Black Box VR Co-Founder and Creative Director Preston Lewis. (Image courtesy of Black Box VR, and used with permission.)

The following post is for informational purposes, and is not intended as medical advice.  Please consult your doctor before beginning any exercise program.

Gaming can be addictive. Working out at the gym, not so much.

Black Box VR has come up with a way to change that.

They've created the world's first virtual-reality gym. Attendees strap on a headset--and they're standing in a stadium. Now, the game is about to begin.

And standard workout moves are what will combat an opponent--and help a player get to the next level.(Image courtesy of Black Box VR, and used with permission.)

Preston Lewis is Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Black Box VR.  With the March 10th opening of Black Box VR's first virtual  gym facility in downtown San Francisco, he's now combining his two passions: fitness and technology.

Preston's technology background includes having served as CEO at multiple creative-focused digital firms.  Currently, he is Vice Chair of the Idaho Virtual Reality Council.  Prior to Black Box VR, he worked in major creative roles for more than seven years at bodybuilding.com. His interest in fitness dates back to his school days as an athlete.

Preston talked about the experience of bringing Black Box VR to life, explained how the world's first virtual-reality gym works (including the artificial intelligence involved!), and discussed some of the lessons he and his team learned along the way.

On this edition of Over Coffee®, you will hear:

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How Preston first became interested in combining his interest in fitness with technology;

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What his own first experience with virtual reality was like;

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His creative journey from there;

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How his background as an athlete led to his passion for fitness;

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What clients will experience, when they strap on the headset for a virtual-reality workout;

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How your "body becomes the controller";

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How artificial intelligence tracks a participant's performance level;

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The ways exercise science works in the Black Box VR system;

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How Preston and his team researched their technology's results;

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The new features planned to increase the social experience of the virtual-reality workouts;

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Two milestones in the journey for Preston and his team.

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Preston's advice to any other innovator exhibiting for the first time at a major trade show.

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And, what's next!