Even most health fanatics and regular gym visitors will admit that exercise can be boring, thoughtless running on a treadmill or doing reps can be pretty dull. The minds behind successful supplement retailer Bodybuilding.com are aiming to change that by using virtual reality (VR) technology.
Ryan DeLuca and Preston Lewis, self-confessed ‘fitness fanatics’ and the founders of Bodybuilding.com decided on a new venture once they tried out VR for themselves, recognising the potential of the technology to transform the health and fitness world.
Gathering knowledgable people from the fitness and videogaming world, DeLuca and Lewis have created Black Box VR, a fully automated cable resistance machine that combines VR hardware with original VR e-sport software powered by HTC Vive. The aim is to allow users of Black Box VR to become immersed in a challenging competitive VR fitness experience that also provides an intense workout.
“In Black Box you will utilize strength, agility, balance, and speed in a larger than life virtual world where we are able to harness the nature that is brought out in video games – dedication, determination, and longevity – and turn it into real, physical workouts that challenge both mind and body,” said Preston Lewis, CCO and Co-Founder.
Black Box VR has already been named a CES 2018 Innovation Awards Honoree for its product. The CES Innovation awards are sponsored by the Consumer Technology Association, who own and produce CES and have been recognising technical achievement since 1976.
“For nearly two years, our team of veterans from both the fitness industry and the gaming industry have collaborated to harness the groundbreaking power of virtual reality to change the landscape of results-driven exercise and competitive eEports as we know it,” said Ryan DeLuca, CEO and Co-Founder. “We couldn’t be more excited to unveil our product in Las Vegas, and proud to have been honored with a CES Innovation Award.”
Black Box VR will be demonstrating its product at CES 2018, in Booth #44722 at The Sands, Halls A-D. The CES teaser trailer can be viewed below. VRFocus will also be present at the event providing the latest news on hands-on reports.
via Mint VR