Method for providing mental activity for an exerciser

A method for use with an exercise apparatus connected to a communication network and comprising processing circuitry for controlling a parameter associated with a movable element of the exercise apparatus while an exerciser exercises, the method comprising:

• receiving an exerciser-supplied input to the exercise apparatus;
• in response to the input, contacting a remotely-located first computer connected to the communication network using communication circuitry of the exercise apparatus;
• displaying non-exercise-related mental activity content received from the first computer on a display device of the exercise apparatus while the exerciser exercises to thereby provide a mental activity for the exerciser;
• contacting a second, different computer connected to the communication network;
• and
• communicating exercise-related information to the second computer.

A method for displaying non-exercise-related mental activity content to an exerciser while the exerciser exercises on an exercise apparatus connected to a communication network and comprising processing circuitry for controlling a parameter associated with a movable element of the exercise apparatus while the exerciser exercises, the method comprising:

• receiving an exerciser-supplied input to the exercise apparatus;
• in response to the input, contacting a remotely-located first computer over the communication network in accordance with contact data for the first computer and using communication circuitry of the exercise apparatus;
• receiving at the exercise apparatus non-exercise-related mental activity content transmitted over the communication network from the contacted computer;
• displaying the received mental activity content on a display device of the exercise apparatus while the exerciser exercises;
• and
• contacting a second computer, different than the first computer, connected to the communication network in accordance with contact data for the second computer and using the communication circuitry of the exercise apparatus.

A method for displaying non-exercise-related mental activity data to an exerciser while the exerciser exercises on an exercise apparatus connected to a communication network and comprising processing circuitry for controlling a parameter associated with a movable element of the exercise apparatus while the exerciser exercises, the method comprising:

• receiving an exerciser-supplied input to the exercise apparatus;
• in response to the input, contacting a remotely-located first computer connected to the communication network using communication circuitry of the exercise apparatus;
• receiving at the exercise apparatus non-exercise-related mental activity content transmitted from the contacted first computer connected to the communication network;
• storing the received mental activity content;
• displaying the stored mental activity content on a display device of the exercise apparatus while the exerciser exercises;
• and
• contacting a second computer, different than the first computer, connected to the communication network using the communication circuitry of the exercise apparatus.

A method for an exercise apparatus comprising processing circuitry for controlling a parameter associated with a movable element of the exercise apparatus while the exerciser exercises, the method comprising:

• receiving an exerciser-supplied input to the exercise apparatus;
• in response to the input, contacting a remotely-located first computer connected to the communication network using communication circuitry of the exercise apparatus;
• receiving at the exercise apparatus non-exercise-related mental activity content transmitted from the contacted first computer;
• displaying the mental activity content received from the computer on a display device of the exercise apparatus while an exerciser exercises;
• and
• transmitting data from the exercise apparatus to a second computer different than the first computer.

A method for displaying non-exercise-related mental activity content to exercisers at a health club facility while the exercisers exercise on exercise apparatuses connected to a communication network, the method comprising:

• receiving data respectively addressed to each of the exercise apparatuses by at least one remotely-located computer contacted by the exercise apparatuses in response to respective exerciser inputs thereto, the data including non-exercise-related mental activity content;
• and
• displaying the received mental activity content on display devices of the exercise apparatuses while the exercisers exercise;
• and
• contacting, by one or more of the exercise apparatuses, a computer different than the at least one remotely-located computer.

A method for providing a display to an exerciser exercising on an exercise apparatus connected to a communication network and comprising processing circuitry for controlling a parameter associated with a movable element of the exercise apparatus while the exerciser exercises, the method comprising:

• receiving an exerciser-supplied input to the exercise apparatus;
• in response to the input, contacting a remotely-located first computer connected to the communication network using communication circuitry of the exercise apparatus;
• receiving at the exercise apparatus non-exercise-related display content transmitted over the communication network from the contacted computer;
• displaying the received display content on a display device of the exercise apparatus while the exerciser exercises;
• and
• contacting a second computer, different than the first computer, connected to the communication network using the communication circuitry of the exercise apparatus.

A method for providing a display to an exerciser exercising on an exercise apparatus connected to a communication network and comprising processing circuitry for controlling a parameter associated with a movable element of the exercise apparatus while the exerciser exercises, the method comprising:

• receiving an exerciser-supplied input to the exercise apparatus;
• in response to the input, contacting a remotely-located first computer connected to the communication network using communication circuitry of the exercise apparatus;
• receiving at the exercise apparatus non-exercise-related display content transmitted over the communication network from the contacted first computer;
• displaying the received display content on a first portion of a display device of the exercise apparatus while the exerciser exercises;
• displaying exercise-related display content on a second portion of the display device of the exercise apparatus while the exerciser exercises;
• and
• contacting a second computer, different than the first computer, connected to the communication network using the communication circuitry of the exercise apparatus.