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A Focused Review and Initial Conceptual Design for
Merging Exergame and Activity Monitoring Technologies
Reem Altamimi
1
, Geoff Skinner
2
, and Keith Nesbitt
2
1
The University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Reem.Altamimi@uon.edu.au
2
The University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia
{Geoff.Skinner,Keith.Nesbitt}@newcastle.edu.au
Abstract.
In an era of increasing technology use, it has been recognized that
children and adolescents have become more sedentary and engage in less
physical activity. Motivating children to be more physically active is not an
easy task given their preference for seated leisure activities. Video games are a
favorite leisure activity amongst children and adolescents. Exergames have
been suggested as one form of game that may make children more active.
Activity monitoring technologies are another proposed solution. This paper
reviews literature in the areas of exergaming and activity tracking technology
and proposes an initial design that involves merging the two areas. This work
builds on our previous research in this area and makes an original contribution
through the suggestion of added benefits that stem from the integration of
exergames and activity tracking technologies. Furthermore, we plan to expand
our research beyond the scope of this paper to propose a model based on this
incorporation. Here we
conclude that the careful integration of exergames and
physical activity tracking technology provides the greatest potential to increase
and maintain physical activity levels in children and adolescents.
Keywords:
Physical Activity. Exergames. Activity Monitoring Technologies.
1
Introduction
Physical activity in children is an important issue that has previously been considered
in the literature [1, 2]. The implication of physical activity on children and
adolescents' health and development is the driving reason behind this interest.
Regular participation in physical activity has been found to reduce the risk of many
diseases including heart disease and diabetes and also improves physiological and
psychological function [1]. Unfortunately, it has been identified that when indoors,
children spend large amounts of their time engaged in sedentary or light level physical
activities and when outdoors spend less that 15% of their time engaged in vigorous
physical activity [3]. Another study confirmed that children approximately 20% of
their time engaged in high-intensity physical activity [2]. Yet educating young
children about the importance of regular physical activity remains a key in helping to
reduce levels of inactivity in adulthood [1, 2].
