A cybercycle is a type of exergame which combines a traditional stationary bike with virtual reality tours, competitive avatars, and videogame features.Park, Alice (January 17, 2012). "Virtual Exercise Games Help Elderly Remain Mentally Sharp". Time.Park, Alice (January 30, 2012). "Exercise: Game On, Grandma (under 'Bat Signal'). Time. 179 (4): 14."Bigger, better: La Posada's Pavilion gets $1.5 million upgrade". Green Valley News.
History The term "cybercycle" has been used to refer to a futuristic vehicle in science fiction stories"Lawnmower Man II:Beyond Cyberspace". and video games. Stationary bicycles in combination with 2D or 3D displays have been in existence since the early days of personal computers,"Video Junkies Need Release". Boca Raton News. July 15, 1983. developing into virtual reality systems as graphic capabilities improved."What is ... digital art? Art Radar explains" . Art Radar. Cay Anderson-Hanley of Union College and Paul Arciero of Skidmore College labeled the bicycle-virtual-reality combination a "cybercycle" in 2008 when they began conducting research on the benefits cycling exergames, to avoid referring to specific brand names.
Cybercycles and health Anderson-Hanley and Arciero's research found increased cognitive benefits when older adults used cybercycles for exercise rather than ordinary stationary bicycles."'Exergames' may provide cognitive benefit for older adults". Medical Xpress.Cybercycling Yields Benefits for Body and Brain : Discovery NewsUnion College. (2012, Jan). Brain power: "Exergames" heighten health benefits for seniors, study by Union professor finds. http://www.union.edu/news/stories/2012/01/brain-power-exergames-provide-greater-health-benefits-for-seniors,-study-by-union-professor-finds.php ."Cognitive Benefit for Older Adults From 'Exergames'". Today's Geriatric Medicine. These results have been written about in news media around the world,Phend, Crystal (January 16, 2012). "Cybercycling Gives Seniors a Brain Boost". MedPage Today.Wellbeing: Cybercycling for Better Health including The Wall Street Journal,Lukits, A. (2012, Feb. 28). A Bike Built for a Virtual-Reality Brain Boost. The Wall Street Journal, 259(47), D2. Press Association,Press Association. (2012, Jan. 17). Cyber exercise 'a mental boost.' MSN UK. http://news.uk.msn.com/health/cyber-exercise-a-mental-boost. Medscape Medical News,Shelley, A. (2012, Jan. 19). 'Exergaming' Helps Older Adults Improve Cognitive Function. Medscape Medical News. Additional research has been published on the benefits of cybercycling for college students and also for children on the autism spectrum.
Based on this research, some retirement communities have added cybercycles to their exercise equipment."Barrington residents try CyberCycle". Community Recorder, via Cincinnati.com.
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