New mixed reality game may help kids be more active
New game blends real and virtual worlds, helping kids set and follow fitness goals
Mixed reality gaming may be the motivation kids need to stay active, according to a new study from the University of Georgia.
Children participating in the study saw a significant increase in physical activity.
Most kids don’t get the recommended amount of physical activity they need every day, and what exercise they do get is on the decline. But, as most parents and guardians know, getting kids to work out isn’t as easy as just telling them to do so.
“Giving kids a video game and expecting them to exercise using it to lose weight or increase physical activity is a tall order,” said Sun Joo (Grace) Ahn, lead author of the study and a professor in UGA’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication and director of the Center for Advanced Computer-Human Ecosystems (CACHE). “Everybody needs some level of support and social relationships to really sustain that change.
“It turns out that we can use technology to help the parents and kids stay connected and help them drive that common family goal of making sure that the kids are staying active and healthy.”
Physical activity among children declining
The study focused on more than 300 children and their parents enrolled in after-school programs with the YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta. Half were assigned to the mixed reality kiosk while the rest used a computer program for setting exercise goals without social feedback.
The digital fitness program used a virtual dog designed by the research team to help children understand how to set physical activity goals and to encourage them to reach the goals they set. Fitbits tracked the activity of each child. If they reached their goal, they were able to play with the dog.
This is big innovation and I believe a scratch of the surface of what the Metaverse concept would look like and it's benefits