Treadmill runners, would you buy this product and app?

Dec 19, 20 14:45

Post #1 of 18 (2755 views)

Hi Folks. I run a lot on my treadmill, and I got tired of pressing buttons to do a structured workout.

I'm also a software engineer with enough electronics background to get into trouble. So I made an electronic adapter and companion app which controls the treadmill speed and incline to follow a structured workout. Picture below.

The companion app enables me to select a structured workout, pause, resume, and manually adjust speed and incline. Thanks to this app and device, I haven't used the physical treadmill buttons in a year.

This has been a hobby project, but I've thought about making it a commercial product. This is my first attempt at "market research." I went where I suspect people use treadmills as much as I do and have money.

There are a lot of treadmill apps and products out there, but none of them actually set the treadmill speed and incline. Currently, exactly one treadmill is supported (Precor Experience 956i), but more could be added. I would work to integrate with All The Apps: TrainingPeaks and Garmin Connect to get structured workouts, Zwift, BitGym, Strava, etc.

Obstacles to adoption would be

1. Installation. You have open your treadmill and plug things in. This could void warranties.
2. Initial lack of support for the vast variety of treadmills out there.

So let me ask plainly: Would you pay money for this device and app? Does your heart scream, "Take my money now!" or rather "This will never take off!" ? What would you like this app to do?

Thanks,

Doug Slater
Senior Software Engineer
2019 Boston Finisher
2018 Ironman Finisher

Last edited by: slater0: Dec 19, 20 14:49

Re: Treadmill runners, would you buy this product and app? [slater0] [ In reply to ]

Dec 19, 20 15:06

Post #2 of 18 (2730 views)

A few questions for you:

- What’s your plan for when a bug happens and shoots someone out the back of the treadmill?

- What’s your plan for when a bug happens and suddenly stops and someone face plants into the treadmill?

- What’s your plan for when someone maliciously hacks into your device to cause mischief?

- What’s your plan for when treadmill manufacturers send you “cease and desist” letters for selling a commercial product to hack their products?

p.s. I’m an attorney by trade and tend to think of things like this. Other than that I kinda like it even though I no longer use treadmills.

Re: Treadmill runners, would you buy this product and app? [logella] [ In reply to ]

Dec 19, 20 15:20

Post #3 of 18 (2715 views)

^^ Ha!

I'm cyber security. My first thought was to that. For example connecting an app to a service probably web service running on the control box is probably too hard for users, not to mention would run afoul of app store policies if you want to distrubute this app far and wide. So this would need to be topology: treadmill > control box > local internet connection > cloud service < LTE (or the same internet connection we started off with) < device < app. That's how virtually all 'smart' devices operate.

Cloud costs $$$ so that means monthly subscription for the users, means treadmill is down when internet or cloud provider is down, and means the service WILL get hacked just a matter of when.

Edit: just being realistic not trying to rain on your parade. It is as good an idea as all those other smart devices everyone is marketing, except maybe treadmill falls liability? Everyone is jumping on this business model. From cybersecurity perspective it is a horrible horrible thing and I want zero to do with any of it. But judging by the uptake of wifi refrigerators and cloud garage door openers and other things it is a good business model.

Last edited by: Dilbert: Dec 19, 20 15:23

Re: Treadmill runners, would you buy this product and app? [slater0] [ In reply to ]

Dec 19, 20 17:03

Post #4 of 18 (2659 views)

The iFit app for NordicTrack treadmills has a feature similar to this where you can pre-program structured workouts and it then uploads them to the TM and you can select them and run them. It will control speed and incline, like your app. I guess the answer to your question (for me) would be that I didn't find enough value in that functionality to warrant continuing to pay for the iFit subscription. But it all depends on your pricing model. I know that recurring revenue streams (subscriptions) are all the rage nowadays but personally that's a major put-off to me. A product has to meet a much higher level of "need" vs. "want" for me to sign up for a subscription vs. it being a one-time purchase (example - Whoop strap). So, assuming your product worked on my treadmill and it was a reasonably-priced one-time purchase, I might consider it.

Last edited by: el gato: Dec 19, 20 17:04

Re: Treadmill runners, would you buy this product and app? [slater0] [ In reply to ]

Dec 19, 20 17:23

Post #5 of 18 (2629 views)

The concept is great but opening the treadmill and voiding the warranty is a dealbreaker for me. If there was a way for it to communicate via Bluetooth or something I'd be interested.

Re: Treadmill runners, would you buy this product and app? [slater0] [ In reply to ]

Dec 20, 20 0:22

Post #6 of 18 (2507 views)

I need this. However, I suspect the liability issue is why this does not exist yet.

Re: Treadmill runners, would you buy this product and app? [slater0] [ In reply to ]

Dec 20, 20 5:38

Post #7 of 18 (2383 views)

Kuddos for doing marketing research. As an engineer myself I know it's outside of our comfort zone! :)

I'll try not to think about technical challenges, but just about pain, that this product is going to solve.

For me personally the pain of publishing buttons during structured workouts is not very strong. I think the pain has already been largely addressed by the treadmill designers themselves.
The buttons are large and very easily reachable by hands. They're fast (faster than treadmill can accelerate/decelerate). The screen with timer is also large and right in front of you. It's much easer to control intervals manually than on Zwift, for example.

So even if your product is a device that talks to treadmill wirelessly, I simply wouldn't bother buying it.

Good luck with your research! I also dream of building my own product one day. But I think I wouldn't do anything software-based in the endurance sport-related sphere. The market is just too small. I'd rather do something that bored teenagers can do on their phones for 30 sec.

Re: Treadmill runners, would you buy this product and app? [slater0] [ In reply to ]

Dec 20, 20 6:53

Post #8 of 18 (2326 views)

I would consider it. However, the Erg experience on the bike requires no attention, I just have to hold the cadence. Depending on the interval program or how quickly the pace changes, forcible ejection from the treadmill would be a possibility if the user is not fully engaged. So for me, unless there was a way to be certain that I would be warned/have notice of pace changes, I would be wary. I remain intrigued however.

Good luck.

Re: Treadmill runners, would you buy this product and app? [slater0] [ In reply to ]

Dec 20, 20 7:13

Post #9 of 18 (2315 views)

I think entering or programming the workout would be more bothersome than pressing the buttons.
Sam

Re: Treadmill runners, would you buy this product and app? [slater0] [ In reply to ]

Dec 20, 20 11:46

Post #10 of 18 (2214 views)

I like your work but I think the better path would be to sell your concept to one treadmill company that would have a plus model of a certain treadmill and market it as the one for “serious” runners.
The scale of people who will open their treadmill is tiny. The scale of people who would want to train to race is huge, and if a pretty version of your app set apart one treadmill company for marketing purposes, they would be smart to do it. Good luck!

Re: Treadmill runners, would you buy this product and app? [slater0] [ In reply to ]

Dec 20, 20 11:58

Post #11 of 18 (2203 views)

Good on you, great idea for a hobby project!

I do find the ability to pre-program a workout on a phone (or have your plan to that for you automagically) and not have to do anything while I'm on the treadmill except for run. Kind of like Trainerroad in ERG mode.

No, I would not pay for such a thing.

That said, I'd hope that treadmill manufacturers would make the products more smart and programmable with open API.

Re: Treadmill runners, would you buy this product and app? [slater0] [ In reply to ]

Dec 20, 20 13:04

Post #12 of 18 (2169 views)

Honestly, it does not appeal to me. I like to be able to vary my workouts on the fly during the workout - be it shortening/lengthening the recovery or tweaking the speed to match how I feel that day. My understanding is that I wouldn't be able to do that with this app - I'd be locked into what I programmed at the start of the workout.

Re: Treadmill runners, would you buy this product and app? [slater0] [ In reply to ]

Dec 20, 20 13:27

Post #13 of 18 (2155 views)

I am a Luddite. Anything that requires increased computer work for me to do it is just a no-go for me.

When I was working with a coach I hated having to interface with a computer to prove I had worked out. I don’t even like tracking my mileage.

I think it looks super cool. If it was so easy that even a caveman could do it..... my interest might change.

----------------------------
Jason
None of the secrets of success will work unless you do.

Re: Treadmill runners, would you buy this product and app? [slater0] [ In reply to ]

Dec 20, 20 13:41

Post #14 of 18 (2146 views)

I love this idea. The fact my coach can set a workout, it shows in my Training Peaks, then Zwift/Trainer Road is amazing. One less thing that I have to deal with and can just get on the bike and ride. Sold.

So, a similar process for a treadmill? Seems like a great idea and I'd likely be on board if had a treadmill that was out of warranty. Or one were integration wouldnt void the warranty. Maybe this is a none issue but how would it adapt to the various speeds of treadmills. If a coach makes a workout, sends it to multiple athletes/devices one could be running wildly different speed than intended and ultimately back in the same position of needing to self adjust if the control was too fast or slow? Or perhaps i'm not following along...

________________________________________________________
Taylor Rogers

2024: IM Hamburg

Re: Treadmill runners, would you buy this product and app? [slater0] [ In reply to ]

Dec 20, 20 14:03

Post #15 of 18 (2129 views)

Yes I'd pay for it. How much? not sure...but yes I hate having to deal with my buttons during intervals. Not because they're not big enough, just because it takes time to push them and for the TM to respond, etc.
I'm not worried about warranties. And I promise not to sue you if it shoots me out the back...

Re: Treadmill runners, would you buy this product and app? [slater0] [ In reply to ]

Dec 20, 20 15:18

Post #16 of 18 (2095 views)

I’d definitely go for this. I use TrainerRoad in erg mode when it’s not off season and it would be great to do the same with my treadmill.

Ours is a 10+ years old LifeFitness that sees at least once per day use. No warranty issues there.

Kiwami NA Racing Team

Re: Treadmill runners, would you buy this product and app? [slater0] [ In reply to ]

Dec 21, 20 3:28

Post #17 of 18 (1959 views)

No. Pushing buttons is not a big deal. Voiding a warrantee is a big deal.

Re: Treadmill runners, would you buy this product and app? [slater0] [ In reply to ]

Dec 21, 20 3:45

Post #18 of 18 (1951 views)

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Last edited by: karla: Jan 6, 21 0:13

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