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