I've used a rowing machine with a VR headset (I don't recall which model, it was a few years ago, but probably some Oculus).
It was fun for a few minutes but not really usable for serious exercise:
- It's heavy and annoying (and this apple product seems even bulkier and heavier). The cable situation is also not great, you need a lightweight cable and ceiling suspension to keep it out of the way, but this is solvable.
- Exercise means you get sweaty. Can't wipe your brow and you have a wet headset on your face.
- You can't see your body and maintain proper form. The VR environment itself is also distracting if you turn your head around to look at stuff moving there.
I much prefer just to have my phone or tablet in fixed place in front of me to watch youtube or some movie.
I really don't think that's the best use-case for VR - if you're doing some kind of virtual rowing, a flat screen is going to offer most of the experience with none of the downsides. VR fitness is really about games that are fun in their own right and happen to be physically active. There's a big cohort of people who hate exercise and would never set foot in a gym, but who will happily spend an hour at their aerobic threshold because they're playing a fun game.
Heavily disagree. Just like running outside is generally more enjoyable than on the treadmil, so is rowing. VR rowing would allow you to row through basically every major city on earth, over Niagara falls, and all sorts of other scenic spots.
No, it would allow you to row in a gym/at home while looking at a pseudo-realistic version of every major city or Niagara falls.
The reason running outside is nicer than on the treadmill is not that you get to look at nicer images. You get to smell fresh air and feel the wind on your body, you get to sometimes interact with people, you get to feel various textures under your feet, you get to move your bodies in more ways as you turn left and right etc.
Rowing outside is even more different, as you get the feel of the water currents and water splashes as well.
VR can mimic none of these things, and it comes with the massive downside of a sweaty face that you can't wipe away.
On the other hand, row fast or you fall down virtual Niagara falls sounds like an entertaining game and might make the rowing interesting... to me anyway.
I mean can’t speak for anyone else, but personally running outside is nicer because I get to look at nicer images. The fresh air is nice too but none of the other things you listed contribute anything for me. Getting wet is actually a downside of rowing outside for me, so that’s another plus of vr rowing.
It was fun for a few minutes but not really usable for serious exercise:
- It's heavy and annoying (and this apple product seems even bulkier and heavier). The cable situation is also not great, you need a lightweight cable and ceiling suspension to keep it out of the way, but this is solvable.
- Exercise means you get sweaty. Can't wipe your brow and you have a wet headset on your face.
- You can't see your body and maintain proper form. The VR environment itself is also distracting if you turn your head around to look at stuff moving there.
I much prefer just to have my phone or tablet in fixed place in front of me to watch youtube or some movie.