Abstract: A system may include an exercise device and an external device. The exercise device may include a rigid rod, a plurality of light sources, at least one load sensor for detecting an applied longitudinal force, and a first processor coupled to the at least one load sensor and to the plurality of light sources and configured to obtain a signal indicating a magnitude of the applied longitudinal force, and cause a subset of the plurality of light sources to emit light. The external device may comprise a communication interface, a display, and a second processor coupled to the communication interface and to the display and configured to establish a communication link with the exercise device using the communication interface, obtain data over the communication link, and cause the display to present information associated with the exercise device.

Abstract: An exercise device comprises a rigid rod having a first and second ends, a plurality of light sources arranged in a row along at least a portion of an axis extending between the first and second ends of the rigid rod, at least one load sensor for detecting an applied longitudinal force, and a processor coupled to the at least one load sensor and to the plurality of light sources. The processor is configured to execute machine-executable instructions that cause the processor to obtain a signal indicating a magnitude of the applied longitudinal force, and cause a subset of the plurality of light sources to emit light. A ratio of a number of light sources in the subset to a total number of the plurality of light sources represents the magnitude of the applied longitudinal force relative to a reference longitudinal force.

Abstract: An exercise device comprising a rigid rod, a base, at least one load sensor inside the base or the rigid rod, the at least one load sensor for detecting a longitudinal force applied to the exercise device, and a processor coupled to the at least one load sensor, the processor for executing one or more machine-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to cause at least one of the plurality of light sources to emit light to instruct a user to apply a target longitudinal force to the exercise device, obtain a signal indicating a magnitude of the applied longitudinal force, and control at least one characteristic of at least a subset of the plurality of light sources to provide an indication of the magnitude of the applied longitudinal force relative to the magnitude of the target longitudinal force.