~in~, th~ controllQr continually ch~ck2~ pul~ of ~e ~ax~rci~or again~t thç~ u~p-ar and lo~rer optiDn 1 ~xerc~3e heart ratQ~ ~or that ind~riduai~ 'chEe hearl: rata fa1ls 25 outsids the~ pr~3~t li~it~s or ~ands~ at a~ t~n~ throughou~
x~rci~3~ rout~ n~ th~ ~pe~d O~ ga~e ~ ~ alter6~d .

WO 91/09374 Pl:~/US90/U7579 11 2 ~ 3 elre thQ video game i8 Pac-~an, l~or examplQ, if 'che heart ~ate oI~ th~ exerGi~ing ind~v~dual ~all~ b~low 'ch~ pre~et miniDIu~ opti~al heart rate, the vlllain~ in this game the t;oblln, would ~ove ~aster than its norD~al sp~d. This 5 ~ ~hould prompt th~a gams player to speed up on th~ exercise ~achin~, thareby increa~ing the 3peed o~ the ~ource, called th~ Pac-man, to Qscap~ the Goblin.

The pri~ary o~ct of thQ inv~ntion i~3 to k~ep people 10 ~ot~ratQd to ~x~rc~3e, and part~ cul~rly to ex~rci~a ~ithin an ol?timal range o~ heaxtb~at~ p~ ainu~e . S inc- ~he exe~ci~er will becoma fitt~r over tiDle~ ths speed of th~
ex~rc~sa machin~ ~e~d~d ~o Xeep th~ h~rt rat~ within the optilaal a~robic rang~ would increa~. The vid6~0 game 15 c:orltinually ~otivat~ gala~ play~r to ~Dai~tain ae~o:bio f~ic~ency.

vid~o gaDIe n~ay include a di~play such as~ a bar graph, indicatins th~ p~e~nt he~r~ ra~ nd it~ r~lation ~o ~he 20 n~in~um a~d ~aximu~ li~it~.

Fur~r ob~ect~ and a~vantag~ will b0coDIe apparant in co%~unction with th~ ~oll~wing de1~ d d~cription, claims and accomp~nying dra~ings.

.. ... . ,~ ,,. : . , WO 91/0~374 ~ ~ 7 ~ PCI/US9;)/07579 3~1g. 1 i9 a block diagra~ o~ ~n exexci 8 and video game devic~ acGording to the inventiorl with controll~r and input S devicQE~, ~lg. 2 lllu~trat~ the opt~ hQ21~ ratz during aerobic ~x~rcise, 10 ~lg. 3 i~ an ~xa~ple o~ an op~ al ~xlarc$~ routine~ ~or a 3 0 ye r old $ndividual, and ~19~ a ~lowc~art o~ ic oi~ a ~rid~o ga~lQ arranged ac:cording to the ~mrention that acc~pts inl?ut fro~n the 15 sp~ed s~nE~or ~nd h~art ~onitor.

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~!, ',". . ' , . . . ' ' / ~ ' wo 9l/09374 i~/US9o/07579 13 2~7~ ~3 Figur~ 1 is a block diagra~ o~ a video game includes a video di~play 10, a ~ic:roproc~ or 12, rando~a acce~3~ data 5 meDlory ~4~ a vid~o GontrollQr 16, read only 1~18~110ry ~.~1 for storin~ progra~, and a hand operated ~ oystic3c and other controls or input~ 20 . The hand operat2d ~oy~tick 20 may also ~e ln ~he ~orm Or an x-dlr~ction control which is mountad on th6~ ex2rci~e ~achi~ 28 for operation by on~ o~
10 th~a u3~r'~ hand~, and a y-directlon con~rol mount~d ~or thla other us~r ' s hand~ . Als~o shown ar~ a ~p~d s~ns~sr 2~, connQct~d to an exerci~Q machinQ 2S, ( rOr exampl~s an ex~arci~ bicy~l~, traad~ill or 3ta~r cli~nb$ng Qxercis~r~, and a heart rata ~onitor 28, which i~ u~Qd ~:o ~nea~ur~a the 15 pu15~ 0~ tha ~xerci~er 30, i . ~ u~r o~ th~ ~xercise ~achin~. Th~ sp~d o~ rclsa bicycl~ and th~ pulse rate ars pa~ed via thQ input int~ri~ac~ 22 to the giame ~ic~op~oce~sior ~2~, 20 B~i~orQ d~ us~ing th~ op~ration Or ~ pre~Qrred ~mbodiment and progr~ op~ratiog~ ac~:ording to ~s flo~:hart in Fig. 4, di~cus~on o:e a ~ c~ no~ progr2~ will he given ~ir~t.

2~ Physic~ an~ rec:o~end th;~1: aQro3~ic ~3x~rci~e sihould be ~aintain~d~ f or a p~riod o~ tw~nty ~inutG~ at least ~hree ti~es per we~k. $h~ opt~aal 16~VQ1 0~ ~ct~rity i~ ~or WO 91/09374 Pcr/uS9O/07579 exer~ Q to increa~ th~ pul~e rate to betw~en 70% and 80-85~ o~ ~xi~u~ attainabl~ heart rate (approximately found u~ing th~ ~onnula of 220 minus the u3er ~ ~ age in years) .
(Fig. 2) Fitn~ss aut~o:ritie~ r2c:0mmeTId that fîtness S progra~s con~i~t o~ three pa~: war~-up, work-out and cool-do~n . ( S~e Fig . 3 ):

(a) Warm-up period - betw~n S and 10 minute Th~ heart b~at . hould not exceed 50% of the u~ex'~ ~axi~al h~art rat~ at th~ conclllsion o~ war~-up period.

(~) Work-out - Perio~l oi~ o~ou~ exercise wit:hin l:h~2 r~com~endQd a~robic rang~ as 15 ~ datenQined by the u~er l ~ heart or pul~3e rat~.

(c) Cool~down - easing up on the ~x~rcise intQnsity over a 5 to ~ O ~nlnute pe:riod b~îor~ topping. Tha pul~e at the ~nd of th~ cool do~m p~riod should be back to les than 50 pere:ult o~ nal atta~nabl~ heaa~
rata.

It i~ important 1:hat wh$1s alla~iating t31e boredo~ o~
exerci~e w$~:h interactiYQ vid~o ga~¢~, one doe~ n5t ~ncouragQ th8 exQrci~er to ov~r-6~xext hi~ heartO In .. . . : , , .. . , , ~, .

W~ 91/09374 PCT/US90/07579 2~7~
accordanc~ with tha pre3ent invention, means are provided, as will b~3 de~cxib~d, to encourag~ an exerci~er to stay a~o~re the ~ini~um r~commended aerobic l~vel, but at the sam~ time not exc@ed th~ maximum aQrobic level.

FigurQ 4 describ~ the flow-chart ~or the logic of the video ga~e in accordance with a prograDI storQd in r~ad only Dle~ory 18. Prior ~o starttng a work-out, th~ exerciser inputs hi~ age, l~ng~ o~ warm--up (Tw~ and l~ng~ of main 10 work-out (T2) at st~p 30. ~ccording ko the r~commended level o~ exerci~e descxib~d in Figur~ 2 and 3 and discus3Qd earlier, the optim2~1 ran~ Or h~art ratQ required during exerc:is~ ~or a per~on o~ entered age is calclllated and di~played in ~t~p 3~. Should the exerci~er 15 wi~h to ov~rrida ~h~ r~coD~snd~d h¢art rat~, perhaps on the advics o~ hi~ doctor, a dif~3r~nt upper (P~ax) and lower n~ hearl: sat~ ~ay bG mamlally enter~d at ~3tep 3~.

Th~ purpo~ of r~cordirlg th~ h~art rat~ i~ to ~n~ur~ that 20 th~ ax~rci~er ~x~rciYe~ opti~ally, but do~s not over ex~rt hi~ c~r her hQart. Should thQ h~rt rat~ og~ thQ exerciser ~all ou~d6 th~ optiDIal h~art rate range ~alculated~ or tha ~anually Qsster~d rang~, tha ~p~d o~ the opE3o~ition or villain changQ~3 in r~la~lon to thla speed o~ the sourc:e.
25 Th~ vaa:iabla t~at control~ villain'~ relat~R ~peed, and thu~ r~pr~aent~ advantage or di~a~van~age th~
vllla~n will ha~e in r~lat1on to ~he ~ource, i~ a ~ettabl0 . ~ - . . ~ . . .

W~ ~l/o9374 2 ~ P~r/US90/07579 constant called the K ~actor. ThQ video ga~e will have a d~ault ~ ~a~tor value, bQkween 1.1 and 1. 5 ~or example, and it i~ di~played a~ter the ~x~rci~er ha~ inputted his workout infor~ation t ~tep 38. Should ~he exerci~er wish 5 to chang2 the default R factor, a new R ~actor D~ay be manually Isntered ak ~tep ~o.

Wit~ the r~quir~d in~onhation ~nter~d, the ~xercise routine can co~ence once th~ operator pre~e~ l'ch~ start button a~
10 3t~p 42 ~ wh~reupon the internal timQr (T) bes~ins at ~tep - - 41, and the tim~ remaining in t~ war~Q-up i8 displayëd or~
th~ ~cxeen .

Sinc~ thR ~pa~ad the ~our¢~ or on~ play~r ~nove~ in the video 15 ga~ is proportional to t~6!t speed that the ~xerci~3er U585 th~ exerc:is~ mac~ne, 1~ xers:i~er ~ailsl to begin the wor3cout, the ~ourc~ or one play~r will r~aain ~ationary on creon at ~tep 46. T~ villain i~ediat~ly g~ts an ad~mntag~ versu~ thQ ~ourc~, which at this point is 20 ~tationary, in that it~ sp~ad i~ thQ ga~e ~ s pre~et speed (~t at l) 2ml1tiplied by th~ ~ factor e:e~ect at ~tep ~8.
For ~xa~pl~ tha g actor ha~ be~n ~Qt ~co 1. 5, ~he villain ' ~ ~p~d will b~ on~ and a hal~ t~me~3 ~aster than it pre~et value. The ~illain will gain rapidly on the 25 ~ourc~, prom~tlng the exerci~er to begin hi~ warm-up~ and g~'c a~ay ~ro~ the villain.

WO 9l/09374 PCI~/US9~/0757g 17 ~7~9~

Whil~ l:he warDI-up continue~ in ~;tep 50, the heart rate o~
tho ~xerci~3er i~ continually checked to en ure that it doe~
not d~via~e froD~ optiD~al work-out rate at 3tep 52~ As long as th~ ~x~rciser ' heart rat~ re~ain~ b~low the S ~nini~um aQrobic rat~ Pmin the villain ' g speed is directly proportional ~o th~ ~ource ' 8 spe~d Y ( ea step 54 ) O
However should th~ h~a~t rat~ exc~Qd thQ ~iniDI~ aerobic rate, thu~ indi~ating that ~h~ 0xerci~er i~ working-out too vigorously d~lring th~ warn~ -up " the villain ' ~ ~p~ed is 10 reduced below that o~ 3c~urc~ (S~e step s6) ~y a fac:tor which is ths product o~ f and X. For ex~ple i~ ~-1. S and 0 . 6, thlan thQ villain ~ 8 ~p~Qd i~ O . 9 ~ at o~ the ~ourcs. This will pro~pt th~ ~3cerci~er to slow dowr~.

15 on~a the~ wa~ up period c~a~ a~ d~t~ctlad in ~tep 50~ th2 ti~r (T) reR~t~ in ~t~p 5S 0 and th~ work-out co~enc~s .
villain'~ ~p~d is re~Qt to th~ pe~d of th~ ~ource in ~tep 59. Th~ h~art rate i~ continually monitored during ~e work-out in ~t~p ~0. IX th~ h~a~ rate ~all~ b~low the 20 laln~ a~robic rate P~in, th~ villain's ~peed incr~ase~ in - r~ ion to th~ ~ou~ce by th~ X ~actor in step ~4. A
me~sag- on th~ ~cr~en t~n ad~rlse~ x~ci3er to inGr~a~2 his lev~l o~ acti~ity. Conver~ly, 3hould it be det~ct~d im sl:~p 62 that l:h~ haart rat~ ~xc~d~ th~ opti~al 25 aerobic ratQ l~max, the sp~d ol~ the villain d~crease~ in relation to that o~ sour~ in step 66 ( in a mann~r s~ilar to th~t d~scr~b~d ab~Y~ ~n QtQp 56) and a ~e~sag~

.. : : .. . :, ., , ,... ,. . .. :. . : ,: , ~,. . ,:
- ,. - , . ................ .. .
- . ,. : ,.,., .. ; : . , ,. ., .,, . :, Wo 9l/09374 PcrtUS9O/07579 2~ 18 caut~on~ the exerciser to slow down. I~ however, exercise i3 occurring within the optiDIal rarlge, then the speed of the villain equals the speed o~ the~ s~ource in ~tep 67. The time re~naining in the work-out i recalculated and 5 rafreRhed on thQ display in step 68 and a ch~ck i~ ~ade in ~tap 7 0 on whether t~e total t$ms ~: ~laps~d in thQ ~ain work-out period ha~ reached thla ti~ne Tz whlch ha~ been pres~t. I~ not the pro~ r~turna to ~3t~p 60. Once the main work-out cease3 a~ detect2d in ~t~p 70, the timer (T) 0 i3 re3Qt in step ~2, and th~ ~ource gain~ a continual 3peed . .
ad~rantag~ ~rer~us~ th~ villa~n in st~p 7~, prompting the ~xercise~ to 810w down.

~h~ cool-down pariod continue~ ~or ~t l~a. a quarter o~
15 the t~me o~ the worlc-out 7~. If the heart rat~ at the end o4' thi~ per~odl still exe22ds 5Q% o~ tha max~al attainable h~art rate Y~, a ~as~ags i~ di~played reco~ending the exerci~r to continu~ cool-down pQriod. The cool-down p~riod t~u~ conl:inue u~til ~ h~3~t rate~ o~ the ex~3rci er 20 d~op~- to b~low 50% o~ ~ ~ax~al attainable heart rate.

Alt~ough a prQ~erred eD~bodi~ent o~ thQ l~vention ha~ been ~hown and dascribQd, numerous variation~ and modi~i~ation~
wllI readily occur to tho8et ~killed in th~ art~ For 25 axa~ple, th~ villain i~ vidso gam~ ~ay be pxogram~tad ~o go fa3ter, rathor than ~lower :~olative to thR player or ~ou~c~ when ~h~ hea~t rate ~xc~d~ th~ maxi~uDI a~robis~

. i , . ' ' - ' ' '.'. , ' ~,, . .,, ,;~ . ',' !

. ,, ,, . . . . , . .. , ,, , ,., ~, . ..

O 91/0937~ 3 PCr/US~0/0757 level. ~h~ exercis~r in thi~ circ:umstanc2 will get im~dlat~ rel3dback that excaeding ths maximum aerobic limit will not place hi~n in any gr~ater advantage relative to the villa$n ( and will actually be placed in a disadvantage 5 relative to the villain) when the with aerobic li~it is exce~ded. Thi3 i~ con~i~t~nt with research on exercise indicating that exerois~ levels exceeding the Dlaximum aerobic limit provids little addit~ onal aerobic bene~it ov~r exercis~e within th~ pr~rrsd aarobic rangs, and may 10 actually pOll;~ risks for persons not in excellent .
phy~ical con*ition. Th~ pre~ent inven1:ion i~ no~ ited to th~ ~p~2cific embodiDIent di~clo~Qd and tha ~cope of the inv~ntion 18 liDsited only by th~ app~3nd~d cla~m~.

. " .. . ..

. ~ . ,, ,~ ... . . ..

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. A combination exercise device and game apparatus, comprising:
an exercise device for aerobic activity;
means for sensing the activity output level of said aerobic exercise device, and for outputting an activity level signal having a characteristic indicative of said activity level;

means for sensing the heart rate of a user of the exerciser device ;

a video game having at least one user operated control for controlling the actions of at least one player, regulating means for regulating the relative action of said one player and one of an opposition piece or obstacle, display means for displaying the one player and the one of said opposition piece or obstacle, said regulating means further including means for increasing the speed of both the one player and the one of the opposition piece or obstacle in response to and in proportion to the activity level, and the regulating means further including means for rendering the video game more difficult for the one player relative to the opposition piece or obstacle by increasing the speed of the opposition piece or obstacle in response to the heart rate of the user falling below a first predetermined level.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exercise device is a bicycle.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exercise device is a treadmill.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exercise device is a stair climbing device.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first predetermined level corresponds to a minimum aerobic activity level for the user.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the display means comprises means for displaying the heart rate of the user.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the display means comprises means for displaying the output level of the exercise device.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the regulating means renders the video game less difficult to the one player in response to the activity level exceeding a second predetermined level, said second predetermined level being greater than said first predetermined level.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first predetermined level is selected according to the user's age.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first predetermined level corresponds to the minimum heart rate of the user in an optimum aerobic exercise range, and wherein the second predetermined level corresponds to the maximum heart rate of the user in an optimum aerobic exercise range.

11. A game apparatus useable with an exercise device, comprising:

means for sensing the activity output level of an aerobic exercise device, and for outputting an activity level signal having a characteristic indicative of said activity level;
means for sensing the heart rate of a user of the aerobic exercise device;
a video game having at least one user operated control for controlling the actions of at least one player, regulating means for regulating the relative actions of one of said one player and an opposition piece or obstacle, display means for displaying the one player and the one of said opposition piece or obstacle, said regulating means further including means for increasing the speed of both the one player and the one of the opposition piece or obstacle in response to and in proportion to the activity level, the regulating means further including means for rendering the video game more difficult for the one player relative to the opposition piece or obstacle by increasing the speed of the opposition piece or obstacle in response to the heart rate of the user falling below a first predetermined level.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, further including an exercise device.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the exercise device is an exercise bicycle.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the exercise device is a treadmill.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the exercise device is a stair climbing device.

16. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said first predetermined level corresponds to the minimum aerobic activity level for the user.

17. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the display means comprises means for displaying the heart rate of the user.

18. The apparatus to claim 11, wherein the display means comprises means for displaying the output level of the exercise device.

19. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the regulating means renders the video game less difficult to the one player in response to the activity level exceeding a second predetermined level, said second predetermined level being greater than said first predetermined level.

20. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first predetermined level is selected according to the user's age.

21. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the first predetermined level corresponds to the minimum heart rate of the user in an optimum aerobic exercise range, and wherein the second predetermined level corresponds to the maximum heart rate of the user in an optimum aerobic exercise range.

22. an exercise motivation apparatus useable with an aerobic exercise device and a video game having at least one user operated control for controlling the actions of said one player and at least one player, and which controls the relative actions of one of an opposition piece or obstacle, and which displays the one player and the one of said opposition piece or obstacle, comprising:

means for sensing the activity output level of an aerobic exercise device, and for outputting an activity level signal having a characteristic indicative of said activity level;
means for sensing the heart rate of a user of the aerobic exercise device; and regulating means for increasing the speed of both the one player and the one of the opposition piece or obstacle in response to and in proportion to the activity level, the regulating means further including means for rendering the video game more difficult for the one player relative to the opposition piece or obstacle in response to the heart rate of the user falling below a first predetermined level.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, further including an exercise device.

24. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the exercise device is an exercise bicycle.

25. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the exercise device is a treadmill.

26. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the exercise device is a stair climbing device.

27. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said first predetermined level corresponds to the minimum aerobic activity level for the user.

28. The apparatus according to claim 22, further including display means for displaying the heart rate of the user.

29. The apparatus according to claim 22, further including display means for displaying the output level of the exercise device.

30. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the regulating means renders the video game less difficult to the one player in response to the activity level exceeding a second predetermined level, said second predetermined level being greater than said first predetermined level.

31. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the first predetermined level is selected according to the user's age.

32. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the first predetermined level corresponds to the minimum heart rate of a user in an optimum aerobic exercise range, and wherein the second predetermined level corresponds to the maximum heart rate of a user in an optimum aerobic exercise range.

33. A combination exercise device and game apparatus, comprising:
an exercise device for aerobic activity;
means for sensing the activity output level of said aerobic exercise device, and for outputting an activity level signal having a characteristic indicative of said activity level;
means for sensing the heart rate of a user of the exercise device;
timing means for measuring the length of time that a user has been using the exercise device, to provide at least two different exercise phases, including a first phase until a certain first time period is reached and a second phase after said first time period is reached;
a video game having at least one user operated control for controlling the actions of at least one player, regulating means for regulating the relative action of said one player and one of an opposition piece or obstacle, and display means for displaying the one player and the one of said opposition piece or obstacle;
said regulating means further including means for increasing the speed of both the one player and the one of the opposition piece or obstacle in response to and in proportion to the activity level;
said regulating means including means for rendering the game more difficult for the one player relative to the opposition piece or obstacle by increasing the speed of the opposition piece or obstacle in response to the heart rate of the user rising above a first predetermined level when the timing means indicates that the user is in the first phase; and said regulating means including means for rendering the video game more difficult for the one player relative to the opposition piece or obstacle by increasing the speed of the opposition piece or obstacle in response to the heart rate of the user falling below the first predetermined level when the timing means indicates that the user is in the second phase.

34. A combination exercise device and game apparatus, comprising:
a) an exercise device for aerobic activity;
b) means for sensing the output level of said exercise device, and for outputting an output level signal having a characteristic indicative of said output level;
c) means for sensing the heart rate of a user, and for outputting a heart rate signal having a characteristic indicative of said heart rate;
d) a video game including display means for displaying said video game; and e) regulating means including:
1) means for adjusting the play of said video game according to said heart rate signal; and 2) means for adjusting the play of said video game according to said output level signal.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising at least one user-operated control for controlling the play of said video game.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein said apparatus includes a first user-operated control for controlling a first aspect of the play of said video game with one of said user's hands and a second user-operated control for controlling a second aspect of the play of said video game with the other of said user's hands.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein:
said video game has a plurality of levels of difficulty of play;
said regulating means increases the level of difficulty of play in response to said heart rate signal falling below a first predetermined level; and said regulating means decreases the level of difficulty of play as said output level signal increases and increases the level of difficulty of play as said output level signal decreases.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said first predetermined level corresponds to the minimum heart rate of said user in an optimum aerobic exercise range.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein:
said video game comprises a source and at least one opposition;
said regulating means increases the speed of said opposition relative to said source in response to said heart rate signal falling below said first predetermined level;
and said regulating means increases the speed of said opposition relative to said source as said output level signal decreases and decreases the speed of said opposition relative to said source as said output level signal increases.

40. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said regulating means decreases the level of difficulty of play in response to said heart rate signal exceeding a second predetermined level, said second predetermined level being greater than said first predetermined level.

41. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said regulating means adjusts the play of said video game according to a specified exercise profile having at least two exercise phases.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said video game comprises a source and at least one opposition, and said regulating means adjusts the speed of said opposition relative to said source according to said specified exercise profile.

43. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said exercise device is one of an exercise bicycle, a treadmill, and a stair climbing device.

44. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said display means displays information indicative of said heart rate of said user and said output level of said exercise device.

45. A game apparatus useable with an exercise device, comprising:
a) means for sensing the output level of said exercise device, and for outputting an output level signal having a characteristic indicative of said output level;

b) means for sensing the heart rate of a user, and for outputting a heart rate signal having a characteristic indicative of said heart rate;
c) a video game including display means for displaying said video game; and d) regulating means including:
1) means for adjusting the play of said video game according to said heart rate signal; and 2) means for adjusting the play of said video game according to said output level signal.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising at least one user-operated control for controlling the play of said video game.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein said apparatus includes a first user-operated control for controlling a first aspect of the play of said video game with one of said user's hands and a second user-operated control for controlling a second aspect of the play of said video game with the other of said user's hands.

48. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein:
said video game has a plurality of levels of difficulty of play;
said regulating means increases the level of difficulty of play in response to said heart rate signal falling below a first predetermined level; and said regulating means decreases the level of difficulty of play as said output level signal increases and increases the level of difficulty of play as said output level signal decreases.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein said first predetermined level corresponds to the minimum heart rate of said user in an optimum aerobic exercise range.

50. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein:
said video game comprises a source and at least one opposition;
said regulating means increases the speed of said opposition relative to said source in response to said heart rate signal falling below said first predetermined level;
and said regulating means increases the speed of said opposition relative to said source as said output level signal decreases and decreases the speed of said opposition relative to said source as said output level signal increases.

51. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein said regulating means decreases the level of difficulty of play in response to said heart rate signal exceeding a second predetermined level, said second predetermined level being greater than said first predetermined level.

52. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein said regulating means adjusts the play of said video game according to a specified exercise profile having at least two exercise phases.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein said video game comprises a source and at least one opposition, and said regulating means adjusts the speed of said opposition relative to said source according to said specified exercise profile.

54. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein said exercise device is one of an exercise bicycle, a treadmill, and a stair climbing device.

55. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein said display means displays information indicative of said heart rate of said user and said output level of said exercise device.

56. An exercise motivation apparatus useable with an exercise device and a video game including display means for displaying said video game, comprising:
a) means for sensing the output level of said exercise device, and for outputting an output level signal having a characteristic indicative of said output level;
b) means for sensing the heart rate of a user, and for outputting a heart rate signal having a characteristic indicative of said heart rate; and c) regulating means including:

1) means for adjusting the play of said video game according to said heart rate signal; and 2) means for adjusting the play of said video game according to said output level signal.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, further comprising at least one user-operated control for controlling the play of said video game.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein said apparatus includes a first user-operated control for controlling a first aspect of the play of said video game with one of said user's hands and a second user-operated control for controlling a second aspect of the play of said video game with the other of said user's hands.

59. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein:
said video game has a plurality of levels of difficulty of play;
said regulating means increases the level of difficulty of play in response to said heart rate signal falling below a first predetermined level; and said regulating means decreases the level of difficulty of play as said output level signal increases and increases the level of difficulty of play as said output level signal decreases.

60. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein said first predetermined level corresponds to the minimum heart rate of said user in an optimum aerobic exercise range.

61. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein:
said video game comprises a source and at least one opposition;
said regulating means increases the speed of said opposition relative to said source in response to said heart rate signal falling below-said first predetermined level;
and said regulating means increases the speed of said opposition relative to said source as said output level signal decreases and decreases the speed of said opposition relative to said source as said output level signal increases.

62. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein said regulating means decreases the level of difficulty of play in response to said heart rate signal exceeding a second predetermined level, said second predetermined level being greater than said first predetermined level.

63. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein said regulating means adjusts the play of said video game according to a specified exercise profile having at least two exercise phases.

64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein said video game comprises a source and at least one opposition, and said regulating means adjusts the speed of said opposition relative to said source according to said specified exercise profile.

65. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein said exercise device is one of an exercise bicycle, a treadmill, and a stair climbing device.

66. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein said display means displays information indicative of said heart rate of said user and said output level of said exercise device.

67. A combination exercise device and game apparatus, comprising:
a) an exercise device for aerobic activity;
b) means for sensing the output level of said exercise device, and for outputting an output level signal having a characteristic indicative of said output level;
c) means for sensing the heart rate of a user, and for outputting a heart rate signal having a characteristic indicative of said heart rate;
d) a video game including 1) display means for displaying said video game;
2) a plurality of levels of difficulty of play; and 3) at least one user-operated control for controlling the play of said video game;
e) regulating means including:
1) means for adjusting the level of difficulty of said video game according to said heart rate signal, wherein said level of difficulty is increased in response to said heart rate signal falling below a first predetermined level;
2) means for adjusting the level of difficulty of said video game according to said output level signal, wherein said level of difficulty increases as said output level signal decreases and said level of difficulty decreases as said output level signal increases; and 3) means for adjusting the level of difficulty of said video game according to a specified exercise profile having at least two exercise phases.