Fitbit for a healthier lifestyle

Fitbit looks to be the latest device and web service to assist users in tracking their overall health (physical activity, sleep, and nutrition). Actually I think they should call it the HealthClip because monitoring these metrics does not guarantee a certain level of fitness...bit I digress. In their launch at TechCrunch50, they want to inspire "people to exercise more, eat better and live a healthier lifestyle." Check out after the jump for more images how this device will compare with other accelerometers and physical activity measurement devices.. I think many of us in the physical activity assessment world have been waiting for an affordable device, accelerometer or otherwise, that can validly and reliably capture data and have a smooth user interface (UI). So many of the accelerometers (triaxial, biaxial, unixial), heart rate monitors and pedometers have terrible UI's (or none at all) and are not geared for the user, but the researcher. Besides BodyMedia's re-branding their ArmBand device as BodyBugg, I can't remember the last time I saw a decent attempt to track physical activity with some semblance of thought going into the user's needs and interaction with the device and software application. I know of at least two other companies that have similar products in top-secret development and the Fitbit should give them plenty to think about. This is one device I can't wait to try out!

Bounce to Health with GravitX's Game Air

In what looks to be a cross between a mini-trampoline, inflatable balance baord, and small step machine we welcome GravitX and their GameAir 3 to the exegaming world. Check out the video after the jump.  I know Ernie got to try these out at his XRTainment Zone and I will follow up with him about his hands-on.   And here is the rest of it.

Ditto for less pain

Want less pain while changing bandages on burn victims, check out Ditto. And here is the rest of it.

Music Catch: Play Your Music (Future Exergame?)

After playing the new downloadable version of the popular online game Music Catch, I would love to see someone make an full body interface to play with the game. A common theme I hear from teens is that they wish they could play their own music, and from what we know about motivation that would be a good thing. Having the ability to choose game levels, characters, opponents, and songs furthers a player's sense of autonomy and oftentimes motivation to continue playing. Check out more pics after the jump. At first playing the pre-loaded songs was fun, but after loading a couple of my favorites songs (mp3) it suddenly became another game altogether. First of all you've probably listened to your favorite songs maybe a thousand times, but you've never INTERACTED with it like this before. Simply catch the music notes by moving your mouse and be sure to collect the special bonus notes (Yellow - larger cursor, Purple Power - black hole vortex) and avoid the bad note (Red - shrinks cursor). As the song plays, the line where the notes originate rotates around the screen and the game seems to be tied into a music spectrum. In some ways its like interacting with your music player's visualization settings and it's quite cool to listen to the highs and lows of the song and be able to play a game with it. I really feel that customization will be a key component of future exergames and Music Catch would a really cool game for which to develop a physical interface (Eyetoy, Wii, or some other vision system). Any developers out there looking for a challenge? Let me know.
[Via Gamertell]

Wii Walk on Google's Street View

Hacking the Wii Fit Board is becoming so common, I bet we'll see twice as many hacks by next year. And here is the rest of it.
[Via Make & Wii Blog]

Virtually Real-ity Therapy: Moving images, treadmills, and bodies

Using virtual reality-type/exergame technology in rehabilitation is not a new concept, but University of Portsmouth (Australia) Ph.D student Wendy Powell is conducting a clinical trial with her school and McGill (Canada). Using an adapted treadmill, Wendy developed software to mimic urban streets and mountain view passes. Her system was developed to help recovering stroke patients by having...

"...moving images to trick the patient’s brain into thinking he or she is walking more slowly than they are which in turn encourages them to walk faster and further."

At the Games for Health 2008 in Baltimore, there was a prototype stroke rehabilitation project (PDwii) that used Wii technology, specifically the Wii-mote. In the press release photo, there appears to be a sensor on the lower back of the patient, but the article did not mention what technology was used. I'll contact Wendy and then update the post.
[Via Medgadget & University of Portsmouth]