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-
- PERSONAL TRAINER v2
-
- Copyright © 1996 by Stephen Chance
-
- Purpose
- -------
-
- An interactive exercise video, providing real-time audio-visual instruction
- in various weight-training routines; allows the user to customise the
- supplied routines, and to create new ones.
-
-
- System Requirements
- -------------------
-
- Requires 2Mb Chip Ram
-
- Tested on an unexpanded A1200 - just about works, but some of the larger
- animations have to be automatically downgraded by the program.
-
- More than 2Mb RAM and you get the full monty.
-
- Not tested on A500/1000/1500/2000/3000/4000 or anything else.
-
-
- Background
- ----------
-
- I like to be fit, but find exercise boring. Over the years I have
- tried various home fitness regimes and the only one that has worked
- for me is an aerobics video. It works because the only decision one
- has to make is to insert the cassette and press play: from that moment
- on one is just following orders; performing a linear routine which is
- effective no matter how many times one does it.
-
- In search of a change from aerobics, I tried to get in to weight
- training - bought lots of equipment and books - but organising and
- managing a weight training routine was too much hassle, and all the
- equipment ended up gathering dust under my bed.
-
- One day I saw a weight training video in a shop, and bought it,
- thinking, here at last was the answer to my requirements: press "play"
- and follow the instructions. However, weight training is more complex
- than aerobics. On different days you need to do different things:
- different sequences of exercises; different numbers of sets of
- different numbers of repetitions, using different numbers of weights.
- The video gave general instructions but could not take one through a
- single continuous work-out: for that one would need pens and charts
- and lists to record what one had done this time, and what one should
- do next time.
-
- I realised that what I required was a video which could be different
- every time; a video which remembered what I did last time so I
- could repeat it or improve on it as appropriate: more repetitions or
- more weight as required. I realised that "multimedia" could do this.
-
- So I set about developing Personal Trainer - an interactive exercise
- video, in which any number of different work-outs can be constructed
- from over sixty different exercises, adapted and evolved to suit the
- individual, and performed to spoken instructions and accompanying
- animations. People (like me) who have difficulty motivating themselves
- to do a structured work-out can just select today's routine, click
- "Go", and do what they're told.
-
-
- Installation
- ------------
-
- Given the size of the sound and video files, you will probably want to run
- the program directly from the CD. However, if you do wish to run it from
- your hard disk, simply drag the "Personal Trainer" drawer to wherever you
- want it be.
-
- If you want to save new exercise routines, or create a personal record of
- your activities, obviously these will have to be saved somewhere other than
- on the CD. You can set appropriate data paths as defaults from the
- "Preferences" page. (The "Preferences" themselves will be saved in a small
- file called "Trainer.Config", in the S directory of your SYS: volume.)
-
-
- History
- -------
-
- Version 1 - Developed using Helm - a multimedia authoring system from Eagle
- Tree Software. The scale of the project was too ambitious for
- this elegant but slightly unstable environment.
-
- Version 2 - Developed using Amos Professional from an Amiga Format
- cover-disk (3 years ago, when I started, there was nothing
- else to be had); also Craft extensions, with the Amos
- Professional Compiler.
-
- The next version is currently in development. It will have much better
- graphics, and is AGA only and OS legal.
-
- If you find Personal Trainer at all useful, please let me know!
-
- Email: chance@zoo.co.uk
-
- Stephen Chance
- 4 Laker Court
- Studley Estate
- London
- SW4 6RY
-