ExerGame Lab: 2014

Monday, November 3, 2014

Thank You & Most Active Tweets (October 2014)

at 11/03/2014

Thanks to Twitter's great Analytics tools, you can find out lots of instant data on the activity of your tweets. Here are some of the more active tweets from my @syangman profile. Have a great weekend and stay active and well with your friends and family!

Interactive Health Tech buff.ly/1tB9iUe 140+ readers, 2k+ flips, 750+ articles #FitTech #wellness #Fitness pic.twitter.com/KVAr72KSkX
Microsoft Band $200 Heart-rate, GPS, UV, #FitnessTracker #FitTech #wearables buff.ly/1q3ZZWy
#BrainBreaks prior to testing completely changes Ss attitudes, mood, & maybe even info retrieval. Concentration 64 pic.twitter.com/5wnxzaSsOA
Last Week Tonight John Oliver buff.ly/1wASWcL We eat 75 lbs of sugar/year! #dunkthejunk pic.twitter.com/XIjrr0jtiW
Why do we make students sit still in class? buff.ly/100162p @CNN #physed #edchat pic.twitter.com/Iumj5i53Pg
Google Fit: An effortless, comprehensive view of your fitness buff.ly/135oOwt #FitTech #FitnessTracker pic.twitter.com/cVBFrkjUyh
Turn Playgrounds Into Game Controllers With This Motion-Sensing Clip buff.ly/1w6aq1Q #FitTech #exergaming pic.twitter.com/0li32OFcuS
Games for Health via @flipboard buff.ly/1xpi2uv 150 readers, 3200 page flips, 200+ articles #exergaming #gfh pic.twitter.com/N31q5nerCm
Moov raises $3M for coaching apps for #ActivityTracker @mobihealthnews buff.ly/1zkL03Z pic.twitter.com/5lvbFHTM43
Air Runner : A Futuristic Flying Companion for Runners buff.ly/1xpk9OF #exergaming pic.twitter.com/s0gLFUC48i
Great new signs @sunyoswego & outdoor spaces#OzHPW #healthystartshere and congrats @OzMediaSummit for incredible day! pic.twitter.com/4qZaOQZhlA

View my Flipboard Magazine. View my Flipboard Magazine. View my Flipboard Magazine. View my Flipboard Magazine.
Click here to read more of ExerGame Lab's archived posts involving research studies.

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Pump It Up 2015 Arcade #Exergaming Adds Networking

at 11/01/2014

It has been a long time since we've profiled a dance exergame, but Arcade Heroes teased the release of new songs and a finally a USB login for Networking Gameplay Feature for Pump It Up 2015. Get ready to dance!

Arcade Heroes - New Trailer For Pump It Up 2015 - Game Will Add Network Play - Arcade Heroes:

'via Blog this'
Click here to read more of ExerGame Lab's archived posts involving Arcade Exergames

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Eco-Cam Recycling #Exergaming With a Twist

at 10/30/2014

Committing to sustainability and environmental healthy practices is an important component of wellness and this installation called Eco-Cam certainly could help to promote environmental health. Using a vending machine type installation WondermanBA created an installation that required people to twist water bottles in front of a camera. The camera records your act of eco-kindness and posts it to social media to prove that flexing your muscles can be fun and earth-friendly.

Via Bonaqua and Adeevee

Click here to read more of ExerGame Lab's archived posts involving advertising installations

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

DYOG i-stapps #exergaming

at 10/29/2014

Develop Your Own Game (DYOG) using Nyon's hardware connected to your smartphone or tablet to get your kids (or yourself) more active). As an open-source Kickstarter campaign that only got about 10% to their goal (€245,000), i-Stapps had about 10 games that was to be included in the initial shipment. In many ways it sounds simlar to the Swinxs game system that is also programmable and open-souce. I have to admit that I think it would be fun to program the pads with my kids while using their own imagination.

Via Kickstarter and i-stapps

Click here to read more of ExerGame Lab's archived posts involving research studies.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Thank you Tweeps & Blog Readers - #10kTweet

at 10/28/2014

I just wanted to take this time and space to thank all of my Twitter Followers (@syangman), readers to my blogs (Exergamelab.org, RockstarPE.org) and other social media accounts for such a great opportunity to share with you my journey of growth and discovery. In honor of my 10,000th Tweet I've changed my Twitter background image to include many of you who I connect with on Twitter frequently. Unfortunately, some of the profile pictures are not viewable, so I am including the image below. Please do not be upset if your photo is not there, as I did not have any control how images were included; but rest assured to know that your feedback and updates are valued. I look forward to connecting with more like-minded souls and organizations and to sharing more of my discoveries and experience in using technology to improve health and wellness. Hail & Health!
Stephen P. Yang

https://flipboard.com/profile/exergamelab
http://www.scoop.it/t/exergaming
https://paper.li/syangman/1309290515
http://newsana.com/member/stephen-yang

Click here to read more of ExerGame Lab's archived posts involving research studies.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Games for Health Conference 2014 - Day 1 #ghf14

at 6/19/2014

We are back in Boston for the 10th Annual Games for Health Conference, co-founded by Ben Sawyer and Beth Bryant, and this year highlights some great developments and anticipation of using games and technology to improve health and health outcomes. Please follow the #gfh14 hashtag and try to meet up with as many fellow attendees throughout the conference to continue growing this exciting space. Healthy & Safe Gaming Everyone! I am using Twubs to embed the #gfh14 hashtag so feel free to follow it and/or join along in capturing all the great speakers and moments - http://twubs.com/gfh14

Click here to read more of ExerGame Lab's archived posts involving research studies.

Saturday, May 24, 2014

GranataPet #SnackBall iBeacon #Exegaming For Dogs

at 5/24/2014

GranataPet #SnackBall is an interesting project from the pet food company that aims to keep dogs healthy in the park with their new "fitness ecosystem" AKA - a healthy and active lifestyle. By tweeting out a message with #SnackBall hashtag, the machine launches a ball away from the main unit, if the dog returns the ball fast enough, it gets a snack released from the machine. Along with the dog's size, the speed of the ball return and distance was calculated using an Arduino (insterted into a tennis ball) and iBeacon technology. If the return was too slow, no food will be dispensed and your best friend just might not be that happy to be in the park.

Although SnackBall is not to be confused with their earlier SnackCheck (2011) project which incorporated FourSquare - which used the slogan "Check in, Snack Out"

Exergaming Points 2 Ponder (ExP2P)

Using a camera to estimate the size of the dog, the timer is set to as to how long it should take for it to return the ball. I guess as in humans, using size to approximate level of fitness might not always yield positive results and correlations.
I wonder if there is a limit of how many times an owner can use the SnackBall machine. I suppose even if a dog kept getting snacks, eventually it would both tire physically and slow down because of all the extra food they've eaten.
For humans, how do we balance the extrinsic rewards that are given for a task with helping our clients, team, students develop intrinsic motivation and prolonged positive behaviors and/or changes.

Click here to read more of ExerGame Lab's archived posts involving advertising

Friday, May 23, 2014

Challenge Your #FutbolNow Skills on Pepsi #Exergaming Vending Machine

at 5/23/2014

Challenge your own footie skills with this #exergaming Kinect installation in time for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Available in only 20 locations worldwide, if you are able to match the skills and get enough points in 30 seconds, you can earn a Pepsi.

Exergaming Points 2 Ponder

With many of these games, having a certain competency level prior to playing will translate to better in-game success, but if you are not as high-skilled or have low fitness levels, playing exergames (fitness video games) can be a frustrating experience.
If we are trying to build perceived competence, autonomy and relatedness - we need to ensure there are ways and game play mechanics that support these Self-Determination Theory principles.

Via Digital Buzz & PR Newswire
Click here to read more of ExerGame Lab's archived posts involving installations.

The interactive vending machine allows customers to show off their soccer skills utilizing Microsoft Kinect technology, with no purchase necessary. Users can create an avatar with their name and begin earning points immediately. Throughout the interactive experience, fans are encouraged to keep the virtual football in the air for 30-seconds as they move through a series of skills challenges. Advanced players can earn bonus time and compete for "Hall of Fame" recognition at each location.

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Danz Base Arcade #Exergaming

at 5/18/2014

Danz Base was featured at the GTI Taipei 2014 Trade Show with the usual demo team of female dancers. This Chinese-based #exergame appears to be a 2-player game but can be linked to another machine (online?) to become a 4-player game.

Similar to DanceEvolution (feturered previously) it uses a camera-based sensor to detect game player movement and award points and achievements. After watching the third embedded video, apparently they are using an ASUS Xtion PRO Depth Sensor while the other units (DanceEvolution & Dance Central) use the Kinect (both PC versions).

Features:

-Danz Base is a new and interactive two players’ somatosensory dance machine from IGS. The game features with motion sensing, interactive lights and double woofer functions, and 4 players are available to play a game at the same time through video with the Global Network function.

-Besides, the abundant music in this wonderful machine includes popular songs from all over the world, America, Europe, Korea, Japan and amount vast productions from China, fun for new beginners and experienced players.

-Danz Base with the unique ARKOPAZE system: based on lendon, offering players interactive service on multi machines, allows player to exchange award on other machines like Muzibox DJ when reach achievements on Danz Base.

Exergaming Points 2 Ponder (ExP2P)

Its clear from the videos, the dancers are are auto-generated or simply duplicated from the main dancer. Very different from the more complex motion-capture (high-res) dancers and multi-player sequences as seen in Just Dance.
I think their choice of using the term "somatosensory dance machine" interesting given that all video games are somatosensory (multiple senses) and this game is is primarily only visual and auditory.
According to the description on one of the distributor websites, Danz Base uses an ARKOPAZE system that will enable users to collect awards and use them on Muzibox DJ. Its too bad we don't see more interoperability between machines, gamer profiles, companies as game consoles. We're really missing out on the ability to share with details of our amazing dance conquests, perfect routines and overall fitness data.
In watching the 3rd video, gameplay footage clearly shows some interesting comparisons in providing feedback which I didn't pick up until they were placed side-by-side (see screenshot below). Besides the audio, Dance Central provides "visual" feedback at the point of the dance move (hands, hips, feet) whereas Dance Central only provides "visual" feedback but it rotates around the "virtual lead dancer" and is sometimes not visible. The other factor that makes visual feedback on Dance Central more cluttered is the cumulative score, and star levels nestled to the left of the "virtual lead dancer".

Concluding Thoughts

Using fitness video games can be a fun and engaging way to keep an active lifestyle fresh and entertaining. Remember if its not fun to do, you probably won't do it consistently and that's not a good thing. Fitness matters, and we need to find more ways to stay active and make healthy choices with food and emotion.

No word on whether or not we will see this arcade system in the US, but if you see one please let me know below in the comments or on Twitter @syangman