My gym does just the MVP of this, where your RFID wristband gives you data persistence for workout results. Walk up to machine, swipe wristband, Good afternoon Mr. Mckenz lets try for 12 reps at 40kg today. ("Who ever heard of someone with a last name longer than six characters long? LOL" <- Japanese programmers are as good on this issue as American ones are.)
A segment of their clientele -- and most at my gym are north of forty -- love it to death. There is at least one seventy something who brought me over to his screen to show me his fiftieth gold badge. One is earned for running a Tokyo marathon. You do the math.
Of course, their main business is still selling the notion of belonging to a gym.
I'm surprised there's no virtual pets involved. :)
The new Ford Fusion apparently has a virtual pet installed in the dashboard to encourage better driving habits. It would probably work just as well in an exercise machine, as a more-visible proxy for one's own fitness.
A segment of their clientele -- and most at my gym are north of forty -- love it to death. There is at least one seventy something who brought me over to his screen to show me his fiftieth gold badge. One is earned for running a Tokyo marathon. You do the math.
Of course, their main business is still selling the notion of belonging to a gym.