Precor Commercial Treadmill - 2006
Commercial treadmill with entertainment upgrade option
As a follow up to Precor’s 2005 Elliptical, this new treadmill was intended to create a “wrap around” user feel, a more substantial console size befitting a commerical product, reduced part count, and improved margin (profitability) while fitting in consistently with the rest of the commercial product line up. Some of the elements that made this treadmill unique at the time included over-molded handlebars, integrated rear console panel for a cleaner appearance from the front, integrated water bottles and storage pockets, extruded aluminum side rails, and a integrated rear cap for the belt for safety. This new design was not only aesthetically more appealing than the previous version, but was $200 less costly to build resulting in a significant increase in margin.
My primary role as the Director of Design on this project was creative direction and contributions to the detailed part design.
Two unique features of this new treadmill include an optional 12" personal viewing screen add-on that sits above the main display and durable, rigid over-molded handles bars that create a defined sense of personal space for the user.
Treadmill shown with and without the 12" personal viewing screen. This entertainment option gives users access to the TV and music channels they prefer while they workout.
I used a variety of paper prototypes, functional TV screens, and mechanical fixtures to study the placement of the personal viewing screen above the base display. Running and watching TV on a treadmill is quite different than on any other type of cardio fitness product. I determined that a 3 degree angle and 12" screen offered the perfect blend of angle and size for the widest range of users. This elminated the "paralax effect" of a large screen and costly adjustable mechanical parts. This offered a great ergonomic solution, fewer customer service calls for "floppy screens", and a less costly product to produce.
The treadmill could be purchased in three options: no entertainment, audio entertainment only, and 12" personal viewing screen. These options gave clubs the ability to purchase different solutions for different areas of their clubs. They could also be purchased after-market.
