Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/12/16/bill_softky_cardiodesk/
Shed Xmas flab and debug code with treadmill laptop contraption
For fatties who can't leave their keyboards
Posted in Developer, 16th December 2011 12:44 GMT
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No self-respecting techie would ever be seen dead in a gym. If you want to get fit, just put down the doughnut and go for a walk. However for those of you who do submit to treadmill workouts but don't want to miss a minute's coding time, this might interest you.
Brainy old Reg friend Bill Softky has come up with an ingenious low-tech contraption for people who want to use a conventional laptop while at the gym. The CardioDesk cracks the problem of providing a stable surface, fits most treadmills and folds away to the size of a book- it's about an inch thick.
The prototype, which you can see here [1], is hardwood, but with a bit of interest (and a bit of investment) we should see a much cheaper carbon fibre version to go into production.
He admits it's "an unusual solution to a nearly unknown problem", but some of the most successful inventions are just that.
Jolly clever: Bill Softky's CardioDesk
Neuroscientist Bill first came to our attention after he was honoured by Microsoft, despite never having worked [2] for The Beast. He subsequently worked for Jeff Hawkins at his Redwood Neuroscience Institute.
We happy to do what we can to help bring clever low-tech mechanical design to market; your reporter is the proud owner of the amazing non-electrical Presso [3]. Anyone interested should pledge their interest [4] at Kickstarter toot-sweet. ®