The Exergame Network in 2012

The Exergame Network (TEN) is taking new focus into 2012 to explore the various aspects of how exergaming affects peoples lives. The achievements of TEN in 2011 have been without parallel in the exergaming sector. As a non-profit, non-affiliated, international group that has no funding or strict organisational structure TEN operates only through the passion of individuals and on the generosity of these expert's time. If you do not know what TEN has achieved, take a look at the slides below;

The Exergame Network - Report on our Progress

View more PowerPoint from Exergame Network

Exergaming has much to do with change and progression, TEN is changing and progressing with a new format for 2012. The first collaborative Skype call of the year outlined those changes;

• TEN is moving towards delivery focused collaboration in Workshop Skype Calls
• TEN will still maintain it's social support collaboration, with open general discussion calls
• Responsibility for running the TEN social channels (Twitter, Facebook etc) will be expanded
• Projects will be focused to interest groups and collaboration will be largely online in real-time
• TEN will branch out the representation of Exergaming into pure gaming and pure health channels
• TEN will maintain links with games for health channels
• TEN's International focus will take account of regional expert bases, adapting to fit
• TEN will remain a free unbiased collaboration, with an executive steering group based on participation

TEN brings the commercial, academic and public passions for exergaming under one roof, the democratically decided motto of the network is as it does - "Promoting Healthy Exergaming Worldwide"

Active Gaming in PE - See it for yourself!

Researchers at the University of South Florida have been conducting studies to better learn how active gaming fits in the physical education classroom as well as the academic classroom. This is an educational video of active gaming and how it relates to the academic and physical education classroom - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBv1LBpHGIM


This video is fun and easy to follow to understand how active gaming can affect a quality physical education curriculum. Notice the students in the video smiling while exercising as well as the teacher's positive comments about how active gaming has motivated her students to enjoy being active.

Originally posted at http://pecactivegaming.blogspot.com/2011/08/active-gaming-in-pe-see-it-for-yourself.html

VR tech symposium on DM and Obesity published!

3-4-11: Last summer, a group of games for health and exergaming colleagues presented at this NIH-sponsored symposium looking at virtual reality technology in research and education on diabetes and obesity.

Just rec'd the link that the March 2011 issue of the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology just came out so if you'd like to see all the various presentations in articles, check out this link:

J Diabetes Science and Technology, Vol. 5, #2, March 2011

Thx to Skip Rizzo for inviting us to present and co-organizing this event. Games for health and exergaming had a lot of presence here at this symposium, and we were able to network and get better acquainted with quite a few NIH folks.

BTW, my presentation was part of an article by Barb Ruppert (along with Ben Sawyer's presentation), which you can read here in this abstract below. For the rest of the abstracts and articles from all our other games for health colleagues, check them out at the link above!

"New Directions in Virtual Environments and Gaming to Address Obesity and Diabetes: Industry Perspective"
by Barb Ruppert, M.A.Ed.

Author Affiliations: Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, Frederick, Maryland

Keywords: exercise games, exergames, gaming for health, medical virtual environments, virtual reality

Corresponding Author: Barb Ruppert, M.A.Ed., 271 Crum Rd., Fairfield, PA 17320; email address ruppertwritingworks@earthlink.net
Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology
Volume 5, Issue 2, March 2011 © Diabetes Technology Society

Abstract
Virtual reality is increasingly used for education and treatment in the fields of health and medicine. What is the health potential of virtual reality technology from the software development industry perspective? This article presents interviews with Ben Sawyer of Games for Health, Dr. Walter Greenleaf of InWorld Solutions, and Dr. Ernie Medina of MedPlay Technologies. Games for Health brings together researchers, medical professionals,
and game developers to share information on the impact that game technologies can have on health, health care, and policy. InWorld is an Internet-based virtual environment designed specifically for behavioral health care. MedPlay Technologies develops wellness training programs that include exergaming technology. The interviewees share their views on software development and other issues that must be addressed to advance the field of virtual reality for health applications.

J Diabetes Sci Technol 2011;5(2):277-282

Study: Exergaming shown as an effective tool for engaging PE Students

Research undertaken at the University of South Florida Active Gaming Research Lab in Belle Witter Elementary, FL, has been published in the Journal of Applied Behaviour Analysis demonstrating how exergaming may be able to motivate hard-to-reach kids in PE.

The study was lead by Victoria Fogel, MS in an Active Gaming (exergaming) room set up by Dr. Lisa Hansen in 2008, examining “inactive” children’s behavioral responses to exergaming. The data collected included the physical activity of the kids while using exergames in class and contrasts this with regular PE lessons.

The results demonstrated that exergaming produced substantially more minutes of physical activity and more minutes of opportunity to engage in physical activity than did the standard PE lesson. When exergaming the student showed an average of 9.2 min of physical activity per session, while in the PE class they achieved a lower 1.6 min average of physical activity.

The publication of this study adds to the evidence base supporting the appropriateness of using exergaming in the physical education classroom. Because many different exergaming activities were involved in this study, the results show the variety of the genre and the ability of exergames to engage kids. The study can be accessed via PDF download at The Exergaming Network’s wiki site, filed under Exergaming Evidence Base, here.

USF’s College of Education uses the Active Gaming Labs not only for research, but also to demonstrate modern, innovative physical activity approaches to future PE teachers, government departments, and health specialists. Representatives from The President's Council for Fitness, Sports and Nutrition recently visited the research facilities; click here for videos of the exergames in action.

Active Gaming Highlighted with President Obama's Fitness Director

The University of South Florida's College of Education will be hosting the annual Education in Action Luncheon in November. Each year the College chooses a topic in which to focus at the event. This year the focus in on childhood obesity while highlighting active gaming. See the article below and also here.

USF SHOWCASES ACTIVE GAMING RESEARCH FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA’S FITNESS DIRECTOR
Executive director of President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports to address area educators, tour USF’s active gaming research lab

TAMPA, Fla. (Nov. 2010) – From Wii Fit to Dance, Dance Revolution, interactive fitness, known as active gaming has added a new dimension to once sedentary video gaming, opening the door to an innovative and effective method for combating childhood obesity.

Experts at the University of South Florida who have been on the leading edge of active gaming research will have the opportunity to showcase their findings for the nation’s top physical fitness director, Shellie Pfohl, when she visits Tampa on Thursday, Nov. 18.

President Obama named Pfohl as director of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS) earlier this year. She leads the efforts related to First Lady Michelle Obama’s national “Let’s Move” campaign to solve childhood obesity.
Pfohl will be in town to deliver the keynote address at the USF College of Education’s 14th Annual Education in Action Luncheon. USF’s Education in Action luncheon brings together hundreds of community leaders and educators in an effort to increase awareness of the importance of partnerships among the college, K-12 schools in the Tampa Bay area and community.

Work conducted by the College of Education’s School of Physical Education and Exercise Science related to childhood obesity and active gaming (the use of technology to promote physical activity), will be highlighted during the event.
Prior to delivering the keynote address at the luncheon, which will take place at the Florida State Fairgrounds at noon, Pfohl will tour USF’s active gaming research lab located at Belle Witter Elementary School at 9 a.m. The school, located at 10801 N. 22nd St. Tampa, serves as a research and outreach program of the USF College of Education’s active gaming labs. The media is invited to attend both the Belle Witter tour and the Education in Action luncheon.

“Active gaming is gaining in popularity around the country,” said Lisa Hansen, assistant professor in the School of Physical Education and Exercise Science and co-director of the active gaming research labs at USF. “We are proud to be one of the first to not only embrace this contemporary movement, but research active gaming in order to learn more about the potential technology has in turning children on to daily physical activity.”

“Research shows that daily physical activity can improve academic performance,” added Stephen Sanders, professor and director of the School of Physical Education and Exercise Science and co-director of the active gaming research labs. “Together, we can put research into action to develop active, healthy kids.”

Posted on behalf of Lisa, who is busy setting up for the event and originally via http://pecactivegaming.blogspot.com/2010/11/active-gaming-highlighted-with.html