October 28th, 2009
Interactive media is about to hit the gym: Great, just great
Netpulse, a company that aims to transform fitness equipment into an interactive social entertainment experience, landed $3.1 million in venture funding. Oh the promise of a treadmill that allows you to use Twitter.
Excuse me while I sprint away from this idea. Why?
My workout is one of the last places where I don’t have to be social. Do I really want mile 5 tweeted? The tweet could look like this: Larry just tweaked his hamstring. Tweet: Larry’s really struggling. Tweet: He’s hanging over the treadmill again and doesn’t look so good. Who are these people that can get a real workout while engaging with Netpulse’s “interactive entertainment platform?”
Here’s the Netpulse vision from a statement:
The ubiquity of entertainment options and the rising popularity of on-demand video and its accessibility from multiple devices have created a unique opportunity for Netpulse to transform fitness equipment into a personalized entertainment distribution medium using its patented custom content delivery system. With the Netpulse platform, fitness centers can offer their members access to live high-definition television, on-demand videos and music, iPod/ iPhone connectivity, personalized workout data, and connection to social media in a personalized user experience that is universally compatible with all exercise equipment.
Or you can just go for a jog with only you and your thoughts. Or maybe you should just shut up and run.
And then there’s this gem from Netpulse:
Providing a significant advancement on current fitness center entertainment options, Netpulse helps media companies and advertisers facilitate direct, one-to-one relationships with consumers at a time when they are receptive and actively looking to be entertained. Furthermore, the platform enables media companies and advertisers to reach consumers for an average of 30 minutes per interaction – an engagement length that is ten times longer than traditional out-of-home consumer environments.
Just what we all need: A workout and an ad pitch.
Shoot me. Fortunately, Netpulse is focused on fitness equipment. If you use good old fashioned iron to work out this interactive utopia won’t be able to follow you around. The squat rack may be the last Twitter free zone in the gym.
Larry Dignan is Editor in Chief of ZDNet and Editorial Director of ZDNet sister site TechRepublic. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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