Exergame Fitness Canada

‘Exergaming’may combat kids’ sedentary lifestyles

admin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:16:19 +0000

CALGARY – We fit? Well, somewhat, but most of us live a fairly sedentary lifestyle. And so with the new trend of exergaming –the genre of fitness video games–kinesiologists in Calgary see an opportunity to get kids twitching more than just their thumbs.

Canada’s first Exergaming Research Centre was unveiled Thursday in hopes of having an impact on youth fitness and even dealing with the growing incidence of child obesity in Canada. It is located at Calgary’s Foundations for the Future Academy southwest campus, in a collaboration between the University of Calgary and Mount Royal College.

“Our hope is to try to connect exergaming to the acquisition of fundamental movement skills,” said lead researcher Dwayne Sheehan, a professor at MRC and a PhD student at the U of C. “Can we develop skills like balance? Laterality? Reaction time? Agility? If we can, then we’re one step ahead of being able to help these kids who are at that critical learning age.”

Used to be, the only thing video games slimmed down was the cushioning in your couch. Not here.

As a red curtain in the school’s gym pulled apart, the clattering of plastic footboards on a wooden gym floor rang in the air as a group of 20 Grade 4 students danced in unison to the game Dance Dance Revolution, jogged and performed yoga poses on Wii Fit, and found their balance on plastic snowboards as they slalomed down virtual slopes.

When they step off away from these gaming machines, these kids are meant to hit heart rates at 75 per cent of their maximum, and the slow beads of sweat forming on their foreheads was a good sign they were getting a workout.

“I really like it, it’s a lot of fun,” said student Kateri Oakley, who had come off doing yoga poses on Wii Fit. “It’s playing video games during school, it doesn’t feel like gym class. But you can still get really sweaty.”

Ishaam Agarwala was more into the snowboarding activity on Wii Fit.

“It’s funner than all the regular activities,” he said. “And it’s active, and that’s good.”

The exergaming module at Foundations for the Future Academy will become an afterschool and lunch club.

“It’s not meant to be a replacement for physical activity, it’s meant to be a replacement for sedentary video gaming,” Sheehan said. “It’s important that these young people understand that video gaming is activity and they are the human joysticks.”

The video game consoles, accessories and TV screens were all funded by the Community Initiatives Program through the Alberta Lottery Fund, and there are enough of them for an entire class of 20 students to play at once.

Beyond keeping them fit, these virtual activities may give these kids self-confidence and may even prove to help them learn, said Dr. Larry Katz, a professor of sport technology at the U of C.

“We want to know a number of things,” he said. “Are kids able to monitor their own performance reliably? Can they then take that information, such as heart rate or calories burned, and use it in math and science to get a better understanding of what they’re doing?

“In traditional teaching, we give kids math problems, and they write it out and we say they’re right or wrong. Now we’re giving them meaningful personal data, so they can learn math in a meaningful context, with numbers that have value to them.”

School principal Cathy McCauley said she didn’t have to try very hard to get her students on board.

“They love it, everybody wants to do it,” she said. “Kids today are technological wizards, so this is what their lives are about.

“We’re just lucky that the schools chose us as their partner for collaborative research.”

Parents don’t mind.

“They work toward getting a high score without even thinking about the physical effort,” said Cindy Higa.

“And that’s great.”

nlewis@theherald. canwest.com

Exergame Fitness Dubai Distributor "In-Motion" Discuss Childhood Obesity – Radio Interview

admin — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:42:32 +0000

Check out this amazing interview with our Exergame Fitness Dubai Distributor “In-Motion” about Obesity and Schools. Great Job Osama! To learn more about them visit their official website here.

NeuroActive Bike In-Service Session at Madison School – Naperville, IL

admin — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:37:14 +0000

NeuroActive Bike

Cardio is good for our hearts, muscles, and circulation, but because it’s so repetitive, it can get boring fast. People help pass the time by listening to their iPods, watching TV or movies, reading magazines and books, and I’ve even seen someone knitting on the treadmill.

Now there’s a new way to help you forget you’re exercising. It’s known as the NeuroActive Bike, or Brain Bike. It’s a computer attached to a stationary bike, and there are 22 “brain-stimulating exercises” or games, that challenge your mind and memory.

The goal is to improve your cardiovascular and cerebral health at the same time.

This was an awesome demo today! Exergame Fitness will be developing our own bike shortly powered by this amazing software.

A very special thanks to Phil Lawler of PE4Life for personally inviting me to this in-service today! I always learn massive amounts of information from Phil. Stay Tuned!!!!

PS: Check out some more pictures of this in-service that I took here!

iDance Introduction Video

admin — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:39:24 +0000

Kyle Ward and Chris Foy from Positive Gaming were kind enough to sit down with me at the 2009 Games for Health Conference for this interview. During the interview, Chris and Kyle answer many of the questions that we get from Schools, YMCA’s and Park Districts around the country when it comes to group play programs. Exergame Fitness USA is proud to carry the iDance system so we can offer it to our clients. For more information on the iDance Wireless Dance System, please call us at 877-668-4664 x1103, or visit our website at http://www.exergamefitness.com/idance-ddr.htm

Active Kids Score Higher!

admin — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:09:39 +0000

Active Kids Score Higher: More Activity Time Adds Up to Better Learning
June 2, 2009
Here’s good news for parents, teachers and legislators who want to help kids learn and excel: it’s easy as child’s play.
The 2009 Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth, released in collaboration with ParticipACTION and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute – Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group (CHEO-HALO), reveals that children who are more physically active are also more academically fit, resulting in better scores in math and reading, higher grades, greater perceptual skill and overall academic readiness.
“Being active feeds the brain, giving active kids an academic advantage over their peers who are more sedentary,” says Dr. Mark Tremblay, Chief Scientific Officer, Active Healthy Kids Canada. “We’ve always known that physical activity is essential for kids’ health and their long-term well-being. Now we know that it also improves school
performance. A workout for your body is a workout for your brain.”
Unfortunately, this year’s Report Card gives most Canadian children a failing grade for Physical Activity Levels, with only 13% of Canadian kids getting the recommended 90
minutes of physical activity a day. The Report Card also assigns an F for Screen Time, as 90% of Canadian children are still spending too much time in front of television, computer and video screens. Also distressing are the grades for Active Transportation (a D, as most families live close enough to walk or bike to school, but do not) and for
school Physical Education and School Policy, which rate a mediocre C- and C, respectively.
“Unfortunately, in our eagerness to ensure academic success, we’ve cut out time for activity in the school day and devoted it to sedentary study,” says Tremblay. “But
research shows that reducing physical activity does not improve academic ability or test scores. Kids need to get up and move more to enhance physical and intellectual health
and success at school.”
The Report Card does note that there is some reason for optimism, even with the overall failing grade. The number of Canadian children who are active is on the rise—up to 13%
from 9% in 2006. It also offers solid recommendations for how our society can do better.
Teamwork the Answer to Making Time and Space for Play
School schedules are packed with heavy curriculum expectations, parents have intense work demands that eat away at family free time, and governments, as well as
individuals, are feeling the pinch of today’s economy.
All true, agrees Michelle Brownrigg, Chief Executive Officer, Active Healthy Kids Canada. But there are solutions.
“Improving opportunities to be active is not an either-or proposition. It’s an investment with direct benefits that are immediate and lasting,” she says. “Helping the 87 per cent of Canadian kids who aren’t getting enough daily activity will take a concerted, joint effort.”
“Schools don’t sacrifice academic results when they devote time to Phys. Ed. The kids do as well or better than they did when all their work was at their desks. Most busy
household schedules can find time for activity by simply turning off the TV or computer and going outside. Municipalities can and should invest money in parks and sport – but they also need to consider policies and by-laws that act as barriers to play in their communities.”
Look around, says Brownrigg. See what you can do.
School:
Recognize the importance of physical activity. Treat Phys. Ed. classes as any other subject, with devoted time, skilled instructors and assistance for children who need extra
encouragement or teaching. Offer an assortment of activities, from traditional team sports to individual activities like yoga or martial arts. Team up with children’s home supports and local community groups to ensure that the message of physical activity is communicated, just as the importance of homework completion is emphasized.
Home:
Parents can inquire about the activity policy in their children’s schools and insist that physical activity be integrated into the curriculum and overall school programming. For example, school fundraisers can promote movement with dance-a-thons or laps around the school.
You can also lead the way at home through modeling active behaviour and by scheduling time for play. Though families are feeling the time pinch, TV and computer time in most Canadian households far exceeds the recommended limit of two hours per day. For a better academic outcome for your child, replace screen time with active play.
Get children ready to learn by having them walk or bike to school each day. If your schedule doesn’t allow you to supervise the route twice a day, team up with neighbours
to form a “walking school bus” or choose a daycare that uses active transportation. You can also emphasize the routine of daily play by packing a skipping rope or ball glove in your child’s knapsack, increasing the possibility that recess will be an active time.
Communities and Governments:
Communities are vital partners in increasing the opportunities for active play and for creating bridges between school physical activity and family activity. Supervising school and public play spaces in the hours after school can make investments in park infrastructure go further by increasing community use, helping kids and parents feel safe and encouraged to go out and play.
It’s great when municipalities can support active play in their communities through investment in sport infrastructure, but removing barriers to play can be just as important to improving kids’ health. Eliminating by-laws that restrict ball playing, road hockey and skateboarding in public areas means that physical activity becomes an easy addition to day-to-day living and part of a community’s culture and self-perception. The results? Safer streets, knowing your neighbours, higher test scores in your area and an increase in community commitment from kids and all residents. Governments can also provide leadership in the area of physical play by putting activity on the public and political agendas. Active Healthy Kids Canada applauds the provincial Ministers of Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation in Canada, who have collectively set a target of increasing the number of active Canadian children to 20% by 2015, and looks forward to noting their progress toward that goal.
Active Play the Essential Ingredient in Better Performance
“When you add up better health today, decreased health care costs in the future and increased mental focus and academic results, it’s clear that being active is not an
extra—it’s an essential ingredient in raising healthy, intelligent children who will be able to guide our society in years to come,” says Dr. Art Quinney, Chair of Active Healthy Kids Canada. “We all know that Canada needs people with good minds. And good minds grow in active, healthy kids.”
The Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card is made possible through financial support from the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Lawson Foundation, Kellogg’s and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. For more information or to download this year’s Report Card, visit www.activehealthykids.ca

Games for Health 2009

admin — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 18:31:18 +0000

Being held in Boston on June 11-12, this conference brings together the best innovators in the health and game development fields to showcase the latest advancements and discuss key ideas and collaborations across this booming industry. Focusing on how the use of interactive games can advance health and health care, you will hear presenters speaking on a broad variety of topics, including…

* Games for Cognitive Health: Learn how games are being used for cognitive rehabilitative therapy and chronic diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis and proposed next steps in the development of technology.

* Warner Brothers Entertainment Presents – Pamoja Mtaani: Developed for the Partnership for an HIV-Free Generation (HIV Free), this game aims to reduce HIV prevalence among youth in areas with generalized HIV epidemics, by promoting positive behavior change. Launched in December 2008, it is currently available for play in Nairobi.

* Games for Crisis: How does a video game help plan for a possible pandemic or other crisis situation? Hear how a computer game can act as a learning environment for crisis planning or how epidemiologists use games for their work.

* Exergaming: A variety of presentations will seek to uncover the pros and cons of the use of digital games for exercise. Hear how the technology has been effective in seniors or experience the latest games first hand in the exhibition area. USA company Exergame Fitness will also be attending and demonstrating the iDance Wireless Dance system as well as the Lightspace Play Floor. More information can be found on their official website.

The leading professional industry in the field of health games, Games for Health brings together researchers, medical professionals and game developers to share best practices and forge new, game-based solutions to pressing health and health care challenges. Games for Health is funded primarily by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Pioneer Portfolio, which supports innovative ideas that may lead to significant breakthroughs in the future of health and health care.

Lightspace Play Wall & Floor Picture Video Mash-Up

admin — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:03:00 +0000

Check out the Lightspace Play Floor and Wall system. We took these pictures today in Boston, MA at the Lightspace play headquarters!

Founders of First Youth Interactive Gym Sign Distribution Deal for Canada

admin — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:15:18 +0000

DARTMOUTH, NS – Canadian kids received yet another failing grade in the annual Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card: 90% of Canadian youth are not getting the necessary amount of exercise a day. This does not come as a surprise to Holly Bond and Liz Thompson. They have witnessed first-hand the devastating effects of too much screen time and not enough playtime.

The former founders of Bulldog Interactive Fitness, the first interactive fitness facility for youth, Holly and Liz have just inked a deal to become the Canadian Distributor for Exergame Fitness. (www.exergamefitness.ca) With the ever-increasing gloomy reports like the one released this week, this dynamic duo is more determined than ever to convey the importance of physical fitness and activity that includes every child, not just the elite athlete. With years of experience in the Exergaming world, they will continue to work diligently at promoting this positive way of battling childhood obesity and inactivity to schools, community groups, hospitals and fitness clubs across Canada.

In 2005 Holly Bond opened Bulldog Interactive Fitness, the first interactive fitness facility designed exclusively for youth. Shortly thereafter, Liz Thompson jumped on board. Together they opened interactive fitness facilities for youth across Canada. These energetic partners have been working non-stop ever since, educating kids, teachers, parents and community leaders about the need to be more active.

After selling Bulldog in 2008, Holly and Liz are thrilled to join forces once again, representing Exergame Fitness Canada: “We have seen hundreds of children benefit from Exergaming equipment and programming that combines Exergaming and old-fashioned fun and games.” Liz states. “Children are very comfortable in this familiar environment – the video games act as a ‘hook’ to get them in the door and moving in the right direction towards exercise and activity. Once kids take that first, familiar step, it is then a perfect time to introduce traditional games and sports – we have seen how they develop a new level of fitness and self-esteem.” agrees Holly.

Tommy Seilheimer, Vice President of Exergame Fitness says, “Holly and Liz’s years of actual hands-on experience is invaluable; I mean, they have done it all – from the layout and design to choosing and training the best staff to building programs and camps around the Exergaming equipment. We are excited to partner with them in our crusade against childhood obesity and inactivity.”

Holly Bond and Liz Thompson can be reached by visiting their website: www.exergamefitness.ca

Founders of First Youth Interactive Gym Sign Distribution Deal for Canada

admin — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:35:00 +0000

Founders of First Youth Interactive Gym Sign Distribution Deal for CanadaDARTMOUTH, NS – Canadian kids received yet another failing grade in the annual Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card: 90% of Canadian youth are not getting the necessary amount of exercise a day. This does not come as a surprise to Holly Bond and Liz Thompson. They have witnessed first-hand the devastating effects of too much screen time and not enough playtime.

The former founders of Bulldog Interactive Fitness, the first interactive fitness facility for youth, Holly and Liz have just inked a deal to become the Canadian Distributor for Exergame Fitness.(http://www.exergamefitness.ca/) With the ever-increasing gloomy reports like the one released this week, this dynamic duo is more determined than ever to convey the importance of physical fitness and activity that includes every child, not just the elite athlete. With years of experience in the Exergaming world, they will continue to work diligently at promoting this positive way of battling childhood obesity and inactivity to schools, community groups, hospitals and fitness clubs across Canada.

Tommy Seilheimer, Vice President of Exergame Fitness says,

“Holly and Liz’s years of actual hands-on experience is invaluable; I mean, they have done it all – from the layout and design to choosing and training the best staff to building programs and camps around the Exergaming equipment. We are excited to partner with them in our crusade against childhood obesity and inactivity.”

Holly Bond and Liz Thompson can be reached by visiting their website: http://www.exergamefitness.ca/.

Exergame Fitness Attends Games for Health 2009

admin — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 18:09:00 +0000

Chicago IL – Chicago based company Exergame Fitness USA, will be attending the 2009 Games for Health Conference located in Boston, Massachusetts. This year’s conference features two-days of talks, more than 300 attendees and 40 sessions provided by an international array of over 50 speakers cutting across a wide range of activities in health and health care. Topics include Exergaming (Active Gaming), physical therapy, disease management, health behavior change, biofeedback, epidemiology, training, cognitive exercise, nutrition and health education.

Games for Health is a project produced by The Serious Games Initiative, a Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars effort that applies cutting edge games and game technologies to a range of public and private policy, leadership, and management issues.

The Initiative founded Games for Health to develop a community and best practices platform for the numerous games being built for health

care applications. To date the project has brought together researchers, medical professionals, and game developers to share information about the impact games and game technologies can have on health care and policy.

In addition to the Games for Health Conference, the Initiative is working to catalog use of games in health care, to assist current development, collect best practices, share research results, and explore ideas that might improve health care administration and policy.

Tommy Seilheimer, Vice President of Exergame Fitness adds:

“We attended the Games for Health Conference last year and brought a very popular Exergaming product called the Lightspace Play Floor. At that time, we met with many of the industry leaders when it comes to using videogames as a way to stay healthy. We also found that the social networking aspect of this summit is very beneficial to our industry meeting with key contacts from around the globe. We are ecstatic to be a part of the conference this year and are looking forward to bringing more products as this continues to grow every year.

For the 2009 conference we are going to have a few of the industry’s top Exergaming products set-up that include, The Lightspace Play Floor, Lightspace Play Wall and the 8 player iDance Wireless Multiplayer DDR System. Also, our very own Dr. Ernie Medina from XRTainment Zone will be in attendance to go over many aspects of the Exergaming industry with key people in attendance. Ernie Medina provides the much needed “medically based programming” for our Active Gaming locations and continues to lead the industry with his persistent approach to keeping Exergaming at the forefront of kid’s fitness.”

About Exergame Fitness
Exergame Fitness – The Global Leader in Exergaming (Active Gaming) Products and Medically Driven Programming for YMCA’s, Schools, JCC’s. Park Districts, Health Clubs, Hospitals, Kid Zones, Family Entertainment Centers, Casinos, Government/VA and more.

Exergame Fitness provides Facility Planning & Installation, Grant & Funding Assistance, Program Design & Product Training, Turnkey Marketing Support, Free Layout Designs & Concepts, Detailed Programming Curriculums, Finance & Lease Options and more. Exergame Fitness offers the lowest prices on any of the products they carry backed by a 110% Lowest Price Guarantee.

About Games For Health:
Games for Health, the leading professional community in the field of health games, unites the best minds in health care and game development to advance game technologies that improve people’s health and the delivery of

health care. Through their national and regional events, as well as extensive online resources, Games for Health brings together researchers, medical professionals and game developers to share best practices and forge new, game-based solutions to pressing health and health care challenges. Games for Health is funded primarily by the Robert Wood Johnson Foun

dation’s Pioneer Portfolio, which supports innovative ideas that may lead to significant breakthroughs in the future of health and health care. It was founded in 2004 by the Serious Games Initiative, a project of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars dedicated to applying innovative games and game technologies to a range of public and private policy, leadership and management issues. For more information, visit www.gamesforhealth.org.

About Games for Health Conference Sponsors
The Games for Health Conference is held in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Pioneer Portfolio, which has served as the leading sponsor of the Games for Health Project since 2004. The Pioneer Portfolio supports innovative ideas that may lead to significant breakthroughs in the future of health and health care; having recognized the transformative potential of games, its support has helped Games for Health to become the leading professional community in the growing health games arena.

Humana Inc., one of the nation’s largest health benefits companies, will also return as a premiere health care sponsor this year, providing support for several conference activities. Humana will present new initiatives from the Humana Games for Health (HG4H) program, which officially launched at the Games for Health conference in 2008.

Additional Sponsors include: International Game Developers Association, Virtual Heroes, Mass Technology Leadership Council, Muzzy Lane, H.I.L. Forum, Business Resource Team, Entertainment Consumers Association, Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism, Mary-Margaret Network, Breakaway Ltd and MODSIM World Conference & Expo.