Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Motion Controller and the Xbox 360 Kinect sensor. There are several differences
between the various exergame interfaces. For example, the Xbox 360 Kinect sensor
uses both the player's body and voice as controllers while the Wii Remote involves a
physical prop that needs to be held by the player [17]. In a study that developed an
exergame prototype called “Wii!!! Soccer” [8], Wiimote technology is used to capture
a player's foot motion for playing a game of virtual soccer. Although this game
simulates a real life soccer experience, it limits players' movements as they have to
strap an infrared sensor bar to their legs while playing the game [8].
2.2
Activity Tracking Technologies
Direct observation, questionnaires and technology-based monitors are examples of
techniques that have been used to monitor physical activity in children and
adolescents. Examples of technology-based monitors include accelerometers,
pedometers, and health life wristbands. These tools can be worn, for example, on an
individuals' wrist or arm or clipped to their belt or shoe in order to track and record
their physical movements. Different accelerometer-based monitoring tools have been
used to measure intensity, frequency, level, pattern and duration of physical activity in
children and adolescents [2, 3], [18]. Some of these accelerometers have been
validated for use in classifying sedentary behavior and levels of physical activity in
children such as light, moderate and vigorous [18].
Pedometers are another example of wearable devices that have been investigated in
the literature with regard to their ability to measure levels of physical activity. An
early systematic review stated that, based on the literature, children between the ages
of 8 and 10 were expected to take 12,000-16,000 steps/day and healthy young adults
were expected to take 7,000-13,000 steps/day [19]. It has been shown that a
pedometer can provide valid and reliable data [20]. Pedometers may prove useful in
recording walking activities in free-living populations [20] and are simple and
affordable [21]. Therefore, it has been suggested that pedometers are particularly
useful for assessing physical activity and measuring daily activity in children [22].
Health life wristbands such as Nike+ bands, Fitbit FLEX and Jawbones Up are new
examples of physical activity monitoring tools. They allow for regular self-monitoring
and goal setting that provides essential feedback that serves to increase self-awareness
that can lead to behavioral change [23] [24].
3
An Integrated Solution
Reviewing the literature in exergaming has revealed the potential of these types of
games to increase energy expenditure [11], [25, 26] and therefore facilitate the
increase of physical activity levels in children and adolescents [12], [27]. However,
some challenges have been identified in the ability of exergames to motivate children
to exercise. While exergame play alone does not meet the daily amount of exercise
recommended for children and adolescents [25], [13], there is some evidence to
suggest that the use of exergames can contribute significantly to meeting some of the
