The gaming corporation is a multi-million dollar industry. Electrical gaming devices started in the 60’s. And now, there has been a major shift in the causes behind the making of gaming devices. From the beginning, electrical gaming devices were purely for entertainment and enjoyment. Nowadays, creators and makers are approaching the healthy and active lifestyle aspect and bringing it into gaming;Wii and X-Box: Project Natal.
Inventors approached every aspect to make it the best; from sounds, to quality and interactivity to make the games appealing. They now include educational and medical activities so that parents can ensure that their kids are benefiting from. The games allow the player to physically interact with the electronic device.
This newest gaming system called the X-Box: Project Natal is very physical and the advertisements are much more focused on attracting customers by their fun and physical activity appeal.
In the first week the Wii came out, 600,000 of them were sold. In the United States, also known as the most unhealthiest nation; approximately 60% of the population owns a Wii console. Evidently, Wii’s target market is considered a success.
To take a closer look at the games, the Wii Fit is a great example on the advancement of
technology and how it has affected the society. Firstly, there is a BMI component to the appliance. By entering your age and weight; the game can determine if you are a healthy. After the readings from the BMI, there is a Wii Fit Age Test where they measure how well the user can control their balance and movements. Based on the readings, the user will be given an age or skill level with recommendations on what they should play. In addition, after the workout session, there are charts and graphs showing the change and improvement. Furthermore, there are many games included in the system such as tennis, yoga, boxing, aerobics, and strength training.The advancement in video gaming with physical activity is effective in many cases. A man in Philadelphia started an experiment where he would use the Wii Sport everyday for 30 minutes. His eating habits however would not change during the process. In the end, in 6 weeks, he lost 10 pounds.
However, in my opinion,I feel that our technology is now at a point where it’s just too much. There are some things that don’t need to be changed. For example, why can’t we exercise at gyms or just outside. Instead, people turn to their Wii’s to exercise. Humans are at a stage where we rely on electrical devices on an everyday basis; from computers to video games. Even the interactions with humans have been simplified into using an electrical device. Why is there a need to change our ways so drastically to something electronically involved? I would much rather prefer to play tennis outside in a court and with a friend rather than facing the television screen and swinging a remote control.
Works Cited:
http://www.tgdaily.com/business/29953-nintendo-confirms-sales-of-600000-wii-consoles-in-first-week
http://www.qj.net/wii/news/nielsen-59-us-households-have-wiis.html
http://www.nursingdegree.net/blog/26/wii-fight-fat-the-ultimate-guide-to-weight-loss-with-the-wii/
http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/hoiNtus4JvIcPtP8LQPyud4Kyy393oep
http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/18/wii-sports-experiment-sheds-nine-pounds/
Pictures from:
http://www.mywiinews.com/wp-content/uploads/wii-fit-6.jpg
http://0.tqn.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/a/G/3/wii-curling.jpg
http://www.platformnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/kinect.jpg
Blogs Commented on:
http://kimm-allison.blogspot.com/2011/05/what-would-we-do-without-technology.html?showComment=1307676958859#c2489371313533694397
http://alexsbioblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/medical-technology-and-human-body.html?showComment=1307678152027#c1627894316990485196
Great post! I think it's terrific that more and more options are being opened up to us in regards to being able to get exercise from home. I also like that you mentioned the Wii's educational benefits too; I certainly remember giving my brain a workout the first time I tried BrainAge.
ReplyDeleteQuite frankly, I think you ought to be more open-minded about exercising with gaming consoles. I think that they're not meant to be a substitute that completely eclipses going outside or going to the gym to get exercise; it's just meant to be a complement to the more strenuous, in-depth activity. I think you'd agree that interactive gaming would be the much more accessible and fun method; it's also more appealing to a wider audience. But of course, we can't forget good old fresh air, sports equipment and exercises.