Using Technology to Motivate Kids to Exercise
TAMPA, Fla. (Business Wire EON) February 4, 2008 -- Can technology be used to reverse this trend? Apparently, a lot of companies think so, as the concept of "exergames" is starting to take off. Health clubs and schools are now turning to these innovative technology-driven activities to get kids moving.
"'Exergames' are video games that promote exercise. 'Interactive fitness games' are technology-driven games that also promote exercise, but don't require a screen," according to Lisa Hansen, PhD candidate at the University of South Florida in Tampa, and co-director of their fitness lab.
Put a bunch of these games together in an arcade-like atmosphere and you've got "XRKade." XRKades promote a fun and social experience. "Kids focus on playing the games and don't even realize that they're exercising," says Hansen, who was a basketball player and personal trainer before entering the PhD program. Only a handful of these arcades currently exist in the US, but many more are expected to open in 2008.
To some, using technology to motivate kids to exercise might seem like feeding whiskey to an alcoholic. After all, television and video games have been identified as reasons why kids are so sedentary. But kids love games. "We have found that they never sit down when playing the various games in our XRKade lab," says Hansen.
Certainly, something needs to be done to promote exercise in kids. In most gym classes, kids are aerobically active for just 3 minutes. "Sadly, overweight and obesity and the medical problems that go with it are starting to appear in kids just like they do in adults," says Reents, a former health care professional and creator of AthleteInMe.com.
A review of many of these technology-based exercise games can be found at www.AthleteInMe.com.
About XRKade
XRKade (www.XRKade.com) is owned by iTech Fitness (www.iTechFitness.com), a Denver-based developer of exergaming, interactive fitness, and entertainment systems. XRKades can be found as a stand-alone club but more often as a club within a club concept. For more information, contact sales@itechfitness.com
About AthleteInMe.com
AthleteInMe.com is an independent web site devoted to providing high-quality information on exercise, fitness, training, sports nutrition, and fitness gear for consumers and athletes. One of the features of the site is an online fitness counseling service. For more information, contact: sales@athleteinme.com.
Note to Editors
Lisa Hansen and Stan Reents are available for interview.
Lisa Hansen can be contacted at: withersp@coedu.usf.edu or call 813-974-1146.
Stan Reents can be contacted at: editor@athleteinme.com or call 813-907-2185.
WNQA Articles:
Weight Loss Foods
We the whole of each learn about foods that are good for us and have various proven benefits. But multifarious community aren?t aware that there are actually fat-burning foods, which help kick-start your body into shedding plethora weight. These wonder-foods can increase the number of fat calories your body burns ? they?re like mini diet-helpers, rousing your metabolism. They are familiar as ?free foods?, and as you?d expect they are low in calories. Notwithstanding, some of them really retain accept ?negative? calories, meaning that your body burns more calories metabolising the foods than it absorbs from the food itself. Add them to your diet and discern the result for yourself!
Online Dating 101 - Online Dating Basics
Online Dating 101
by Kevin KogerFeeling like there's something that's just not quite there yet in how you're going about this whole online dating thing? Don't feel bad, chances are you're one of the many people who're still pretty new to this gig. Heck, internet dating has only been around for about eight years, so obviously no one out there can claim to have all the answers.
Alcohol And Exercise
On Friday afternoon after you leave work, you probably think about going out and having a few drinks with friends to relax and wind down. Even though you may think you deserve to go out and have a few drinks, there are some things that you should certainly keep in mind.
Medicare's Competitive Bidding Program Begins Amid Controversy; while Home Care Delivered Provides Uninterrupted Diabetes Supply Service to Beneficia
July 1, 2008 marked the anticipated implementation of Medicare's Competitive Bidding Program, affecting the medical supply needs of thousands of Medicare Beneficiaries across 10 Metropolitan Areas throughout the country. As a Contract Supplier selected to provide Mail-order Diabetes Testing Supplies to Medicare Beneficiaries, Home Care Delivered offers customers a wide selection of products, hassle-free ordering, insurance verification, claims processing, and no-charge delivery.
Fasting For Weight Loss: The Pros And Cons Of Fasting To Lose Weight
Everybody tells you that in order to lose weight you need to eat less calories. For many people the next logical choice to lose weight more quickly is to go on a fast. It seems reasonable that not eating any food will force the body to lose weight, and this is true.
7 Winter Exercise Tips for Busy People
Finding Time in Your ScheduleMany people find summer exercise easy, because there are so many fun activities available when it's warm outside. But if you live in the North, you might find exercise during the winter much more difficult.
Strategies for Alleviating the Boredom Associated with Exercise
Just about every expert in the ADD field will tell you that exercise is one of the best ADD management strategies there is. According to the book Delivered from Distraction:"When a person exercises, she sets in motion a cascade of events that her brain loves.
Benefits of Online Dating on Internet
Online dating is a way of life for many singles. As a result so many dating sites have popped up over the years. The tide is turning back to favour the online daters given all the choice thats available. I personally cant think of any other industry, be it related or not, where you can find some companies offering it all for free. The trick for the consumer is to find the online dating sites that are truely free.
IAMC Issues Parenting Guide on Children & Illness -- Topics Determined by Mothers
Caring for a sick child goes beyond just wiping noses and taking temperatures, in fact, there are many tips and guildlines that need to be taken into consideration when giving children medications and ensuring their full recovery. The International Association of Medicinal Compliance (IAMC), keeping in line with its message to promote compliance as a health necessity, has issued a parenting guide with the help of input from mothers that provides practical and valuable information on children and illnesses.
Hydroponics Gardening Retailer Announces Development of New LED Grow Lights
HIDhut.com, a relatively new player in the Hydroponics market, announces the development of new more cost-effective and energy efficient, high-output LED grow lights. These newly developed lighting systems represent a significant technological advancement for the Hydroponics market, both for the home grower and for commercial hydroponics operations.
Healthy Weight Loss Is A Key To Reduce Fat!
In your efforts to seek healthy weight loss, you must not lose your health. The weight loss enthusiasts, once they are up to their mission, sometimes jump off the track, and try to achieve the impossible, within the shortest possible time. This is not desirable and many times dangerous.
Instant Love: Date.com Releases Free Online Dating Toolbar v1.0
Date.com, one of the world's leading online dating sites, today announced the release of an interactive toolbar that lets singles find dates in real time wherever they are on the web.
Home Care for the Monsoon
Given that the monsoon season lasts for a few months in India, there are many aspects that need to be looked into while considering home care needs. In fact, it is a good idea to get a professional to do an inspection of your home, old or new, prior to the monsoon and ensure that you find and fix the problems that keep recurring.