Seniors enjoy playing #exergames at moderate intensity levels [Study]

Wii Tennis Player B side (Photo credit: Mesq)

This descriptive study examined healthy older adults who played one session of 15 minutes of Wii Tennis #exergaming. The participants were able to achieve 64% of their predicted heart rate maximum with 86% of them enjoying the experience. These findings are consistent with the many number of other studies that have evaluated seniors playing exergames, especially when played in a care facility like assisted-living.

Exergaming Points 2 Ponder (ExP2P)

• It would be great to see results of studies where older adults are paired with children, teens or college students who play together and engage in physical activities requiring more than minimal levels of intensity.
• Although the included photo was not from this study, it would be great to see their reaction to such a setup where it is closer to the actual physical sport of tennis. In fact, I'd love to play this setup and I'm thinking of a way to accomplish this for my kids.
• As with many studies, would the findings have been changed if they were given a familiarization period?
• How long would they play if given an undefined time period to play?

Fachko MJ, Xiao C, Bowles KH, Robinson KM, & Libonati JR (2013). Cardiovascular effects and enjoyment of exercise gaming in older adults. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 39 (12), 43-54 PMID: 23855328

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iStrideMaster Interactive #Exergaming on Idiegogo Fundraiser

Does exercising (mountain climbers) on a StrideDeck with sensors using Bluetooth connected to a tablet or mobile app (to track your force, speed and stamina) sound like your next amazing #exergame workout? If so, you might want to visit their Indiegogo site to help launch their campaign to raise $10,000 and goals of $20k, $30k, and $100k for more advanced features including a Mountain Climbing #exergame challenge.

(Full Disclosure: I've been in discussions with StrideDeck previously, but have not consulted with them on this project.)

 
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Nike House of Deadly: Stadium #Exergame Installation

Playing football (soccer) is hard enough when you're playing against humans, and now with this Nike House of Deadly stadium installation, you get to learn what its like to face a computer in a virtually immersive #exergaming environment. BBH Asia Pacific created the a virtual- meets- physical football game for a single player to launch the NIKE Hypervenom football boot in Asia.

Using software from Arstic and infrared cameras to detect ball and player movements, a customized experience was developed to have players avoid the lights shining down on the surface of the mini-pitch and shoot at periodically flashing targets on the side walls. Would you like to try this #exergame installation for yourself, your soccer team, or PE class?

Via Digital Buzz

Check out after the jump for more photos of the installation

CHI 2014 #Exergaming Papers

Here are some of the papers that involve exergames, exergaming, or exertion games and interfaces for the upcoming CHI 2014 Conference in Toronto, Canada (April 26 - May 1, 2014).

Effects of Balancing for Physical Abilities on Player Performance, Experience and Self-Esteem in Exergames

Kathrin M Gerling-Interaction Lab, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

Matthew Miller-University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

Regan L Mandryk-University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

Max V Birk-University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

Jan D Smeddinck-Digital Media Research Group, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany

  
• Game balancing can help players with different skill levels play multiplayer games together; however, little is known about how the balancing approach affects performance, experience, and self-esteem–especially when differences in player strength result from given abilities, rather than learned skill. We explore three balancing approaches in a dance game and show that the explicit approach commonly used in commercial games reduces self-esteem and feelings of relatedness in dyads, whereas hidden balancing improves self-esteem and reduces score differential without affecting game outcome. We apply our results in a second study with dyads where one player had a mobility disability and used a wheelchair. By making motion-based games accessible for people with different physical abilities, and by enabling people with mobility disabilities to compete on a par with able-bodied peers, we show how to provide empowering experiences through enjoyable games that have the potential to increase physical activity and self-esteem.

“Healthifying” Exergames: Improving Health Outcomes through Intentional Priming-- Paper

• Frank X ChenComputer Science Department, Stanford University, Palo Alto, United StatesAbby C KingSchool of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, United StatesEric B HeklerSchool of Nutrition and Health Promotion, Arizona State University, Phoenix, United States

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• Exergames, video game systems that require exertion and interaction, have been rising in popularity in the past years. However, research on popular exergames shows mixed health benefits, potentially due to minimal energy expenditure and decreasing use over time. This paper presents a 2x2 experimental study (N = 44), using a popular exergame, where we vary the framing of intention (i.e., “Gameplay” or “Exercise”) and feedback (i.e., “Health” or “No health”) to explore their single and interactive impacts on perceived exertion, objectively measured energy expenditure, affect, and duration of usage in a single session. Our study showed that participants primed with exercise used the system significantly longer than those primed with game play (M = 49.2 ±2.0 min versus M = 39.3 ±2.0 min). We discuss our results and possible design implications based on our single-session experiment. We conclude with a discussion on the potential impact of focusing on “healthifying” exergames—highlighting an exergames’ dual purpose as both a game and exercise—as opposed to gamifying health behaviors.
• Exergaming,Priming,Persuasive Technology,Fitness

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Blue Goji #Exergame System Adds New Games (iPad)

Newly added games to Blue Goji's mobile exergaming system (iPad) gives it a total of 15 mini-games. (Full Disclosure: I have received two Goji Play units to test and have been reviewing the games). The new games include Plunder Pit, Trivia, and The Experiment to go along with Spin or Die, Smash the Blocks, Try Your Luck: Casino, Beat Drop, Fisticuffs, Ralaga, Riptide, Shine Runner, APO Snow, Goji Reader, and Super Moto X. Although I love the games, the prospect of reading RSS feeds while pedaling is very intriguing. Check back for more information and reviews of this speed-mediated gaming (SMG) system. (Images and video via Blue Goji). 

Click through to see the rest of screenshots...

Oculus Rift + Leap Motion = Shark Punch + Game of Thrones #Exergaming VR

Time highlighted the Oculus Rift paired with a Leap Motion sensor to give you your best shot at beating up a great white shark. Virtual Reality superstar Oculus Rift also wowed the crowd at #SXSW incorporating their virtual-reality headset into a Game of Thrones like simulation of "the elevators that carry soldiers on the show's massive, icy wall."

The visuals are built using a gaming engine, and the booth's floor and walls are equipped with rumble packs that help create the illusion of movement. A set of air vents complete the experience, flicking on and off to cool the temperature and give the sense that the wearer has, indeed, exited the elevator into a howling wind above. - via CNN

Nobody is commenting on whether or not these mini-games will ever see commercial licensing, but at least they were fun to play for those that got the opportunity to be completely immersed (visually, auditory, tactile) in an engaging scenario.

Oculus Rift and Leap Motion Combine for Virtual Reality Shark Punching - TIME: "promo video"

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