Virtusphere Brings 3D Whole-Body Immersion Gaming (GDC 2010)

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Virtusphere from Binghamton, New York was demoing at GDC 2010 in San Francisco back in March and the line to try it out was busy both days I was able to get on the exhibition floor.  I will be visiting their Binghamton office soon so I will have more to report over the summer. WIBC - I wonder if the movements are faster than a walking speed like running or more erratic movements like jumping, if the Virtusphere is still as effective. I wonder if the Virtusphere can be used along with a Wii, PS3, or Xbox360? Is it possible to use the newest wireless controllers that rely on magnetic fields (Sixense) or magnetometers (PS3 Move/Navigation Controller & Gametrak Freedom)?

How it works: Virtusphere consists of a 10-foot hollow sphere, which is placed on a special platform that allows the sphere to rotate freely in any direction according to the user’s steps. Wearing a wireless, head-mounted display the user is able to walk and run being immersed into virtual environment. The movement by the user is replicated within the virtual environment. The same hardware set can be used for different applications by changing only the software applications.

Dōmo arigatō Mr. Roboto! Is This The Face of a Future ExerGame Fitness Trainer?

Will one of these $8000 Taizou be your fitness trainer. In Japan where the number of centenarians in the country has doubled to more than 40,000 over the past six years, there is a real need for people to help lead exercises. A cute Taizo is now capable in leading people in 30 different moves, mostly seated which is great for our greying population and people with disabilities. Dōmo arigatō Mr. Roboto! Roboto氏本当にありがとう

[Via Crave]

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Are you GameFit? The GameFit Cross Trainer Exercise Device (#G4H09 Wrap-up)

Meeting VisionQuest International CEO Brent Meldeau at the 2009 Games for Health Conference in Boston was great as he was able to explain to me how their upcoming GameFit Cross Trainer will be a disruptive technology in the exercise and gaming world. As previously mentioned, the company is looking to have working prototypes at next year's 2010 Games for Health conference in Boston and hopefully into the hands of some early beta-testers.

Essentially the GameFit Cross Trainer is two aerobic steps attached to a concave slide board which will first interface with its own games then hopefully get ported over to the Wii platform to start. The sensors in the GameFit can be used in one of three ways; 1) steps sensors alone, 2) slide sensors alone, or 3) step and slide sensors together. Besides the obvious low-impact nature of sliding, the cardiovascular benefits can be quite substantial if done for the correct Frequency-Intensity-Time-and Type (FITT). The GameFit Cross Trainer will weigh in around 30 lbs and be over 8 feet long, but will fold easily and have handles. I have no idea what the game-play will be or look like but once I find out I will update the blog.

Can the GameFit Cross Trainer capture the elusive market of whole-body gaming controllers that are fun to play and provide awesome health benefits?

Listen to Brent's response to "What is the GameFit Cross Trainer?"

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Listen to Brent's response to "When will GameFit Cross Trainer be seen in public?"

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Listen to Brent's response to "What platforms are you planning to build for or will it be a stand-alone device (plug and play)?"

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Fore more information, be sure to check the GameFit link in this blog archive. If you need more information on the research and partnerships being created in the Exergame Lab, please contact Stephen Yang at the exergamelab@gmail.com.

Game Fit Cross-Trainer: Slide Your Way To Health

Will the GameFit Cross-Trainer be the next great exergame / "Game Changer?" In Boston at the Games for Health Conference, I spoke with VisionQuest International CEO Brent Meldeau about their Game Fit Cross-Trainer which is planning to debut sometime in early 2010. The images and video are from early prototypes so it will be great to see what they can pull together in terms of product and game play. In the days to come, I will post the audio from my interview with Brent, but in the meantime check out one way you can slide your way to better health. FYI - Sliding can be an excellent way to burn a lot of calories and it is a low-impact activity (easy on joints).

The StepSlider (GameFit Cross-Trainer prototype) is a "Low Impact", "High Intensity" Aerobic Exercise Device. StepSlider, "The Ultimate Interval Training Device" is comprised of two aerobic steps with a slick concave slide board which attaches to the upper most part of each aerobic step whereby the exerciser may either exercise with the step portion only, slide portion only and/or combine the two exercise's together.

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Sony 3D Motion Controller with Webcam Wows E3

Video Games | PlayStation 3 | E3 09: PlayStation 3 Motion Controller

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Rick and Anton from the EyeToy development team showed off their new 3D 1:1 Motion Controller that integrates with a webcam (I would imagine the Playstation Eye).  To lots of applause, the demo goes through FPS demos, archery, fighting games as well as some fun casual games. Due to ship in Spring 2010 I will be waiting to see how this works and would love to try some of the demos.  Watching the demo I can’t stop thinking about the Motus Darwin I demo’s at last year’s Games for Health conference in Baltimore. Hmmmm? One report said that the Motion Controller does not require gyrometers or accelerometers but I will check and update this post.

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Motus Games Darwin 3D controller

Click here to see more information from E3 2009

Wii Vitality Sensor Take The Pulse of The Nation (E3 2009)

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At E3 in L.A., Nintendo unveiled their new health egame / fitness game/ health monitoring application. No big news about games, but I would guess this strategy will compliment the new Wii Fit Plus and future apps in Nintendo’s arsenal. It makes sense in terms of providing more health information to the user and if only the data was portable and secure enough to be put on an EHR (Electronic Health Record). BTW – Google and Microsoft are already really active in providing EHR solutions and it wouldn’t surprise me if Nintendo didn’t already have a network in place and providing vital information to health networks and providers.

Click here to see more information on the Wii Fit Plus

Click here to see more information from E3 2009

[Image Via Gizmodo, ]

Your Shape: Ubisoft Fitness Game via Motion Sensing Camera (Wii)

 

Not to be outdone by the MS Empire, Ubisoft announced their new motion sensing camera for the Wii called "Your Shape". 

Through use of the camera in conjunction with Your Shape, players' shapes will be recorded and a profile will be created specific to that player.

During workouts the game will give players real time, on-screen and vocal feedback in order to get the perfect workout. Players will also be able to choose any part of their body they would like to work out and then choose the type of regimen they need to work on toning, weight-loss, and other goals.

Your Shape, along with the motion sensing camera, will be available this fall for Wii.

Screenshots via Ubisoft

Project Natal: Controller-free Gaming Xbox 360 = Universal Design

Ricochet was the first sport/fitness game featured on the newly revealed E3 demo of Project Natal. Using full motion sensors that detect not only direction but force (similar to EyeToy Kinetic) the player is free to move all about using whatever body-part necessary to score as many points. Looks great because it will integrate with Xbox Live and allow you to watch movies without a remote and according to one game studio’s trial, there will be gesture, emotion, and voice recognition and some pretty powerful interactions with AI. Enter the Matrix, Holodeck, Minority Report….you name it. Movemement controlled interaction with no input device = priceless (not to mention battery-less).

Psyched About Zyked

Another great speaker from May's Games For Health Conference in Baltimore was Tom Söderlund with his Alpha version of Zyked. In its current version (internet and mobile service) it aims "to make sports and exercising more fun by adding gameplay and community features." I really think this area of "exergaming" will see the most growth in the near future as it requires less equipment and technology than any exergaming/interactive fitness/video game exercise gaming system.



Other ubiquitous computing platforms and applications have been spotted around the world, but most prominently in Mad 3G connected Scandanavia (Exergame -VTT, Positive Gaming - iDance, etc...
To find other Exergame Lab articles featured ubiquitous computing applications click here!

Another well known exergame is the combo Tamagotchi-like Fizzes project from the UK 's FutureLab - although there isn't a strong tie to ubiquitous computing the goal is to keep your virtual pet by staying active. With the number of games and platforms like this - in 2009 we will undoubtedly see at least another 5-10 similar products like the earlier featured:ME2, Jinsei Game Puchi (AKA - Game of Life) Pedometer, "Sportio - au Smart Sports Run & Walk, and miCoach.
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GYM Concept Car

How does this look for the ulitmate environmentally friendly exercise machine = your next car! Yes, this is just a concept car by Da Feng, a design student from Coventry University, but let's think about it for a second. You get a workout, get to work, and create little pollution,...now that's the TRIFECTA. In case you were wondering, here is the workout gear incorporated into the proposed lightweight injection molded magnesium alloy chassis - step machine, rowing machine, bench press, pull up simulator and arm weights. If only it weren't in mu driveway right now.

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Get your own

[Via Gizmodo]

iCharge for iPhones & Club WATT

Seeing the sharp rise in sales of smartphones including the iPhone, it was only a matter of time before these battery-charging concept devices surface. First mentioned was the handgrip charger and now a swing charger with an added bonus of having your golf swing analyzed. I think we really should think of other ways to harness our own energy because now being physically active would be: 1) enjoyable, 2) energy saving (reduces carbon footprint), 3) money saving (electrical chargers), and even ....get this....4) healthy. The potential to harness kinetic energy into stored electrical energy is not new, and a while back there was a dance floor concept from the Netherlands (Sustainable Dance Club) that proposed using technology to store the energy created by the moving dancers in a night club.



This fall they just opened Club WATT in Rotterdam an this is how the Sustainable Dance Floor works:

The dance floor converts the movement of the dancing crowd into electricity and uses this power to change the appearance of the surface of the floor. For the first time the crowd becomes an energy source that can contribute to power a club. The movement of the clubbers on the dance floor is captured to generate electricity. This electricity is used to create interaction using LED lights and smart materials in the floor. The DJ and the clubbers will be challenged to reach the maximum energy level possible. Every person is able to produce 2-20 Watt, depending on people’s weight and activity.

Dance on, Swing on, just move my friends! It's all good!

[Via Ubergizmo & Gizmodo via petitinvention via Ecofriend via Gearfuse]

TrueMotion 3D = Truer interaction

While "A game system not to be mentioned-AGSNTBM" has stolen the spotlight from most exergaming devices, the company Sixense has been working on their six degrees of freedom (X,Y,Z, pitch, roll and positional changes) controller called TrueMotion. TrueMotion is aptly named as its higher accuracy of motion sensors enables better interactivity and all of us in exergaming are anticipating this new technology to filter down to the consumers.



Watching the demo it performed in a lot of ways similarly to the Motus Darwin device (featured in May - Motus website) in that the device was able to capture six degrees of freedom. However, from my personal demo of Darwin I don't remember whether or not it detected my whole-body lateral movements as well as TrueMotion appears to. I must say that after seeing the close up images of TrueMotion I can't but help rave about Darwin's incredible design, comfortable grip, placement of buttons and of course the ability to lock two controllers together for easier gameplay of golf and every game player's dream...Star Wars Light Sabers. For now since both devices are in development, they are using wireless USB frequencies of unknown specification; however, as game developers and the Big 3 start to incorporate them they'll eventually be integrated into game consoles.

Now you may say to yourself what's the difference between the TrueMotion and the recent Nintendo add-on dongle MotionPlus (for the Wii-Mote featured earlier)? One is the magnetometer which provides six-degrees of freedom for the TrueMotion 3D vs adding on a dual-axis (X,Y) gyrometer (Invensense's IDG-600 MEMS) for MotionPlus. Take special notice at around 6:15 into the video to see what two TrueMotion input devices look like while playing the soccer goal-keeper mini-game. Jeff, CTO from Sixense, even suggests putting two other controllers on the feet to enable more whole-body movements and real kicks like other games (Shootball, Exertion Interfaces).

Check out after the jump for more Sixsense pics and videos.
[Via Engadget, bit-tech, Trusted Reviews, ]

Bike Hero Lights Up The Streets

Now this is truly not fair and oh so very cool. Playing the song Prisoner of Society by The Living End on Guitar Hero World Tour, this video takes active gaming from a relatively closed dimension (standing/sitting still and playing) to an open and dynamic dimension (riding the bike). I think that creating games that are inspired by an electronic game is a perfect example of what we call in education "enlisting". We take what kids already enjoy and use it to help capture the students' imagination and interest. It should be noted...

Now before you start prepping your "Bike Band" (you know, Rock Band on a bike) video, it should be noted that according to Creativity Online, this video was created by ad agency, Droga5, and not just a couple of suburban teenagers with too much time on their hands.

[Via Crave]

Face (The) Music Exercise + WIBC 1 & 2

Face Music @ Yahoo! Video

Watching this little experiment which I can only explain as cool on many levels, I can't help but be excited for our emerging field of exergames and egames. Undoubtedly, with the dropping costs of all sensor technologies (apperently the costs of the triaxial accelerometer in Wii Motes is around $1 - when bought in massive quantities) more projects like this facially detected music game/activity will surface. The concept for this facial game is actually pretty close to the Nintendo's tona No DS Kao Training - AKA Face Training DS. The main difference is the guy developed code to interface with the EMG sensors placed on his face and then mapped them to specific sounds. Think of it as creating or using unique sounds on your keyboard and then designating a key to play that sound. The only difference being the sensor must be activated (muscle movement) to work.

WIBC 1 (Wouldn't It Be Cool) - Exergame Idea 1: Wouldn't it be cool to see an interface that is EMG activated for the Music Catch game I posted earlier. An interface of this type would be a great application of technology for individuals with spinal cord injuries and or quadriplegics. Imagine being able to move characters or perform actions while using facial gesturing. Wow, now that Tom Clancy's EndWar game (Ubisoft) is released, imagine giving the verbal commands to send troops into battle then as the action begins using the "InterFace" (pardon the pun) to launch weapons and move. Check out after the jump for more videos of Face Training.



WIBC 2 -Exergame Idea 2: I can foresee a whole body interface that may even be related to muscle activation and fiber recruitment. In fact there are companies developing newer interfaces beyond the typical stepping and/ including IA Labs which is developing near isometric contraction sensors on new game peripherals (Wii Sqweeze) for different platforms and software.

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]