Assignment 7

Opportunity: College students who live off-campus and who don’t have a consistent means of transportation to go on-campus to a gym may not be getting their recommended amount of exercise because of lack of transportation. Additionally, there are people that live in a more isolated area where there are no or limited choice of gyms or people who want to exercise but don’t have a mode of transportation to go to a facility to train. The opportunity would be to provide a product/service for home exercising.

-        Who: College students, rural citizens, people without cars/buses/other modes of transportation who don’t exercise enough/want to exercise more.

-        What: They are unable to easily find time, transportation, or the opportunity to go to a facility to exercise.

-        Why: Limited transportation options due to bus schedule, relatively high expenses for a car/scooter, low density of city/town so no training facilities nearby. People aren’t knowledgeable about home exercises, don’t have the time or desire to scour through the Internet to learn. 

I am putting the summary here rather than after all the interviews.

-        Testing the who: On-campus students may have this need, depending on their proximity to a gym and their personal preferences on working out in a gym. Some enjoy privacy, some enjoy a livelier environment.

-        Testing the what: Some split up their time to have a big chunk for a workout (e.g. an hour) and some would rather do multiple shorter sessions throughout the day. The former would have a harder time accommodating their schedule if they want a larger chunk of time. Some think that exercising drains more out of you than what you get out (which for those who exercise know that that’s not always the case). There’s a lot of information on the internet to search through which can intimidate those just starting on their fitness journey. Some people can tag along with friends to go to the gym even if they are off-campus with no transportation, in fact some people also enjoy working out with friends as more of a social thing rather than for reaching a workout goal per se.

-        Testing the why: Some consider walking an exercise which is definitely true, but I was thinking more about toning/strengthening exercises rather than simple cardio. Those with the former mentality don’t see why to do more so my opportunity becomes null. Depending on location, traveling from out-of-campus to a gym could be a long bus ride with multiple routes. Some don’t mind the long commutes, some do.

Additionally, those who prefer structure would benefit from the product/service that I'm thinking of. Those who "do what feels good" wouldn't as much. 

Male student living on-campus

Do you currently regularly exercise? If you consider walking around everywhere exercise, then yes! Haha.

Have you gone to any of the gyms on-campus? Rarely. I don’t enjoy the feeling of working out around other people. I’ve definitely thought of it though since my housing is close to one of them.

Have you ever done exercises at home? Sometimes when I have that inner fire to do some pushups or other simple exercises, but usually no. I think I’m healthy enough from walking and eating decently.

Do you feel you have enough time to consistently exercise other than walking? Not really, but honestly, I’m sure I could make short periods of time to do something. Working, studying hard, and then becoming more tired from exercising seems too much in my head.

Whenever you do get motivated to exercise, how do you find what to do? Do you do any research beforehand or do you just “go with the flow?” I go with the flow, I exercise just to get blood moving rather than to actually change my body composition or anything like that. I know enough exercises to just jump into something.

Female student, off-campus living in an apartment

Do you own a car or scooter to get on-campus from your apt? I do not, I go by bus.

Do you currently regularly exercise? I walk or run outside several times a week. I do other things occasionally.

Have you used the gyms on-campus? I would more if my classes were closer to one! Sometimes my roommate takes me by car when the free time in our schedules tie in well.

Have you thought about going to a gym by bus from your apt? I haven’t, but I’d imagine that it’d be a hassle.

How so? Possible multiple routes, waiting outside for the bus and getting drained from the heat.

Do you do any exercises at home, if so how you decide what exercises to do? Sometimes I follow workout videos from YouTube.

Do you think you will have enough time in the day to regularly exercise in the future? Things will definitely get busier, but I’ll make sure to do some form of exercise daily. I usually like to do an hour a day, but we’ll see.

Male student, living off-campus in a rural environment

Do you own a car to go on-campus? Yes, I own a car.

Do you currently regularly exercise? I do, whenever I go on-campus for class, I try to take advantage and go to the gyms as well.

Do you exercise at home on the days you don’t go on-campus? I do what I can, but I don’t know a lot about bodyweight exercises. I don’t want to spend a lot of money on equipment to try to do the same stuff I would at the gym.

Well, you could research online about exercises to do at home, no? Well, I don’t have internet at the house, and I don’t want to use up all my mobile data going on YouTube or other sites to research.

If you had internet or another resource with a workout program, would you consider primarily doing home exercises compared to going to the gym? I would certainly do more exercises at home, but I do enjoy the gym environment more. The noise, the music, the people, makes me feel stronger.

Do you feel that you have had enough time to exercise regularly? Depends on the week, during exam week, I don’t really workout much at the gyms. I don’t have a job or internship yet so I have more free time than others.

Female, on-campus student

Do you currently regularly exercise? I go to the gym when I can with my friends.

Do you ever go to the gym by yourself? No, we all get to motivate each other and also I feel more safe being with a group than by myself.

Well with the concern of safety, have you considered working out at home? Yes, and I do, but I like getting out of the house more.

It is far for you guys to go to the closest gym? It’s a few minute walk then a bus ride, perhaps too long for some. But for us, we use that time to chat and it doesn’t bother us.

Do you feel that you have had enough time to exercise regularly? In the past, yes, but we’re slowing getting busier and busier with experience, harder classes, and other responsibilities.

Do you think you would work out at home then if you continue to get busier? Most likely, mainly do some stretches and low-intensity movements to unwind from all the stress.

Female UF Online student, off-campus

Do you currently regularly exercise? No not really, I have a pretty full schedule and the thought hasn’t crossed my mind.

Do you have gyms close to where you live? By car, perhaps 15-20 minutes but I don’t have my own car. I wouldn’t want to pay for a gym membership anyways.

Did you opt-in for the Optional Fee Package at UF? (This allows UF Online students to use the gyms on-campus if they do go on-campus). No, I did not, I don’t go on-campus.

Have you considered exercising at home? I have, but there’s so much information about health and exercise out there and it’s hard to know which track to follow.

With proper guidance and equipment, do you see yourself exercising at home? Yes, I do, maybe in the early morning or in the evening when I can.