Systems and methods for providing an improved exercise device with access to motivational programming over telephone communication connection lines

An exercise device comprising:

• a moveable element adapted to move during performance of exercise by a user;
• means, in response to a single selection by the user, for accessing a telephone answering service having a store of selectable exercise programs adapted to control the movement of the moveable element, and for selecting at least one exercise program;
• and
• means for receiving the at least one exercise program from the telephone answering service, such that the at least one exercise program causes movement of the moveable element.

An exercise device comprising:

• a moveable element configured to move during performance of exercise by a user;
• a control panel electrically coupled to the moveable element, the control panel comprising:
• a keypad integrally formed with the control panel and adapted to enable the user to access a telephone answering service and to select at least one exercise program from a store of selectable exercise programs at the telephone answering service, the keypad comprising at least one key selectable by the user;
• and
• a speaker integrally formed with the control panel and adapted to present the at least one exercise program to the user;
• and
• an interface electrically coupled to the control panel and adapted to receive the at least one exercise program from the telephone answering service.

A method of controlling an exercise device through at least one exercise program retrieved from a telephone answering service, the method comprising:

• transmitting a request for at least one exercise program to a telephone answering service, the at least one exercise program comprising at least one control signal for controlling at least one operating parameter of the exercise device;
• receiving the at least one exercise program from the telephone answering service;
• and
• in response to identifying the at least one control signal of the at least one exercise program, controlling at least one operating parameter of the exercise device in accordance with the at least one control signal.