System and methods for providing an improved exercise device with motivational programming

An improved exercise device having one or more motors or other electrically driven actuators for controlling one or more operating parameters of said exercise device, the improved exercise device comprising:

• programming having motivational content and at least two bursts of one or more control signals for controlling said one or more operating parameters of said exercise device, said motivational content including an audio portion;
• means for reproducing said programming, including said audio portion of said motivational content and said one or more control signals, said one or more control signals substantially suppressing said audio portion upon said means reproducing said one or more control signals;
• and
• means, responsive to said one or more control signals, for controlling said operating parameters of said exercise device in synchronization with said motivational content.

An improved exercise device having one or more motors or other electrically driven actuators for controlling one or more operating parameters of said exercise device, the improved exercise device comprising:

• programming having motivational content and one or more control signals synchronized with said one or more control signals for controlling said one or more operating parameters of said exercise device, said one or more control signals comprising at least two transmission bursts;
• means for reproducing said programming;
• and
• means, responsive to said one or more control signals, for controlling said operating parameters of said exercise device in synchronization with said motivational content.

A method of operating an exercise device having one or more motors or other electrically driven actuators for controlling one or more operating parameters of said exercise device, the method comprising:

• a step for receiving programming having motivational content and two bursts of one or more control signals configured to control one or more operating parameters of the exercise device, said motivational content comprising an audio portion synchronized with said one or more control signals;
• a step for reproducing the received programming, including said audio portion of said motivational content and said one or more control signals, said one or more control signals substantially suppressing said audio portion of said motivational content;
• and
• upon decoding said one or more control signals, a step for adjusting said one or more operating parameters of said exercise device in response to said decoded control signals.