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Xbox 360 being used to detect heart defects

by Griffin McElroy { Sep 25th 2009 at 4:00AM }

We've suffered our fair share of broken hearts at the hands of the Red Ring of Death -- now, the Xbox 360 is being used to mend our ailing blood-pumpers. A computer scientist at the University of Warwick in England recently did some sweet console modification to allow his 360 to calculate heart rhythms using a complex algorithm. Microsoft's console is capable of performing these calculations five times faster (and 10 times cheaper) than a lab computer, and has the added benefit of letting its users play Madden in between bursts of scientific study.

To sum up, the 360 is now being used to cure heart disease, and the PS3 is being used to cure cancer. Ball's in your court, Nintendo.

Pediatric journal boasts about benefits of exergaming

by Griffin McElroy { Jul 19th 2009 at 5:30PM }

Kids-focused health journal Pediatrics recently published a study that would shock those who decry the health benefits of exergames. The study, which was performed by researchers from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, measured young people's energy expenditure while at rest, while playing Dance Dance Revolution at two different skill levels, while walking and running on a treadmill and while boxing and bowling on Wii Sports. That sounds like more physical exertion than we go through in a year.

Some of the comparisons between these activities yielded somewhat unsurprising results -- playing the video games burned three times the calories the kids spent at rest, of course. However, the researchers also found that playing these games was a comparable activity to "moderate to intense walking," despite the fact that Wii Sports requires little lower-body movement. It seems that for the first time in recent memory, we've got science on our side. Hooray!

[Via Kotaku]

Vector City Racers aims to combat childhood obesity

by David Hinkle { May 7th 2009 at 1:00AM }

Childhood obesity is a big problem in the US, and Vector Entertainment and the Childhood Obesity Foundation are teaming up to try and do something about it. Enter Vector City Racers, a casual multiplayer online game and community that seeks to teach kids aged six to twelve about eating healthily.

The game is in closed beta right now, but you can still check out the site and experience the game for yourself. We hopped on there for a few minutes and didn't find anything that would help obese kids. There weren't any health tips or motivational phrases laying around, and we didn't avoid the accursed chocolate chip monsters or anything, so we're wondering just how Vector City Racers plans to combat childhood obesity. Maybe that information will be available after the beta.

Injured soldiers play Wii to test for potential brain trauma

by Xav de Matos { Apr 13th 2009 at 6:00PM }

The Department of Defense is launching the Nintendo Wii as a weapon against head injuries, according to the Huffington Post. At Fort Campbell's newly opened brain injury center, soldiers are being put through a "battery of tests" to measure different cognitive functions before and after deployment -- specifically in cases of potential traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The tests include a driving simulator to measure reaction to environment change, visual testing to determine accuracy and speed and coordination tests using the Nintendo Wii. Once a soldier's individual deficiencies are discovered, a therapy program is designed to "help retrain the brain" in those specific areas. Since opening in September, Fort Campbell's brain injury center has screened about 400 soldiers for TBI and is currently treating about 60 cases.

[Via Fidgit. Image credit: SignOnSanDiego.com]

Nintendo concerned about your body, launching Wii Fit Body Check Channel

by JC Fletcher { Jan 27th 2009 at 11:00AM }

Previously, they were content to let you use their games to monitor how much you weighed and how often you walked, but now Nintendo of Japan is showing an increased interest in what's going on with your body. In April, they will launch the "Wii Fit Body Check Channel", a Wii channel co-developed with NEC, Hitachi, and Panasonic Medical Solutions.

The Channel will allow users to send BMI data from Wii Fit as well as the step data recorded from the Personal Trainer: Walking pedometer, and receive personalized guidance from health professionals about how to stay healthy. Our predictions: if you are only sending in data from one game, you will be told, "Maybe you should buy the other game too".

It's possible that this Japanese channel relates to the "Nintendo Active Health" trademark registered in Europe earlier this month. If it does refer to the same initiative, then Nintendo may be planning to offer health advice worldwide! Good news for people who want a game company all up in their business.

Gallery: Aruite Wakaru Seikatsu Rhythm DS

[Via Engadget]

Source -- Hitachi
Source -- Nintendo

Playing Tetris helps with trauma, study says

by David Hinkle { Jan 7th 2009 at 4:26PM }

We've always been big fans of Tetris, to tell the truth, and now it would seem the game has real health benefits. According to a study done in the UK, the game can help those with post-traumatic stress disorder. The study exposed volunteers to disturbing imagery and, for some, allowed them to play the game after. For those that played the game, stress levels reduced and they suffered from fewer flashbacks of the disturbing imagery.

So, make more time in your busy life to play some games. It's good for you!

Gallery: Tetris Party

[Via /.]

Wii Fit helps improve balance in seniors

by Alisha Karabinus { Dec 11th 2008 at 10:00AM }

As though demand for the Wii and Wii Fit wasn't going to be high enough during this year's holiday, another practical use for Nintendo's console has been discovered: helping to rehabilitate people, particularly seniors, after falls, and helping to improve balance in order to avoid falls. Brett Sears, a physical therapist with Capital Region Physical Therapy in New York, has been using Wii Fit in this way over the past four months, and his patients seem to enjoy the new method of training.

It's not the first time we've seen the Wii used in this way, nor the first time we've heard about using Wii Fit for rehabilitation, and we're going to guess it's not going to be the last, either.

[Via GoNintendo]

Hospitals now less boring -- Fun Centers on the way

by Phil Larsen { Jun 25th 2008 at 11:00AM }

Sick kids are in for some fun, thanks to Nintendo and the Starlight Foundation. The Wii is heading for hundreds of hospitals in North America and Canada, all bundled up in Fun Centers packed with awesome stuff. Rehabilitation seems to be the Wii's favorite word, as Nintendo manufactures 1250 Fun Centers -- with 500 to be in place by the end of the year.

The Fun Centers come with a Sharp flat-screen TV, a DVD player and a Wii with a bunch of games including Super Mario Galaxy, Wii Sports and Mario Party 8. What, you were expecting Resident Evil 4?

Paula Van Ness of Starlight said "Our Fun Centers transform the hospital experience for children, bringing enjoyment and laughter to an otherwise daunting experience." Yeah, damn straight it's daunting -- and what did the friendly hospital staff bring this blogger when he was down and out with appendicitis? Battletoads. Yeah, the most ball-breakingly difficult game ever conceived didn't make the hospital stay any more fun.

[Via press release]

Mom wins her fight in Rayman Raving Rabbids epilepsy ordeal

by David Hinkle { Jun 12th 2008 at 6:00PM }

Over the last year, UK mom ("mum" is the word over there, we believe) Gaye Herford has been fighting to change the way games are tested before they are sent to retail. Her 10-year-old son, while playing Rayman Raving Rabbids, went into an epileptic fit. She had no idea that games could send players into photo sensitive epileptic (PSE) seizures. We guess she hasn't seen the intro splash screen Nintendo has had around since the Pokémon incident.

But, after a long year, she has won her battle. Ubisoft has volunteered to do the testing itself and will try to ensure such a thing does not happen again. Herford also managed to secure a debate in Parliament, for a future date that is yet to be determined. "As a parent myself, I was shocked that a single game could possibly trigger a sudden first-time seizure, with its life-long implications," says Weston-super-Mare MP John Penrose, who helped Herford in her battle. "Right now, most electronic game publishers simply issue written warnings about PSE on or inside their products - and that's on a voluntary basis. But that's no good for the thousands of people with dormant PSE because they don't know the warnings - if they even read them - apply to them."

At the time of the article, no comment was made by Nintendo. Ubisoft did say, though, that testing of Rayman: Raving Rabbids on the DS "showed that no images posed a high risk for photosensitivity epilepsy. However, we made a corporate decision to pre-screen and pre-test all Ubisoft in-house developed games regardless of platform, prior to publication."

CNN talks gaming for health

by David Hinkle { Jun 6th 2008 at 11:00PM }

CNN is all over the Wii Fit thing. First, they had Mario Armstrong come in and demo the package for them, now Dr. Sanjay Gupta is taking time out to discuss the benefits of using games as a health tool, namely in the rehabilitation sector. We've heard stories about places using Wii to help rehabilitate their patients, but it's now gaining more ground, as Dr. Gupta mentions the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is funding 12 different studies that will specifically see if games can be used as a means for making us healthier individuals.

If all the serious medical talk bores you, then laugh at the CNN employees doing the hula hoop minigame while one the Balance Board. They really get into it.

Gallery: Wii Fit

[Via Go Nintendo]

Wii Warm Up: The price of fitness

by David Hinkle { Apr 16th 2008 at 9:00AM }

We were thinking about the confirmation yesterday that Wii Fit would be setting you back $90. That's a pretty hefty sum, if you ask us. Is it too hefty for you all, though? We've made a poll here for you to weigh in.

Gallery: Wii Fit

Amazon opens preorders for Wii Fit

by David Hinkle { Apr 15th 2008 at 8:02PM }

Following today's confirmation that the path to a more fit and healthy you with Nintendo's Wii Fit will cost you the hefty sum of $90 comes news that Amazon has opened up preorders for the bundle. When? Like, right now.

So for those of you who find the idea of parting with such a large amount of money irrelevant compared to the exercise the title will offer, then you might want to head on over and check out the page on Amazon. If you don't want to get it there, let us know where you plan on picking it up!

Gallery: Wii Fit

[Thanks, Justin!]

My Weight Loss Coach boxart: Lazy or fitting?

by Eric Caoili { Apr 15th 2008 at 4:00PM }

We loaded up My Weight Loss Coach's product page on Amazon earlier today and received two surprises:

$39.99. We're used to seeing that sort of markup only on Square-Enix titles and almost never on casual titles, but we suppose that bundled pedometer comes at a price. That price being ten additional dollars.
Its stark, untraditional packaging art.

At first, the cover seemed like an apathetic production, reminiscent of the Konami's Best box design, but perhaps this simple, almost Apple-esque approach will draw in weight-concerned adult casuals, Ubisoft's target audience. If they really want to bring in the big bucks, they'll shoot a commercial of someone pulling the case out of a manila envelope while Yael Naim sings the lyrics to "New Soul."

If you're one of those strange people who like to judge a title by its actual content and not its cover, jump into our gallery below to see new screenshots of the get-in-shape software.

Gallery: My Weight Loss Coach

[Via NeoGAF]

Therapists now attempting to battle Parkinson's with Wii

by David Hinkle { Apr 7th 2008 at 12:00PM }

The Wii is further branching out into new areas of therapy, as we find out that not only is the console helping wounded troops and those who have suffered strokes and the like, but also to aid those in controlling their Parkinson's. When our obsession becomes less of a box to kill boredom and more a box to heal human life, you can bet that makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

It's all part of a Medical College of Georgia study to see if the Nintendo Wii can aid in the occupational therapy of those with Parkinson's. So, while it isn't a full-fledged commitment to the treating the disease through Wii, it's an acknowledgment that the Wii has helped others and could be something to help more folks in the future.

"We're hoping to show a slowing of the progression of the disease and a decrease in medication while increasing function. If we can teach patients to exercise and do functional activities, maybe we can have them take less medications," says Dr. Ben Herz, assistant professor of occupational therapy in the School of Allied Health Sciences and one half of the main team behind this study. "Because the Wii is interactive and you have to do certain functional movements to be successful," he goes on to say, "it's an effective modality for working with Parkinson's patients," says Dr. Herz. "One of the therapists uses the Wii for timing and loosening up, and the other uses it for coordination and balance issues."

[Via Go Nintendo]

Brain fitness software market is very fit

by Kyle Orland { Mar 12th 2008 at 12:30PM }

Say what you will about Nintendo, they know how to create new market segments. Case in point, the SmartBrains "State of the Brain Fitness Software Market 2008 report" which cites the Nintendo's Brain Age games as a key driver in growing the brain fitness software market to a $225 million industry, up 125% since 2005.

Though Brain Age games dominate the $80 million consumer segment of the market, the game has also been a key inspiration to the 20 companies that create similar brain training tools for everything from sports teams to the military. The various brain training products have been used in over 400 elder care facilities and five successful randomized clinical trials. One product even gained FDA approval for use in stroke rehabilitation. We just hope those stroke patients don't have an accent.

[Via BoingBoing]