Kredell says he foresees the evolution of entertainment systems into a more arcade-like environment, with interactive video games and a virtual feel. Garza says that facilities can expect to see a whole slew of new wireless products, some using video streaming.

Current products will be further refined, he says, such as thinner viewing screens with enhanced performance.

All ofthe manufacturers plan to continue to develop products for facilities that stimulate their members and draw them back to their workouts time and time again.

Essential Elements of Entertainment Equipment

* Wireless FM Receiver: Members use own personal stereos
* Receivers mounted on equipment: Facility provides headphones
* Personal LCD viewing screens mounted on individual machines
* Personalized content delivery through customized private network
* Future options may include better Internet access, virtual reality and video streaming

Why Invest in Entertainment?

* Members are used to huge choices in audio/visual stimulation elsewhere, and expect it wherever they go
* Music motivates people to exercise longer and increases overall enjoyment
* People who enjoy the workout experience tend to stick to a long-term regimen
* Reduced attrition rates
* Spread the good news — happy customers attract even more customers

As U.S. telcos and cable companies sluggishly roll out cable and ADSL broadband Internet access across America, Singapore and Hong Kong are already nearly completely wired.

Ninety-eight percent of Singaporean homes and more than 70 percent of Hong Kong households already have access to residential broadband connectivity. With this unparalleled infrastructure in place, both cities hope to become the ecommerce hubs of Asia. But so far, things are not quite turning out that way.

Hong Kong’s residential broadband system has only about 22,000 customers, despite passing 1.3 million homes, while Singapore’s broadband system has only about 60,000 customers out of a total population of more than 3.8 million.

Why such a sluggish take up? No one’s exactly sure. But the telcos and governments in the two cities are doing everything they can to pump up usage. In Singapore, the government is helping promote the system with special pricing packages, ecommerce financial incentive schemes and other programs. Meanwhile, Cable & Wireless/Hong Kong Telecom is teaming up with the likes of Microsoft to develop content services for users, as well as further developing video-on-demand services.

Until these click, it is largely a case of all-dressed-up-with-nowhere-to-go. To Tim Johnson, a London-based analyst for telecommunications consultant Ovum, it is just part of the immaturity of the medium. “Truth is, the promised land [of ubiquitous broadband] hasn’t arrived anywhere,” he says. “Yet.”

Everybody wants to phone family when they are abroad, for students this may be too costly but prepaid calling cards simplifies the process cheaper and faster.

Abier Burgul is a 30-year-old participant in the boot camp program at Gold’s. Burgul feels that “the team atmosphere makes it very motivating.” Does this A-team boot camp participant ever feel like staying in bed on cold winter mornings? “Yes, but if you have a good instructor, you hear them in the back of your mind so you get up!” Burgul replied. “Our instructor has always been very motivating. If it weren’t for him, I certainly wouldn’t be running up stairs with a 10-pound sack of bricks.”

While Lewis, a boot camp instructor for Fitness & Image Results, exhorts his female troops to work hard during cold winter mornings, he is certainly not the stereotypical, in-your-face drill sergeant. Lewis loves motivating people to be the best they can be. “If I can change a person’s physical appearance, I am sure this can translate into other aspects of their lives,” he says.

Frog’s Allman says, “The main quality I look for in an instructor is that they be good with people. The same personal qualities apply as in other group exercise classes.” Trader adds that, “A good instructor should be reliable and dependable — you shouldn’t have to worry whether your instructor will turn up on cold mornings.”

While discipline is important, the more aggressive approach associated with real military boot camps is frowned upon. Both Trader and Allman agree on a more humane approach to exercise.

“Any yelling, shouting or insults are done very much in a joking fashion. There is a smile behind every command,” Allman explains. “We certainly don’t have our instructors go around calling everyone maggots,” adds Trader.

“While prior military experience may be an advantage, instructors should also be qualified in first aid and have a background in exercise science,” says Allman. First aid certification is definitely essential. The group may be quite a distance away from the club setting where first aid supplies are not available. Exercise science knowledge and a certification are also sound requirements for boot camp instructors. They should be able to determine appropriate intensity levels for individuals within the group and to prescribe the correct exercises in extreme temperatures.

The goal of Octoberthon was to motivate individuals to challenge their abilities in a variety of cardiovascular exercises, ultimately increasing their fitness levels, while the center collected exercise data for research purposes. The program was modeled after a triathlon, using aerobic exercises that were later converted to “miles” of swimming, biking and running. An elite category was created to motivate highly competitive members.

Held in October of 1995, the program highlighted the club’s 25th Anniversary and used nostalgic activities to add an element of fun. In addition to a “Back to the ’70s” week, complete with disco music, hip huggers and a nostalgic display of events from the decade, the club hosted a “mini-triathlon” in which approximately 100 people hoola-hooped, “hippity-hopped” on an oversized rubber ball, and weaved through a maze carrying an egg on a spoon.

Approximately 850 members competed in the actual Octoberthon, 20 percent of whom were entered in the elite category.

All participants utilized the club’s exercise log system and their statistics became part of the Cooper Institute’s research database. Activities included stair climbing, bench aerobics, aquatic aerobics, ski-motion exercising and high/low aerobics.

A black-tie awards ceremony with Texas Governor George W. Bush serving as keynote speaker drew 1,000 guests. The event was paid for by $35,000 in corporate sponsorships.

Just when you thought you had heard enough about on-line shopping, along comes mobile commerce, another concept geared toward getting us to spend money.

Someone took the time to explain the m-commerce concept to me the other day. I’ll be able to walk down the street with my Internet-enabled cellphone. As I walk past a Starbucks, my phone will ring. Looking at the built-in Web browser, I’ll see a coupon for a free latte.

Proponents of m-commerce believe we will soon see a future where we’re all connected to the Internet via a wireless connection all the time. Vendors will be able to pitch their wares anywhere, at any time,
based upon where we are.

And yes, they believe we will willingly plug into an Internet in which they will be able to instantly determine where we are, or even track our journeys.

Listening to them, I’ve come to realize that I don’t want wireless access — just plug an Internet implant in my head.

Some of the m-commerce schemes reek of Big Brother silliness. What they ignore is that survey after survey shows that privacy remains the biggest concern of the typical Internet user.

Yet these m-commerce folks envision each of us participating in an exercise where our location can be tracked right down to a square metre.

A giant market for wireless applications is undoubtedly emerging, given the massive growth in the number of Internet-connected wireless devices.

According to one study by U.S. consulting company Frost & Sullivan, the market for mobile phones, pagers and palm computers is expected to grow to $64.41-billion (U.S.) by 2005 from $2.98-billion in 1999. Many of these new devices will come with built-in Internet access.

There are also many useful applications emerging, ranging from stock trading to banking to e-mail access. Yet at the same time, some of the same old on-line shopping concepts are being proposed for the
world of wireless.

I heard one expert talk recently about an application through which we could order groceries through our cellphone. Hello! Why wouldn’t we just drive to the store and do it in the real world? At least we could
check the quality of the lettuce.

Not only do the ideas seem silly, but I’ve come to realize that wireless Internet access can be extremely annoying.

Ordering cheapest telephone cards it is convenient, reliable and low cost key for long distance calls for millions of people all over the world.

They say goodbye to Team Church Social as if any one of them would not be returning. More piano music. Another group hug. Sadness.

Tribal Council

Jeff asks if they feel like visitors in their new camp. Ken says he doesn’t, that he feels like a family. Blah blah blah. Erin says something else.

Jeff asks Penny about who does the chores and something. Erin is asked why she shouldn’t be voted out tonight. She says something. Penny is asked the same thing and she says something equally notable. Jake also. Ken blah blah blah.

(Can you tell that I’m not a big fan of tribal council chatter?)

Mr. Probst explains that this person is the first person in the jury. After an emotional vote, it seems as though Ken, Penny, and Jake had all gotten together behind Erin’s back and decided that it was Erin’s time to go. More tears, hugs goodbye. Group hug with the remaining three.

Jeff Probst pretends to be sad, “You guys are running out of members – running out of time. What you can’t run out of is hope. Anything is possible in this game.” Does this mean next week is merger time?

Previews of Next Show

They get a video from home (I’m looking forward to Brian’s). Helen, yet again, states her idiotic belief that only poor people should be allowed to win. Jake and Ken plan on “creating a stir.”

And it’s very clear there’s a merge. In several screen shots, we see them wearing a gold buff while before now, they were wearing their team’s red and purple buffs.

Yippee! Now we get to watch Team Church Social vote out Ken or Penny, then Penny or Ken, then Jake or Jan, then Jan or Jake. I just hope the challenges are exciting because the babes are all being voted off and the remaining people aren’t really known for their entertainment value.

Yippee!

The most obvious way to increase and retain the demographics of your students is to have a diverse instructor staff. Black, white, Asian, Hispanic, young, old, male and female, people tend to be more comfortable with instructors they can identify with.

If the diversity in instructor candidates is limited, invite instructors of various cultures, ethnic groups, backgrounds and ages from other clubs and towns to guest teach, or approach a talented student about the possibility of teaching.

You can also support diversity by modifying your classes or program to reflect your participants’ skills, interests and cultures through the types of music played, the methods of instruction given and the levels of fitness accommodated.

When asked, most experts suggest not. They say that the infrastructure of the Internet is too slow. On-line video is too unreliable. And the screen — well, it’s just too small and fuzzy, and the playback too jerky. It’s absolutely painful to watch.

Yet one of the most popular destinations on the Internet today — Adcritic.com — is a Web site that consists of mostly video. How popular is it? Recent numbers suggest a few hundred thousand people visit it a day, most of whom watch at least 10 video clips.

The site has defied every prediction that the Internet is too primitive to support video. There’s a buzz out there that this is one of the hottest Internet sites, and no wonder. It has great content, is good for a laugh and offers great video quality. And here is the weirdest thing about this popular site — the content is, get this, TV commercials. That’s right, one of the busiest video sites on the Internet happens to show the thing that people hate to watch on television.

If Adcritic.com is any indication, then on-line video has a wonderful future. Some day. The fact remains that while there is no shortage of video content to be found on the Internet, most of it is never viewed.

Which raises the question: will on-line audio and video ever go mainstream? I’m convinced it will, and I think this will happen over the next five years as several trends come together.

First, we are going to see the arrival of many Internet-linked audio and video devices. Consider the concept of on-line audio by checking out Internet radio device Kerbango (http://www.kerbango.com). Set for release next month, you’ll be able to bring it home, plug it into your high-speed home Internet connection and tune in hundreds of Internet radio stations.

Then there’s the new Wurlitzer Jukebox (http://www.wurlitzer-jukebox.com), a product targeted toward bars, restaurants and other public locations. It will obtain its audio via the Internet. Are these isolated products? Not if you listen to the buzz coming out of Taiwan and Hong Kong. A flood of new Internet-based audio and video equipment is on its way.

The second key trend driving the audio-video future is that it is easy for anyone to place content on-line. Established radio and TV stations have long posted their broadcasts, but on-line broadcasters such as Canada’s Iceberg Media (http://www.theiceberg.com) are really leading the way by using the Internet to broadcast into specialized niche markets.

And third is the issue of bandwidth. Sure, it is easy to discount all of this talk of on-line audio and video as simply the ravings of the Internet-loonies, as the Internet is just far too slow. If you believe that, then you should realize that leading edge fibre-optic technology lets 360,000 people download an entire full-length DVD-quality movie via the Net.

That technology isn’t part of the Internet yet, but one day it will be.

Which brings us to the final point — there is a massive and important business role for this technology, which will help to spur its implementation. Companies will realize that the Net can be used to distribute on-line training videos to distant offices, for example, or for live, interactive video conferencing of an extremely high quality. Corporate Web sites will be able to feature short instructional or product support videos, not to mention Internet-based telephone systems that cost virtually nothing for long distance connections.

Science fiction? Cisco Systems is already there.

Practical business applications will help companies solve real business problems, or save significant sums of money. As the technology matures and as the business applications become apparent, we will see a rapid marriage of Internet audio-video to the way we work in the corporate sector.

Global calls aren’t very limited or pricey now. The most convenient, easiest method to make cheapest calls it’s by obtaining cheap international calling cards.

Broaden your vision and be willing to become educated about different modes of exercise. Fitness is more than cardio. Programs like water fitness, yoga, ball stability, tai chi and stretching are filling the gaps left by traditional aerobics classes to create a total fitness menu.

Look at the demographics of your community. Are there large segments of the population you’re not reaching? We tend to think of seniors, children and expectant mothers right away as special markets, but have you considered a program for AIDS patients, women recovering from breast surgery, the disabled or people with addictive behaviors? As we enter a new century, health clubs across the country are taking on a new role as partners with the health care industry and offering special classes to assist with various types of rehabilitation and preventive care.

Obviously, this necessitates a specialized staff with professional certifications. Check with the hospitals and doctors in your community to see what health needs are prevalent in your area, what programs can be developed and how you may work with them on a referral basis. Many physicians are recognizing the need for health promotion services provided by competent personnel, and you may be able to meet that need.

Look beyond the four walls of your aerobics room for possible class sites and ideas. Dynamic walking, which is popular in the San Francisco area, takes students outdoors and through various phases and levels of walking. Students go from basics to pace walking to speed, as well as hills and power walking.

Consider offering a sunset stretch class in a nearby park or an in-line skating class around a roped-off area of your parking lot. Not only will you be offering your members something fun and different, but you will draw attention to your program by being in the public eye. For added publicity, make sure your instructors wear the club logo.

The club’s computer is equipped with a beeper that is cued to respond to specific information — in this case, birthdays. When the computer sounds the alarm, a message appears on the screen at the front service desk informing the attendant that a birthday is imminent.

The staff responds with a rousing chorus of “Happy Birthday” during which a ribboned Tootsie Pop is presented to the lucky birthday person. The computer is set to beep before, on and immediately after the birthday, so that no birthday is left unacknowledged.

“We have found a fun, low-cost way to wish our members a ‘Happy Birthday’ and to make them feel special,” says Stewart, who adds that the celebration not only brightens the member’s day, but the staff’s as well. “Celebrating a member’s birthday always brings a smile to their face and that is in line with our mission statement, ‘If you smile when you think of the Pierpoint Racquet Club, we are accomplishing our mission!’”