How a HarmonyOS Walking Machine Turns Family Fitness into Play

When the Treadmill Becomes a Coat Rack

Few things in a home age as quickly as a treadmill. It starts with grand intentions—a New Year's resolution, a birthday splurge—and within months, it's draped in laundry, collecting dust in the corner. The problem isn't that people don't want to exercise. It's that the act itself feels like a chore. The monotony of staring at a wall while jogging in place is enough to kill anyone's motivation.

That's the exact issue the team behind Linqin Manyou (临境漫游) set out to tackle. They didn't want to build another machine that demanded willpower. Instead, they wanted to create something that made people want to step on it—something that felt less like a workout and more like play.

From Stepping Machine to Interactive Adventure

At its core, Linqin Manyou is a walking machine, not a treadmill. It moves at a gentle 1 to 6 km/h, designed for strolling, not sprinting. But the magic happens when you connect it to a Huawei Smart Screen. As you walk, your steps drive the action on the big screen. You might find yourself wandering through a 4K nature trail, the scenery advancing with each step, the ambient sounds of birds and rustling leaves enveloping you. Or you might jump into a 3D game like Mythic Adventure, dodging obstacles and collecting items by shifting your weight left or right.

The key insight here is that walking is our most natural form of movement. We explore the world on foot, so why not explore virtual worlds the same way? By making your feet the primary input, Linqin Manyou sidesteps the learning curve of game controllers and makes the experience instantly intuitive.

More Than Just a Treadmill

When people first see Linqin Manyou at events like HDC (Huawei Developer Conference), their first question is often, "Isn't this just a treadmill?" But it's fundamentally different. A treadmill is a machine that simulates running in place. Linqin Manyou is a portal to another place. The 1.2-meter width of the device gives you room to move side to side, enabling gameplay that involves dodging, reaching, and exploring. Your hands are free, so you can interact with the virtual environment through gestures.

This design philosophy shifts the focus from "I have to exercise" to "I want to play for a bit." And that subtle shift makes all the difference in the world.

Built for the Whole Family

Initially, the team targeted office workers and fitness novices—people who wanted to be active but lacked the discipline or motivation to hit the gym. But as they gathered feedback, they realized the appeal was much broader. Kids loved the games, grandparents appreciated the gentle motion and safety features. It wasn't just a tool for the fitness-conscious; it was a family activity.

At HDC, children would queue up repeatedly to challenge each other in the games, while older users asked about shock absorption and stability. The team took note: fitness at home needs to be low-barrier and safe for everyone, from the youngest to the oldest. That's why they focused on making the experience comfortable and accessible, not intense.

Why HarmonyOS? A Bet on Ecosystem

Choosing to develop exclusively for Huawei's HarmonyOS was a strategic gamble. The team had explored other TV ecosystems and found them fragmented—cameras on some, different processing power on others. For an app that relies on precise motion tracking and real-time rendering, inconsistency in the underlying hardware is a nightmare.

HarmonyOS, on the other hand, is designed for multi-device synergy. It's not just about putting an app on a screen; it's about connecting the phone, the watch, the smart screen, and other devices into a unified ecosystem. For Linqin Manyou, which needs to sync the walking machine with the big screen and potentially future wearables, this integration was crucial.

The team's bet on HarmonyOS wasn't without risks. The ecosystem is still growing, and user numbers aren't as large as Android or iOS. But the development experience has been surprisingly supportive. Huawei provides dedicated communication channels, detailed documentation, and responsive assistance—something the team found invaluable, especially for TV-specific challenges.

The Devil in the Details: Making It Feel Natural

Getting the experience to feel seamless required solving three major technical hurdles.

1. Accurate Skeleton Tracking

Early versions of HarmonyOS's skeleton recognition SDK were 2D-based, offering fewer data points than the 3D systems the team had used on Android. That made it harder to accurately interpret a user's posture and movements. And in a crowded demo hall, the system could easily lock onto the wrong person. Fortunately, Huawei introduced a lock-on mechanism that binds the recognition to a specific user, preventing interference from bystanders. It's the kind of invisible fix that makes all the difference.

2. Performance on the Big Screen

Running 3D games on a TV is different from running them on a phone. Early Smart Screen models struggled with complex models, causing characters to freeze. The team had to compress assets and optimize resources, striking a delicate balance between visual quality and performance. It was a painstaking process of trial and error, but the result is a smooth, responsive experience.

3. Low-Latency Connectivity

Bluetooth was the initial choice for transmitting motion data from the machine to the screen, but the delay was noticeable. Switching to Huawei's NearLink (星闪) technology cut latency dramatically, making the connection feel instantaneous. That's crucial for the "follow-the-feet" experience—any lag would break the immersion.

What's Next: Social Features and Personalized Health

Feedback from HDC revealed a strong desire for social features. Users asked about online multiplayer, the ability to exercise with friends or family remotely, and companion features. The team is listening. They're planning to add networked play and shared experiences, so working out at home doesn't have to be solitary.

Another priority is integrating with Huawei Health. By accessing users' health data, Linqin Manyou could eventually offer personalized recommendations. For example, an elderly grandparent might be guided to a gentle 15-minute forest walk, while a child gets a more energetic adventure. This is still in the works, as it requires permission and API access, but the vision is clear.

From Hardware to Family Fitness Hub

Linqin Manyou isn't just a piece of exercise equipment; it's a gateway to a healthier, more connected family life. By turning movement into play and integrating with the HarmonyOS ecosystem, it aims to make exercise something people look forward to, not dread.

The real test isn't whether the machine can get people moving—it's whether it can keep them coming back. With its focus on fun, family, and natural interaction, Linqin Manyou is betting that it can.