Active Gaming Going Mobile?

There are millions of apps available for smartphones today. So many we cannot keep up. Children are learning at an early age how to create/develop new apps - everything seems to be going mobile. Scan coupons, get directions, check the weather, watch television, exercise, or play video games...we are living by our mobile smartphones! There are already several active games created for mobile phones. However, I ran across a company called BitGym and found this idea for exercising using the active gaming concept neat. I encourage you to watch the introductory video (it is very brief). This application is making exercise fun wherever the participant chooses. Teachers, please realize the growing popularity of active gaming should be growing into your classrooms. Children now have opportunities to exercise at home that is fun and convenient. Quality physical education classrooms should be educating children on these types of opportunities to explore to encourage lifelong physical activity behaviors.

Active Gaming: Making Exercise a New Year's Resolution?

It's that time of the year - the beginning! Where we sit and think about what our New Year's resolution is going to be. For many, in the past few years a resolution has been to exercise more consistently or to simply begin to exercise. While I certainly appreciate adding more exercise to your daily life, I would also like to suggest we DECREASE sedentary screen time. Sitting in front of computers, televisions, cell phones, iPods, etc., has become a habit - one which is hard to break. The national recommendations suggest recreational screen time (RST) be less then two hours a day. On average RST in society today is over 40 hours a week! If we are going to using screens, at least reduce the sedentary behavior and suggest a more active approach such as active gaming.

Although the benefits of traditional exercise are well known, for some reason as adults we decrease our level of physical activity and then our children do not have role models at home to follow. Physical education teachers need to encourage children to get up and move and provide them with ways to do so at home. Discussing active gaming and implementing it in your curriculum is a great way to show children how exercise can be fun.

Do yourself and your children a favor this year and reduce the amount of sedentary time you spend in front of a screen. Get up and move - if you enjoy video games and technology, active gaming may be one great solution to help you keep your New Year's resolution!

Criticism #6: Durability is Problematic

The 6th criticism of this series of seven blog posts discusses the issue of the durability of active games being problematic. Some have suggested active gaming is problematic due to the lack of reliability in terms of durability of the technology. Whether you are on a computer, using a cell phone, using an IPod, or trying to set your DVR, the chances are that at some point technology is going to “break down”. Most active games are purchased with a warranty with an option to extend the warranty. This provides the needed security to extend the life of the equipment. Understanding the terms of the warranty as well as options for extending a warranty are important when purchasing any active gaming product.

A major concern to consider when purchasing any active gaming technology is the manual assistance and/or servicing to care for typical “trouble shooting” situations. Some problems that occur with active games are not related to the durability of the product but the typical technological issues that are found with many forms of technology. Simple troubleshooting instructions should be available and requested for each active gaming product in order to assist with the more common problems (tv channel is wrong, game “freezes”, feedback is not registering, intensity level is turned too high etc.). Additionally, school systems should be prepared to have someone appointed to not only care for the purchased products, but to have open communication lines with the company or companies that have supplied the equipment. Any questions regarding the servicing of products should be considered and discussed prior to making any purchase. This is very important in order to understand the responsibility of the buyer and that of the seller including time considerations, replacement alternatives, and all potential costs involved.

Without discussing individual manufacturers or specific products it is safe to suggest that there are many durable products provided by the active gaming industry. Regardless, it is the responsibility of the buyer, especially when children are involved, to resolve issues as quickly as possible to avoid any disappointment or negative feelings towards the physical activity experience. Being prepared by understanding the technology component involved with the active games purchased will help reduce the likelihood of this issues occurring. Having been involved in this field for close to six years now, the #1 issue related to active gaming durability is certainly "Human Error". Not that we break the product, but that we do not understand the simplicity of why it may be acting a particular way. It may not be "broken" just yet...Ask Questions, Get Educated!

Criticism #5: Active Gaming Takes Up Too Much Space

Finding the space to allocate active gaming activities at home or at school is the 5th critique of active gaming in this series of seven blog posts. Common questions include, “Where and how do we store the games when they are not being used” and “Where do we place the screens if we do not have wall space?” “Where will we find space in the school to set up the equipment?” All are reasonable questions and should be considered when pursuing an active gaming environment.

Active gaming equipment does not have to take up a lot of space. Consider the following related to space allocation and active gaming. First, designate a space to place the active gaming equipment that will not require the teacher to remove the activities daily. Delegating a room or small area in a specific permanent location in the school is ideal but certainly not necessary. Another option is to use a moving cart. A screen and game console can sit on the cart and the activities can be rolled or moved into the gym or classroom as needed. A third suggestion is to purchase a mobile or modular commercial unit. These units house the screens, consoles, and cords.

Additionally, consider turning children’s sedentary screen time at home into more active screen time, see criticism #2. Research suggests there are four televisions in the average household. Making at least one of these televisions an active gaming station is not only feasible but a great way to increase physical activity outside of school hours and decrease sedentary screen time.

Furthermore, some active games are compatible with a computer. Having a computer station in an academic classroom, computer lab, school library, or at home is a great way to turn sedentary computer time into more active computer time. The active games compatible with computers (i.e. Gamercize steppers, FootGaming pads, Plug -n- Play games, etc.) are easily stored under a desk or against a wall.

Space allocation may be a concern but should certainly not discourage the use of active gaming in the physical education classroom or at home. Determining the type of space you have available is an important first step when considering the purchase of active gaming activities. The space you have abailable will most likely influence the active games you are capable of purchasing.

Criticism #2: Why Would We Encourage More Screen Time?

In my previous blog discussing Criticism #1, “Just go outside and play”, I mentioned the average person spends over 40 hours of sedentary time a week in front of some sort of screen (TV’s, computers, video games, iPods, cell phones, etc.). Recommendations suggest that time spent on sedentary recreational screen activities should not exceed 2 hours per day. Obviously, the average individual spends more time in front of the screen than recommended, and a good portion of screen time is spent playing video games. Why is this an issue? Amongst many, a main concern is that this time spent in front of screens is sedentary. Globally, as sedentary screen time has increased, so have the obesity levels. So, do you want the good news or bad news first?

One thing experts are more than confident about: Screens are not going away! Not only are they not going away; but, more engaging upgrades, cooler graphics, and appealing features to the previous screen-based products continue to evolve. The battle of getting children away from screens is going to be a long and difficult one. Screens are here to stay.

Now entering the positive zone:

Exergaming, the genre of active games related to video game play and exercise, makes sedentary screen time more active. Exergaming is not intended to add or promote additional screen time for individuals. Exergaming should be considered a replacement for the sedentary time already spent in front of a screen. Therefore, using active gaming is not promoting additional sedentary screen time. In fact, due to the already known benefits that physical activity provides, promoting active screen time may encourage individuals to then want to become more voluntarily active away from the screen.

Additionally, if you were given two options: 1)Children refuse to be active outside and due to a variety of reasons stay inside to play; a large portion of that time is spent in front of a screen watching television or on computer play or video game play; or 2)Children agree or even choose to become physically active by playing an active video game instead of engaging in traditional sedentary behaviors. Which would you choose to promote?

Bottom line, if they are going to use screens anyway, why not make it active?

Criticism #1: Just Go Outside and Play

From the previous blog outlining various critiques regarding active gaming, this is critique #1 our of 7 that will be discussed in the next few weeks:

“When I was your age, I used to play outside until the street lights came on.” We still say it and we still believe it. As an advocate of physical activity, there is really nothing better than seeing children outside playing, moving their bodies, and exercising. Unfortunately, in today’s society I find myself more excited to see children riding bikes or playing pickup games in backyards because there is a lack of "outdoor" play taking place. Most of us are aware that the recommendations for children to acquire a minimum of 60 moderate to vigorous physical activity minutes is not being met. For a variety of reasons, including our societal saturation in technology, children are just not being active. Many children suggest using computers, texting, and playing video games is simply more FUN!

Children suggest that the most important element in life is having fun. If this is true, then it is our job to make exercise more engaging and more fun! How do we do this? How do we make exercise more enjoyable then the gizmos and gadgets our children desire? Especially in a society where children are growing up more overweight yet less confident in moving their bodies. Are physical education teachers fighting a losing battle? One thing is apparent, technology is not going away. Video games are not going away. They are only becoming more popular and more appealing.

Active gaming is aligned with this generation’s desires by engaging the user through the use of technology. Children are able to play the games they love while being active. We all wish children would just “go outside and play”; but they are not. The truth is, they are spending over 40 hours a week in front of a screen. OVER 40 hours a week – a full time job of participation in sedentary behaviors. So, if I asked you this question “Would you rather a child be active, playing a technology driven game, or be sedentary” how would you respond? Seems like a simple answer but many battle this idea of allowing children to be active playing a video game. Until we find a solution that makes children go outside and play, I would rather accept an active game over a sedentary behavior. I would rather tell a kid to go get their Game ON and encourage the voluntary physical activity in hopes that participation in active gaming may influence traditional physical activity involvement as well. Active gaming is one solution that gets kids moving, having fun, and enjoying exercise.