INTRODUCTION: Digitalization is reaching into nearly every aspect of life. New technologies and applications are introduced in an increasing speed. However, for example virtual environments have rarely been applied to athletes' training and exercise testing. In 2013-2014 we developed an exergaming simulator that connects cardio equipment with virtual environments, games, immersive view and advanced motion control. The aim of the development was to bring motivation and enjoyment into training but also provide new tools for athletes' training and exercise testing. Athene has been piloted for different purposes, including gym training, senior activation, rehabilitation and exercise testing. Athene was piloted in the Vuokatti Athletes Testing Center in June 2014 for athletes training and exercise testing. METHOD: First, a virtual environment (VE) of Vuokatti uphill road was created. This route has been used for exercise testing by athletes for decades. The VE's terrain was developed by using the height maps of the real environment. 3D models were created with help of Google Street View to make the VE look like the real environment. Second, Athene Exergaming was integrated with the large treadmill of Vuokatti Athletes Testing Center. The angle of the treadmill changed according to the road angle while proceeding uphill in the VE. Third, a projector was installed in front of the treadmill to visualize the VE to athletes. Three professional cross-country skiers tested the VE by skiing on the treadmill with roller skis with fixed speed of 10,6 km/h. The skiers were asked feedback after the test. One of the skiers also recorded the heart rate during skiing on the treadmill and on real Vuokatti uphill route in the following day with 10,6 km/h speed. RESULTS: The skiers were familiar with the real Vuokatti uphill road. All of the skiers were in opinion that the virtual model represented the real route well. The workload in the treadmill was considered to be similar as it is in the real life route. Interestingly, the comparison of heart rate between skiing in the simulator and in the real route showed that the workloads were quite equal in both environments (Fig.1). DISCUSSION: The heart rate comparison between skiing in the simulator and in the real route indicated that training in the simulator may correspond well to training in the real environment when considering the workload. The VE can also provide athletes a possibility to train for the forthcoming competition routes in advance. This pilot test encouraged us to create tools that semi-automate the creation of virtual environments based on real environments. CONCLUSION: The pilot testing of Athene Exergaming in Vuokatti testing center showed promising possibilities of how exergaming simulator can benefit athletes' training and exercise testing. However, more research of the benefits and possible disadvantages of exergaming simulators is needed. --- The hosting University of Jyväskylä is planning to publish conference proceedings "Science and Nordic Skiing III". In case you are interested in this publication please contact the editors (Anni Hakkarainen anni.s.j.hakkarainen@jyu.fi) to become registered for the book.
© Copyright 2015 3rd International Congress on Science and Nordic Skiing - ICSNS 2015. 5-8 June 2015, Vuokatti, Finland. Veröffentlicht von University of Jyväskylä; University of Salzburg. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.